Son did terribly in GCSE’s

[Kat29]

My 16 year old got his GCSE results yesterday and they were awful. Everything was at least 2 grades below what he was predicted. He only passed 4 although that did include maths and English. All his plans have to do A-levels are in tatters, as is his confidence, and my confidence in my parenting ability. I just don’t know where to go from here. School didn’t care, they were too busy taking photos of their high achievers so no help there.

Ah I'm sorry OP that not nice for you or your son - could he do a resit year ? It really wouldn't matter in the long run although in the short term might be tricky to balance against his peers moving on to A levels.

If school aren't helpful could you go see a local FE college & work out some options with them re:possible resits & next steps?

Also is there any scope for remarking if this was such a surprise?

His school doesn’t offer a-levels so there’s no option for resits. I wish there was. He’s going to look at a college course today, but with only 4 passes he’s really limited with what he can do. All my family are very academic and have degrees, so it was a total shock. I feel he’s limited himself at such a young age. Just so upset for him. He did all the work, had 100% attendance, top sets at school , just something has gone badly wrong in the exams and we don’t know what.

Sorry to hear that, OP, that must have been very disappointing for your son. Try not to panic. He will not be the first one to not get the grades predicted. When he is feeling up to it, sit down and make a plan for his next steps. There are many people who do not take the academic route into employment now. Maybe give some local colleges a call and see what courses they have on offer. Wishing you both lots of luck.

If he has the passes in English and maths they may be fine at putting him on a level 3 course. I think they tend to go for level 2 for those who have to do resits alongside. It’s great he has those in the bag.

what are the level 3 options?

have you looked at the grade boundaries for all of the GCSEs?
my ds was in a similar situation 2 years ago, 4 passes including English and maths. We ended up getting his English lit paper reviewed as he is asd and we knew he hadn’t understood which questions to answer (he answered all of them on texts he had not studied). Eventually they found some extra marks to push him to a 4. However while we were waiting for that I did consider what extra gcse he could study privately to get him to the 5 holy grail, is there one he would could resit privately or one he would start from scratch? There are so many to choose from.

my son only did six months in sixth form college before deciding he wanted to work, however he has come to realise that’s not all plain sailing either and that qualifications help. He is now working pt while doing a distance learning Access to He diploma in social sciences which is the equivalent to 3 a levels (on paper) and which will give him access to university or an apprenticeship with needs a level 3.

like you we are a very academic family so it’s alien to see how hard it can be and to feel so helpless. But there are options and other paths, honestly. Hang in there!

My DS did not do as well either. Today I will be trying to get him out of his own head and make a plan. I’m calling local colleges to see what he can do. I feel your pain I’ve been awake since 4 worrying about it. I hate the uncertainty. Good luck to your DS.

Sorry to hear this but at least he has got his maths and English there are still lots of doors open to him. And there will be support at a FE college.
Have his initial plans had to change ?
Nobody is a failure at 16 and your son certainly isn't.

Phone local fe colleges, OP, and go in and talk to them. School are really remiss not to support you here but I can well believe the lack of support you're getting. Btec maybe?
Good luck to you both

Your son has not ‘limited himself’, he has just given himself a different challenge that’s all. He has maths and English passes, this is a major positive in my book.
You need to look at the college local to you and see what they offer.
My child’s college offer an extra year in some circumstances, where they take access BTEC’s to get onto A level courses.

You could also look at his grades, and see how close the mark was to the next grade, a re-mark maybe needed?

So many children don't perform very well in exams. My DH didn't do great at GCSE and he had his own business for many yeara and now has a successful tech career. It's not the end of the world at all and the great thing is that its not like it used to be with only one road leading to higher education if that's what he wants to do.
Most colleges will accept him and help him to get his Maths, English and IT if he needs those. Some do offer other GCSE re-sits as well.
If he wants to go to uni there is the BTEC (I know it's maybe changed names now) route where he can do his level 3 and 4 leading to a degree if thats what he would like to do.

@Kat29 if it's any consolation, my son too is in the top sets and got 1-2 grades lower compared to his Mocks. I know the pressure of the exam and having to sit in the Hall made it worse. I too feel I've failed and his little confidence has been totally rocked. He is 2 points off his entry requirements to a very good 6th Form and although we are getting his language regraded as it's 3 points off the next grade, the 6th Form won't wait and consider it. Good luck, sometimes when things go wrong it's life putting you on the right path, that's what I'm clutching to!

Have a look around.

We have a college near us that does lots of practical courses (mechanical engineering for example) and you can do 3 years instead of 2 so you start at level 2 and when you pass that go onto the level 3.

There are so many courses available for students who aren't subject study academic and who don't thrive in exams.

His options aren't limited. But he will have to accept his pathway is changed and may be a longer one than he planned.

Also ime locally those who do the practical work based subjects often find it easier to get the apprenticeship placements (degree while earning so no uni debt!) as they have hands on practical experience.

I understand you are feeling disappointed but four passes is amazing op he should be really proud of himself and he's definitely not limited himself. The GCSE's were very hard this year I understand. If it makes you feel any better my DS only passed one! That wasn't for the want of trying he did hours of revision, his dad and me spent hours with him doing past papers and testing him (some of which he passed) and he went to every single intervention lesson offered. I can't be disappointed or angry with him as he tried his very best, he has special needs and is not academic so I knew he'd struggle.

However all that said we did have a contingency plan with the college who have been amazing to be honest. He is going to be able to do resits and a level 2 course for a year before embarking on a level 3. They've steered him in the right direction and have assured him he'll get the help he needs for his resits.

I'm not worried and neither is he, I know he will get there and tried his best and it will be the same for your child.

Try to focus on your son, not your own disaster thinking. And your family's academic background is irrelevant.

Today what matters is his emotional state. Tell him you love him and you are there to support him emotionally and practically. Tell him you understand how hard it is to be disappointed but that in time together you can work it out and there are future successes to be had. He needs to be allowed to feel his feelings.

He has the option of resits or the option of taking a course he can do with what he has.

Do not project your panic onto him. He has not limited himself long term, he has had a set back.

I didn't do well in my GCSE's, think I got 2 above a D, I resat at my local college. Went on to get 5 A- Cs. I was also able to take subject's my school didn't offer which interested me more. My posh private boarding school wasn't interested in helping me either, I was a blot on their perfect record (I'm glad because I hated school and wanted to leave anyway, part of me thinks I subconsciously deliberately failed).

I went on to get a degree in English and Classics from a top university.

I found college suited me better, less rigidity, and more treated like an adult. But I'm rubbish at exams so when I chose my subjects for my degree I chose lots with coursework and no exams.

DD has 'failed' almost everything, a grade or two below her predicted grades. It is horrible to see her thinking of herself as a 'failure', when the reality is she has worked hard and learnt a lot, which is what education should be about.

School support has been non-existent.

Look at courses at your local FE college and make an appointment to discuss those he is interested in. There are many paths open to a whole range of qualifications and careers, it is sad that everything gets focused on the academic route as the only way to 'succeed'

Get back in touch with school and for any of the numeric scores are close to the next grade up and if they are enter them for remarking - the school will tell you how). Speak to other nearby schools and see if they have bet the entry requirements there (schools will all have different requirements) also check local colleges.
What subjects was he planning to study?

A member of our family is in the same boat. They will be going to college and resitting. So disappointed for them. Going to spend time today building up their confidence and looking on the bright side. Some people are not academic, our system is harsh.

I don't have any advice (others have given some!) But just to say-
My husband did poorly at GCSE. Didn't get Maths and English passes. He went to college to study to be an Electrician which he did for 3 years. He then joined the RAF as a trade - electrics. He was in the RAF for 7 years. He then moved into the railway and now earns over 70k a year and has just completed an MSc, with distinction, despite having only some NVQs which he'd done through the RAF.
It seems like the endnof the road now, but there are lots of options and paths and it doesn't have to define his future.

This.

Love the comment about no-one being a failure at 16. This is so true. I'm sure you have, but reiterate it's not the end of the world what his marks are. With a child who tried hard, had 100% attendance, was in the top sets and is now learning how to pivot and reassess options, you have a child who has a set of life skills that will make him go far. You should be very proud of yourself and your son for these incredible achievements. The most successful people in life have setbacks. It doesn't define him. My setbacks have been the making of me and I suspect it will be the same for your son.

Are you London based?

OP. FE College. Getting E&M is brilliant- saves another year if those subjects- which are mandatory at post 16.

There will be a pathway to university for him.

All FE colleges are enrolling now don't ring - go in. There will be support.

And if you are North Manchester area - pm me!

Please don’t worry, there are lots of options. You should definitely be looking at remarks if some of his grades were very close to the next grade boundary. School will know his raw marks and you should insist they advise you on this. If he was in top sets but then did less well they should be equally confused as you. English and maths are important so it’s great he’s got those. Go to his preferred college and get advice, talk to them about his predictions and how unexpected this was, they’ll be able to help you.

Please don’t talk about your family being academic. Your son has done his exams and that’s resulted in 4 GCSEs which is fantastic. I am in Scotland so different but we had our Nat 5 results just about 3 weeks ago now. My DS sounds very similar to yours. He’s found himself a college course to learn some trades such as joinery, plumbing, tiling, painting and decorating. He’s also found himself a part time job with a joiner for a Thursday evening and Friday (no college on a Friday). The positives are DS is happy and he’s found something thst interests him. In fact once this year at college is done he’s considering another sport based year.

Give yourself a couple of days and you’ll may be see that unless he wants to become a Dr perhaps his 4 passes will do him just fine on his path.