Don't forget the children who didn't get the exam results they hoped for.

[Whatmonth]

Our granddaughter has failed her exams and is devastated.
In march she was on a ventilator after a bust cyst on her burst appendix.
Unconscious for 3 weeks.
Only came out of hospital 7 days before the start of the GCSE exams.

As we have said it is not the end of the world (of course it is for her)
Yes the exam board has given her leeway.
Unfortunately we can't give her a cuddle as we have covid.

I'm feeling really sad tonight even though objectively DC did well. They got 5 grade 6 and 4 grade 5 and easily onto their next course. But their favourite subject and absolute passion was one of the 5s when an 8 had been predicted, which makes no sense. DC had expected at least one grade 7+ and potentially 4, and has ended up with none. I know rationally they have done well but I just feel underwhelmed and we haven't celebrated at all

That’s great news OP, she’s going to be fine because she clearly has people in her family who’ve got her back if you’re anything to go by. Best of luck to you all

Well you should! That’s a great result, particularly given they’re the first year out of covid to be moderated as before the pandemic. They are fabulous results! But I know what you mean, that’s what happened with one of my DDs - the subject she excelled in, and wants a future in, was the one she didn’t get the expected and predicted result. But all of her other results were well above expectations- but she just couldn’t see past her ‘failure’ to start with. She’s moved on now and is doing amazingly well.

@Judashascomeintosomemoney thank you, I know this isn't the end of the world and so does DC but it's just not how we'd expected today to go

I drove past our local secondary school this morning, and seeing the teens walking in to the school to collect the results made me feel so emotional. It will have felt like the most important moment of their lives to some of them, and the thought of them being disappointed and upset broke my heart.

My own children are years away from GCSE sitting, but we've had lots of chat in the car about how all that matters to me is that they try their very hardest, and that come results day anything can be worked out - and I will be proud of them regardless.

I'm glad she's feeling better. I spectacularly fucked up my GCSEs. I ended up in college with others who spectacularly fucked up and had a blast. I eventually got 6 GCSEs then did a BTEC level 3. I went to university a few years later and graduated with a 2.1. I got firsts in all my essay based assignments but didn't do well in my exams hence the 2.1. Turns out I'm just spectacularly shit at exams. My life has been good and I do not regret not going to university at 19 as I initially chose a subject which would have limited my career options.

I really feel for the kids who didn't get the results they wanted/needed.
I hate the pressure they are put under at such a young age and how they are made to feel they have failed.
If only they had the foresight to see how many opportunities are out there waiting for them.
Good luck for your granddaughter and all the other kids in the same boat.

Thank you for this post. My daughter did not manage to sit any exams.

This cohort has been fucked over by this Govt

I hope you all remember this at the ballot box

So sorry, you don’t have to share why, but GCSES and ALEVELS or other standard secondary exams, do not define our children. As many other PPs have pointed out, it’s not even that they sit them and don’t do as well as the definition of success suggests they should. It’s that the current system of academic achievement being the only measure of worthiness for secondary education means not that some don’t fit the mould, it’s more that the mould isn’t fit for purpose. Worth noting if Labour had won the 2015 election, there probably wouldn’t even be GCSE exams as from now…..

The current education system has fucked over many cohorts tbh.

This is so sad to read. Your child has achieved nine GCSEs at way way above the pass rate. If you Google the results table a grade four is a pass, (equivalent to the old C ) grades 5 & 6 are very good passes (equivalent to a B) . The grades have been deliberately downgraded this year in relation to the past two years. That’s not the students fault. My grandson achieved six grade five to six results and he’s out celebrating with his friends as I write. I’m now approaching 70 but back in the day to pass O levels you had to achieve over 45% . I passed seven first time round but some results were only just over the pass mark. Has anyone EVER asked since then what the pass mark was ... No . I went on to gain A-levels and an honours teaching degree. Please reassess and celebrate with your child.

Absolutely nothing wrong with failing. My youngest son failed his driving test three times …he is massively competitive and his two older siblings passed first time!
Guess who is the most confident driver?

I didn’t get the grades I wanted during my first set of A levels as my DM died whilst I was in 6th Form. I went to the local FE college did another 2 years doing different A levels and got several Uni offers to read Law.

I am now a financial services lawyer have worked in the City for decades. The flexibility and resilience I gained from having to pick myself up and carve a new path is probably the most useful thing I have ever learnt.

My DD has had 2 years at college following missing y11 and only getting a few grades due to teacher assessed grades.
She did a level 1 course when we had originally expected her to do level 2 or 3. It has been ok.

Best wishes.

I always feel for the kids who haven't done as well this time of year. Must be so hard to see others celebrating.

They have passed at level 1. Unless they get a 0 they have a qualification.

It might not be the qualification they were aiming for but they do have a grade.

They will be able to do a level 2 course at college.

I feel some posters want us to kick are children when they are down.
Mental health yesterday was an important part of the results.

To the rest I hope your child goes onto great things.

I agree with @sashh. It’s not a fail. A grade 1, 2 or 3 is a pass at level 1. So they can go to college to get the level 2 (grade 4+), after which they can do the level 3 (A level equivalent) and then university if that’s what they want.

Getting grades 1, 2 or 3 at GCSE shouldn’t stop anyone getting where they want to be - it may just mean an extra year at college (which I understand may feel like the end of the world when you’re 16).

My DS failed his English GCSE 3 years ago- he was in year 10 during the first lockdown, and his education experience suffered as you'd expect. He went on to do a science BTEC and re-sat his English GCSE the following year. Failed again. Realised he didn't like the college as a whole (poor quality teaching) so started his BTEC over again at a new college, and attended more English lessons to retake it this year for the 3rd time. He's now achieved a 5 for English and a Distinction* for his first year of BTEC, and is planning to apply for an apprenticeship programme instead of going to uni.

Paths in life are varied and don't need to follow a straight line to get you where you want to be. Sending support to all the dc who are having to carve out their own journeys as well.

Many years ago, I was proud of my son for working hard, although it was never easy for him. He achieved what he and we thought he would, but he had done the best he could. In many people’s eyes, including the school, which wouldn’t allow him into the 6th form, he had failed. He was able to go to college and focus on something he enjoyed. It made all the difference. It took longer, but it was worth it.

@CommonVetch

Well done to your son.

You are right paths are varied, and the more twisty turny routes often have more experiences and a more interesting journey.

Wth is wrong with you? Where did I say that? I am saying we shouldn't dismiss their very valid pain and upset by saying oh you didn't fail. There are a lot of other ways to make them feel better. Talking about options etc. But this is very very fresh and allowing kids to process that is very important. Saying oh you didn't fail, when they're staring at their 2s and 3s is just patronising ans invalidating

In other circumstances where a teen hadn't put the work in yes I'd agree with you put I feel you've missed the point somewhat.
In these specific circumstances this kid hasn't failed because to sit the exams at all was an enormous achievement.
Yes her anger and upset should be validated rather than dismissed but how the r

Results are framed to her will have an enormous impact on her ongoing motivation.

I never said sitting the exams itself wasn't an achievement. It is. Especially in those circumstances. However, the child still failed to get a pass mark and that's a fail. There is a lot to celebrate in this scenario, but they still failed and there is a lot of resilience to learn from this experience when the time is right. I'm not saying to tell them they failed to their face on the day of, but when they are crying and saying they failed, acknowledging how hard it must be, and how shit it is. Giving them hugs and allowing them to cry it out. Saying they didn't fail is not helpful. They aren't stupid. Yes it changes every year but there is a pass and fail mark.
Diverting the conversation to a more positive route is fine when the time is right, not when they're in the thick of it and just want some acknowledgement on how shit and unfair it is.