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....

I hear you, OP. It's hard when everyone else's child is being touted as a genius.

I teach, and the vast majority of students are not whistling off into the sunset bedecked with 8s and 9s. My child is also unlikely to achieve higher levels when GCSEs come around...but she will work really hard and that's all anyone can ask.

I am at results day every year, and the joy on the faces of all students who have worked hard is wonderful to see, whether it's Brainy McPushyMummy with his ninety seven level 9s or Sweety Von TriesHard with his hard fought level 4s. It's all good.

Can I ask how that works funding wise?
My son has had a terrible year wise ,fingers crossed I'm hoping he gets the grades to start his level 2 course but he's missed a lot of time in school due Ill health of he has to level one would he be able to.work.up.to level.3 and be funded for it?

Health wise*

@x2boys absolutely but If they can get higher with something extra help why not?

The school system already disadvantages dc.

There are so many! We had a friend of Dd1 living with us in her GCSE year because her parents were forced to move at the start of year 11. She got a mix of 4,5, B and C with an A* for food tech. She was the first in her family to pass any GCSEs so it was massive. Mumsnet is full of straight 9 DC but that isn't a reflection of real life. My DC weren't all 9s either.

Yes. On course to get mostly 4's & 5's and maybe a 6.

All solid passes in old money but unless you get 8's or above you're deemed a failure these days 🤔🙄

You can get 3 years in 6th form, if you have an EHCP you can have more.

DD has done L1, then another slightly harder L1, and under her EHCP will be doing a L2 certificate (not a full L2) plus English & Maths plus work experience.

I would imagine that if someone has to start at Level 1 due to medical reasons then if they knock it out of the park and 'prove' themselves that a college might then let them jump to L3 for the other 2 years?

Hope he gets enough for the Level 2.

@PedrosSluttyKnee There are plenty of them. People lie on social media.

Crikey, I must have been living under a rock, I was under the impression that sets of straight 8s and 9s were relatively unusual, not the norm for averagely bright kids. DS has consistently been in the top end of his class/results throughout his education, and he's predicted a range between 5s and 7s, with one 8, which seemed reasonable when I worked out what they were in old money.

No doubt there'll be some better mothers than me along to tell me I'm selling him short and should be more ambitious for him, or I and his teachers are delusional and he's clearly not that bright after all.

As far as I'm concerned, as long as he gets what he needs to the next stage of his life (with these grades, he'll be fine for 6th form), then job done.

Thanks ,no EHCP ,although my youngest has one so I know it goes up..to 25
We are seeing the disability and inclusion officer at college next week so.will have to see what they advise .

No they're not the norm.

But.

Sometimes you find yourself with real life friends who happen to have bright kids.
On MN the parents who post on education threads are often the ones with the brightest kids or the ones with SEN, so you can get a very skewed impression.

Thanks for all of the replies. I know I'm not really alone, but IRL I know no one in the same position.

And for what it's worth, I'm very proud of DC. They've knuckled down over the last couple of months and given it all with revision and interventions at school. I know they will have tried their best and that's all I hope for.

Same@PedrosSluttyKnee. DS has worked really hard, harder than I thought he would. He's flagging a bit now - timing's mean he's had exams every day for two weeks solid - but I'm very proud. However, I know he has a tendency to panic in exams, which won't have done him any favours.

We're also on holiday for his results, which seems to also be the height of parental negligence according to MN...

Like how everyone has a six-figure salary...

I teach level 3 BTEC and teach mostly students with 4s and 5s at GCSE. On the whole if they’re prepared to actually work they do fine at BTEC. Have had students get Distinction stars and go on to uni after coming in scraping the grades they needed. It’s also possible to fail or do badly (despite what popular opinion says) but my vocational students often seem better prepared for their next steps compared to some of my A level students.

This. Mumsnet is most often the two extremes. Remember OP the UK has a very strange system where we already know a lot of kids will fail, before they even sit the exam, that's how grade boundaries work, so passes are an achievement. Also a 6 is very good!

My youngest had all 5s and 6s which is fine for studying at the next stage as long as you're open to BTECs and apprenticeships rather than A-levels. BTEC level 3 are good enough for uni and suit some kids better as it's continuous assessment rather than the exam at the end. BTECs can be used for university entry and are sometimes in subjects not studied at GCSE so might suit your child better anyway.

Most standard secondary schools will take you on for a levels with 5&6s round here - prob means you won’t get a bunch of As at A-level but that’s fine.
I have one who is an 8-9 in a grammar and one who is a 5-6 in a standard non selective secondary school - she is totally the norm there. 4,5 & 6 are literally the average grades - it’s fine!!! We can’t all be geniuses.

I speak to young people every day who feel they are substandard because they didn’t get top grades. Yes I’m being harsh, but OP is an adult who is losing sight of the big picture.

In fairness to her, she has started this thread to try and get a more accurate perspective and a more balanced view. The discussion around GCSEs is often so alarmist, you can’t blame parents for getting concerned

I see. My child is ND and I don't feel the need to compare their achievements in life to those who are NT. Especially as you seem to assume they automatically get much lower grades 🙄

Because every time someone says their kids are getting less than 8/9 they seem to feel they have to quantify it by saying that their kid has had a particularly tough time, or they are SEN.

It's as if people are ashamed that their kids aren't getting top grades. My eldest was just not academic. He passed with two Bs and the rest /3/4/5 (year they started to change the system) and had to resist English 3 times. He's now in a better paid job than DH

Someone will come along and say your child actually had SEN but it was unnoticed/ they were failed. Kids aren't allowed to be average anymore. This is a huge reason behind the boom in referrals.

@ThickSkinnedSoWhat if you read my other replies you'll see I've clumsily tried to explain what I mean. I'll try again. I either know of children who are NT or ND that achieve 8s and 9s or ND children who are average/below average. I never rarely hear of NT children that are average. My DC is NT and average. I just wanted to hear from others who's DC are the same as mine.

@Plankingplanks and @Foxesandsquirrels
You're both spot on