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....

My son didn’t do well at GCSE. He fared better at college. Some do much better focusing just on the subjects they enjoy.

I know exactly what you mean OP. My lad worked hard, always did his best, but struggled with many aspects of it. As long as he put in the effort, that was fine.

I'm another one who hears you @PedrosSluttyKnee. Given how things have been for kids over the past few years just glad if DS gets what he needs for the next stage (which he should do, all being well). Round here schools love to post photos of all the 9's pupils get, which also give a false view.
I'm glad you posted, because at times I've wondered f I was playing down the impact of the exams, but it's good to see other people's experiences reflect my view (that in a few years other things will be more important to employers).
When my son was in year 7 and suffering anxiety and struggling to attend school, the school thought telling him he wouldn't get any GCSE's would motivate him to attend. It didn't, just made him anxious of the exams!

I'm grateful you posted this too OP. DS is in Y9 so we're not there yet but I already started getting anxious for him during the GCSE options process. I think it needs saying more often that 4s 5s and 6s are perfectly respectable results because you do only see the 8s and 9s being celebrated on social media etc.

I run a business and we just hired someone in her early 30s to be a Customer Account Sales Manager in Shropshire. She has two low GCSEs but she is totally fab, cheerfully says she just didn’t like school but since she’s been in sales she’s been absolutely flying. We pay her £30k and honestly she could probably earn well above £50k after a couple of years and maybe even more than that - because it’s based on sales.
We weren’t bothered at all about exam results. There are so many businesses out there that take on the right person for the job and then train them up, and if they’re keen and motivated, they’ll do well.

In fact, I think it’s actually quite a small minority of jobs that really focus on academic results.

This is the norm for GCSE grades so pretty well half of all GCSEs are 4 5 or 6 https://www.statista.com/statistics/282422/gcse-grades-in-england/

If what you want OP is reassurance that DC aren't on the junk heap for not getting 12 8s and 9s then I can reassure that for many many DC, leaving behind the subjects that they dislike/have less aptitude for (which means they either put in less effort at them or too much at the expense of subjects that they can do well in) gives them the opportunity to show what they can really do. My eldest is mildly ND enough that GCSes were a chore. She failed science and got 3 5s 3 6s a 7 and a 9 in the subject she is insanely good at. Got a B and a D at A level and is now studying music at the top conservatoire for her instrument on an almost full fees scholarship. In year 9 she was told to drop her instruments and concentrate on her academics as she would otherwise not get into university.

Frankly GCSEs are pretty brutal for the average child who a few years ago would have come out with a handful of Bs and Cs and looked respectable as against peers with say 9 As. Changing the grading so that a pass is a 4 out of 9 is not a good look.

I'm glad I've been able to reassure others that they're not alone.

Just here to say you have the best username on the site!

Why thank you very much @Seasonofthewitch83! I'm a 48 year old woman with a massive crush!

Once again I'm having to deal with the 'oh no, DC may not get a 9!'. Well boo hoo. So sick of it. Anyone would think a 7 or an 8 is a disaster. Sorry. Just fed up with it.

You need to stay off mumsnet on GCSE results day then😂
there will be loads of my child got eleventy,billion grade9,s and one grade 8 should we appeal threads!

@x2boys I'll be staying off all social media and switching my phone to silent 😂

On results day I'll be more concerned with whether DC passed English Language than anything else!

Other prediction for results day: My Dc got all grades 7-9s. I haven't really paid much attention to their GCSEs is that any good?

In an ideal world people would say 'so pleased DC met/exceeded predictions' or 'DC didn't meet predictions, but still OK for next step' or 'sad DC didn't do well enough for desired course, off to look at plan B' without ever mentioning grades.

But, people often can't boast in real life, so maybe they should be able to on MN.

I know you're probably right @TeenDivided but I've yet to meet those people who don't feel they can boast in real life!

DS is around at this level though didn't get a good enough grade in English Language so wasn't allowed to do a T-Level at college. He has had to retake it

@PedrosSluttyKnee On GCSE results day I'll cross fingers for an Eng Lang pass for you if you cross fingers for a maths resit pass for me. Deal? (Also you @Oldraver )

@Oldraver my DC could be in the same position. I thought once upon a time you could take a level 3 course alongside doing re-takes but I know that's no longer the case.

Thank you @TeenDivided, that's a deal

@x2boys funding will be in place until 19th birthday. Eg if birthday is early September then the the whole if that year is free as student is 18 at the start of their course.

If they are 19 at the start then it can still be free if don’t have a full level 3. Or can take out a loan.

@Oldraver that sounds like it’s a college decision. The government say that T levels can recruit any student if they show potential to gain the qualification.

If a student doesn’t have English or maths then it’s still possible to progress to level 3 depending on subject. Eg no English and want sciences then this should be ok to resit maths alongside.

Op those grades are common. And will give plenty of options in the future. The introduction of grade 8/9 was a bad thing imo as it devalued grade 7/ A. A grade A/7 should still be viewed as excellent.

I agree with all of this. There are some posters who just come on to boast, but there is also at some levels a worry that DC won't get the 8 they need for further maths or to stay at their competitive sixth form.
I'm hoping for no resits and that DC will get enough to do a mix of A Levels and BTECs at Sixth Form. I would whoop with joy if he got 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 2 (or similar).

That's interesting @Rummikub. Our local college says they can't do a T Level alongside re-takes as there just isn't the time capacity. And that it's a government decision, not a college decision. They can do a T Level transition course which is a year long Level 2 course alongside retakes, and then progress to the Level 3 T Level the following year if they pass their re-takes.

@PedrosSluttyKnee my two (now 24 and 22) both got mainly 4's and 5's. They both went to college to resit maths and English and did a level 2 course, then went on to do a level 3 (they did an extra year) . DC1 went to university for a couple of terms but decided it wasn't for him. Both now working and very happy with their lives.

My dd 2 has had a terrible few years that has impacted her mental health and as a result has barely attended school. She’s not expected to get above a level 4 in anysubject
but she has a college place even if she has to start at a level 1 . She’s attended all her exams which I am proud of her for.

their lives aren’t over if they don’t get their expected GCSEs

Similar to my son,he's had a terrible year health wise and was critically ill in February, I wasn't sure he would be even be able to.do his exams ,but he has ,,im.hoping he gets the grades for his level..two course ,but what will be will be that d's fact he was well.enough to.take his exam,s is an achievement in itself.

@PedrosSluttyKnee T levels are full on at 5 days. But one resit in eg November should be possible- depending on how close to grade boundary.

I was surprised but in training we were told that if we thought that a student could achieve at T level within the 2 years then they should be offered a place. Other applicants would be guided to the level 2 transition.

This extract is from gov.uk:

Structure of a T LevelT Levels require students to undertake both a technical qualification and an industry placement with an employer.
Students are also required to work towards the attainment of maths and English if they have not already achieved grade 4 at GCSE, as students do on other 16 to 19 programmes. However, T Level students are no longer required to achieve either a grade 4 in English and maths GCSE or level 2 in functional skills to pass their programme.

taken from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-t-levels/introduction-of-t-levels

@Rummikub thank you so much for that. I've got everything crossed that DC passes English Language but if they don't I will certainly be pointing this information out to the college!