Anyone else with an NT kid who's destined to get 4s, 5s and 6s in their GCSEs?

[PedrosSluttyKnee]

DC is just your average run of the mill kid, had a couple of difficulties throughout their life so far but nothing that has caused long term issues. Destined to get average grades in the GCSEs that they're currently taking. Anyone else with a kid in the same position? Feeling kinda lonely....

FWIW my DD got mostly 6s with a couple of 7s a few years back. She went on to get 2 x As and 1 x A star at A level and is now flying at uni getting firsts in some essays (studying a subject she got a 6 at GCSE in).

It also cheered me up because one of DS friends who struggled with school due to illness and not being very academic is doing a car mechanic course at a local college instead of normal exams. So it's good to know he'll be alright at the end of it

Back in the real world I think most parents would be delighted if their kids got grade 6,s it's only on mumsnet where posters seem to.think anything less than a 7 is a " fail".

There are always options. I didn't even get any exams but I'm a lawyer now. My husband got something like Ds and Es and has a great career in the community, first off as a youth worker and now training as a counsellor. I wouldn't fixate too much on grades, your kid will do fine!

ODFOD

I've found that NT kids are either getting 8s and 9s and ND kids are getting 4s and 5s. My DC is neither.

As in he's NT and getting 4s, 5s and 6s.

Really? But you are being ridiculous. Your child is going to pass their exams.

I work in education and so many students feel shame and guilt because they did not get 8 and 9’s.
Passing exams is not a problem.

I'm lonely because I have no one to speak to about my kid being average. Never said I'm disappointed. Don't make this into something it isn't.

The spectrum is huge as is Neuro diversity,there will be Neuro diverse kids that are extremely clever ,and those such as my youngest who is completely non verbal at 13 and working at pre school.evels and anything in between
My oldest is Neuro typical but is not academic and would never in a million years get grade 8,s and 9,s you can't generalise .

You are not alone. We have become conditioned to think anything less than a 7 is awful, but reality is quite different.
I'm wildly hopeful my son passes English, the others I am not worried about but the most frustrating thing is zero revision at home.
I'm on a knifeedge between yelling at him to put more effort in, and reassuring him if he does fail, there'll always be a path forward.
He's not an academic high flyer, but he is a smart kid if the subject interests him. GCSE English doesn't.

Yes, my DC is the same. NT, tries his best (mostly) but just does not manage to retain and reproduce the information needed for high grades.
He's also not "really bright" as so many of my friends' kids are, and he seems to be 5s across the board, not having any particular strengths.
I know this will not matter once he leaves school, but it is tricky when the GCSEs are such a big focus and we are in the thick of that right now.

Apologies @x2boys, that was a dreadful generalisation on my part. What I was (badly) trying to say is that often the kids getting average grades are ND. Not all ND kids will get average grades, I have a friend who's DC is ASD and is destined for Oxford.

Had this feeling recently on our y10 parents WhatsApp after the end of year exams. Lots of panic about their DC "only" achieving level 4 in certain subjects and desperately asking for tutor recommendations. I'll be dancing for joy if DD ever manages to get a level 4 in anything.

She's always struggled with learning but no diagnosis other than slow processing. She also has a chronic health condition which requires lots of time off for medical tests and treatment and has mental health issues ( self harming, anxiety and depression)

I have to switch off when I hear other parents stressing about their kid's grades.

My middle son didn't pass maths and went on to do a level 2 in carpentry for 2 years. He tried twice to pass the foundation paper there but couldn't quite pass.
Now is currently up in Catterick and fingers crossed will pass out as a paratrooper in August.
My youngest son is in year 10 and working at a '3' in maths and may scrape a 4 next year. But is already at a 6 in science and history. If he can't get into sixth form he will go to college ( we are already attending open days to see what courses he may enjoy).

I know it seems like it (I feel it too), but there is actually quite a variety of parents posting on the GCSE support thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4824919-gcse-support-the-final-frontier?page=4&reply=126830734 .
What is your DC planning to do next? When DD1 was at college we had a 'BTEC Support thread' because the main thread was full of A levels.

This is what I mean, just average, not got any real strengths, no subjects they particularly enjoy. Struggling to decide what to do after school doesn't help.

Where is he off to uni? Is it easy to get in to a good uni with weaker GCSEs??

Often Neuro typical kids get average or below average grades too ,it is what it is GCSE,s are a very blunt instrument for measuring most kids abilities ,thankfully post 16 there are far more options open to them.

Oh ease off. The point the OP is making is that you never hear of anyone on MN getting 4&5 and going on to a great career. That's what she's wanting or needing to hear. Why instead of supporting them are you just being horrible. It honestly seems like people just are out to be nasty instead of helping people

That GCSE support thread is fabulous. It's like a bunch of friends just being nice regardless of ability and expectations.
A BTEC support thread would be great next year - I might put some feelers out when the time comes.

I'd pop on and off a BTEC thread. DD2 is doing a L1 City & Guilds this year and will hopefully be doing a L2 certificate next year.

Concur. A supportive thread for parents with kids across the ability range, ND/NT, the full gamut.

He is going to Worcester, they weren't interested in GCSE grades as long as he had English and Maths.
They were interested in his Btec results and aptitude for the course.
Many 'average ' kids do a lot better in college.
My son does have ASD and always struggled with anything involving writing, this pulled him down overall.
Once he got to college and was concentrating on Maths and the sciences he did very well

On the old grade system I got 4 Bs, 4 Cs and 2 Ds (including maths).

I went to uni on the basis that the subjects I scored highest in were the ones I was naturally interested in.

I ironically worked in finance sector roles for a good section of my life despite the D.

Once I had some work experience, I was never, ever asked my GCSE results. And now working in HR, I do not look at exam grades, I look at experience.

Not the be all and end all. I absolutely could have performed better but didnt push myself or get pushed.