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.

Speak to colleges, they can book him on a course and sort his resits. My friend did it with her DS today, he only got 1 4 in total, mostly 2s and 1 3 and still got on a L2. His 4 was Eng Lang but even so he didn't get the 4 x 3s required for the course and they still let him on.

@teenagersuntangled that book sounds so interesting. Where can we read your interview please?

Yes, I really enjoyed the book. It’s called Exam Nation, by Sammy Wright and my interview with him has literally just come out on the Teenagers Untangled podcast. You can find it on any podcast platform for free.

He is 16! I know it feels like the end of the world now, but it really isn't. Why not resitting when he passes? He can carry out his plans. It's a year now when young, instead of years of misery working in jobs he hates because he isn't qualified.

With no disrespect, this as to be your son's decision it's his future, offer him some ideas, then leave him to think about it, been a high achiever isn't everything and uni is over rated.

Hiya hun, i did see this thread and i think i commented but iv come back to it to see what your son chose to do after his gcse results, im hoping there was a happy outcome because gcses arent the be all and end all xxxxx

I hope so too...my child was in a similar position and is now super happy doing some level 2 courses at college and about to resist maths. She is doing really well at the level 2, finds them interesting. Lots of course work. No exams. Hopefully setting up her well for next year for Btecs, T levels, A levels or whatever. Hope your son is in a similar position.

In my job seen so many suicide attempts with teens over exams and going to uni. It's exam results not a cancer diagnosis. You can go back to further education anytime I know people from my class at school done awful in exams now high flyers in multi national companies. The school can't do anything they can maybe appeal if results are way way under what was expected if they can still do that. As long as they try their best and no exams marks are worth anyone's mental health suffering. I don't see the big deal at all.

Same here hun, i worked along side the sen pupils during gcse time and the stress it causes is awful, i have told my own children if you try your best and make sure you revise then the outcome is what it is, gcses arent the be all and end all, they help...but there are alternative options xx

How is your son doing now hun? Xx

Plans are in tatters, as is his confidence, and my confidence in my parenting ability.

> All is NOT lost - it WILL just take longer.
Simply do AS level - a cut down simpler version.
> These CAN be topped up to A level later,
BETTER to continue WITH the plan, but completing AS level INSTEAD.

I'm sure it's been. Said but if he wants too just do them again don't accept them if this is a surprise for him

Not the family yardstick but him

@teenagersuntangled whose book and podcast please I can't see the nBw

Two grades below expected is not the end of the world- they should still let him do A levels, unless only C's were predicted. He really has to take a step up though, possibly with some coaching , and careful consideration of which subjects to pick for A Levels.

Thanks for tagging me @Thelostjewels My podcast is Teenagers Untangled and the book is by Sammy Wright, called Exam Nation.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It’s incredibly distressing when the results we get are lower than what was expected, regardless of what they were.

As a parent, witnessing our child suffer feels viscerally painful. It’s easy to think it’s about us and our parenting, but your worth or value as a parent isn’t defined by your child’s exam results.

If your son was predicted higher grades then there’s a solid chance he can do better. Give yourself time to calm down and accept the current situation then think about retaking key subjects that might get him what he wants.

I think the problem with GCSE’s is that there are so many exams at the same time. For some kids, the juggling is too much. Personally, I think it’s entirely unnecessary to take all of those exams at the same time. I actually have my daughter a year out aged 16 because she was burned out by schooling.

Richard Reeves, who’s an expert on boys, is arguing for boys to be held back one year in education because they mature later and they’re struggling in many ways in education.

If those grades were a real aberration sit with your son and look at what he would like to study for A level and what grades are required. Then just focus on retaking those.

It may be that your son needs extra support in understanding how to study. I would definitely look at his techniques.

I thoroughly recommend The Only Study Guide You’ll Ever Need, which both my teens used and say is brilliant.

My podcast, and website, give you lots of techniques and to support for you and your son,

www.teenagersuntangled.com
if you go on episodes and search exams or grades you’ll find the interviews I’ve done about this, but there are lots about the current problems with education and how we can support our kids.

Also, sit with your own feelings and try to identify what your inner narrative is about your role in your son’s education.

all the very best with this and feel free to ask more questions

Thank you

THIS THREAD IS FROM 2024

@Kat29 I’d love to know how your son is getting on one year on!

resits are hard at any stage however it has always struck me that A level
resits are more straightforward than GCSE. I’ve known plenty of people redo a whole A level year but I’ve never know anyone redo a whole GCSE year, only individual exams, mainly maths and English.

Surely a further ed college would be the way to go?

If the poor grades were down to lack of work, he may well realise that it’s entirely down to him now, to get stuck in.

Dh failed all his A levels (maths and science) first time. (Too much partying.). His DPs said that was it, he wasn’t getting another penny (not that he’d ever had much at all.)

He worked his socks off for a year, and got the grades he needed for civil engineering at a Russell Group uni renowned for it.

I'm also interested in how the kids who didn't do well in their GCSEs last year are doing now.

My ds did not go well in his - will have to resit maths. He's going into sixth form to do 2 BTechs and an A level.

Not sure this is the right route for him, but his choice..

Well DS point blanked refused to go to English and maths at college. Said he has PTSD from high school ( he had a few major issues with his teachers ) so they managed to get him special permission to not do it. I’m satisfied DS knows enough maths to see him through his life ( I’m an B maths student) and I know from his teachers he would have got 5/6 if they’d based his grade on his portfolio. He did get a distinction in his creative media though and his course leader was very very impressed and told him he should have been in the higher level.

Thanks for the update. Is your ds going to do a L3 BTech now?

Pleased that he has found something that he enjoys and is good at.