No GCSEs: what did your DC (or you) end up doing for employment?

[TheCentreCannotHold]

Brainstorming future employment options for DC1 who looks set to leave statutory education without any GCSEs, at least not Maths or English.

Do you have a child, or are you someone who left school without these very basic qualifications? What kind of employment have your DC/ you pursued? I'm hoping to show her that there are good alternatives, and that struggling with Maths doesn't make her 'a waste of space'.

DC1 is smart, practical and creative but with learning differences which make learning in Maths particularly tricky, and autistic which means she thrives on routine and structure, and doesn't cope well in very busy environments.

I just spotted that my response to your post says that the idea of a Saturday job is worth "nothing". I'm so sorry, such an embarrassing typo, it should say "it's worth noting"! As in 'making a mental note of', which is exactly what DC1 has done; she's now thinking of local small businesses where she might offer to help. Thank you for mentioning it, very useful!

A few interesting mentions of resourceful people working their way up in an organisation or company. This is very inspirational and exactly the sort of thing she needs to hear. She's very practical, and once systems and processes are clear to her, and she knows what she's doing, she really enjoys grafting.

You're right, murasaki she does need a confidence boost, having very much absorbed the message that GCSEs are absolutely essential. I really hope, of course, that the support put in place by school in the coming year will be effective, but am also preparing for other outcomes, given her difficulties to date.

There’s lots of different information within home ed community groups on face book. Many kids lots of them neurodiverse take different paths to qualifications. Do have a look at Home Ed UK exams and alternatives group. There are different exams boards that suit different learners as well, plus functional skills in maths and English. Different environments suit different kids. There are creative arts awards if she’s into that sort of thing. Please don’t give up look outside mainstream and she’ll find her path. Colleges have different levels to access and can support in different ways.

AQA do awards as well which suit learners not ready for gcse level and some schools do these as alternatives.

@TheCentreCannotHold don't worry I actually read your reply as "noting" anyway!

Yeah I think a Saturday job anywhere she finds interesting would be a good idea, would give a confidence boost at least.

My DD was the Covid year for her GCSEs and she didn’t get much. Shes now the youngest manager in a national hospitality company. She earns almost what I do in a skilled role in logistics in my 40s!

School was awful for my niece and she failed her GCSE’s as it was so difficult for her to concentrate and remember 10 different subjects at once. She’s dyspraxic with ADD and it affects her memory when there is information overload.

She went to evening classes at the local college twice a week to redo English and Maths and got decent grades in both. It does need intrinsic motivation though, make sure they are ready and motivated. It cost £200 to do the two exams and with two hours week evening tutoring per exam I thought was a bargain but could be a waste if she’s not committed. It’s opened up so many doors for her now.

I didn't do well in school although it seemed to be more accepted for us? From what I hear from DC, you are expected to have some type of degree now. I'm a housing officer FWIW, interesting job, people skills and organisation a must, I'm paid the same as what my colleagues who have (unrelated) degrees to the job, yet not paying back student loans so it doesn't really make a difference.

TBH, all of the very arty creatives I know are freelance because there aren't a lot of contracted positions. My sister has a degree in fine art and illustration and she is freelance also. She works part time in a café to supplement this.

She would do well to connect with anyone else in the creative sphere, either locally or online (whatever works best for her) but basically people who are actually getting paid work and find out what they did and how they got there.

I appreciate reaching out and making connections can be difficult with ASD - if it would help to note, there is a LOT of ND in creative/arty circles, IME!

Also just keep creating, making, experimenting and build up a portfolio. If she could do some kind of art type course then they would support her with building a portfolio. I did a BTEC ND in Graphic Design at that age which was brilliant and there was a Fine Art one too. I don't remember if I needed specific GCSEs for it (I know I did need at least 4 at C and above, but there was also someone on my course who was there following a TBI and I don't think he would have been able to sit GCSEs, so it may have been discretionary.) But she can likely build a portfolio without any need for a course. There will be stuff online to help with this and asking any creative people you/she know whether she can look at their portfolios will be useful, also.

Thank you all so much, this really is heartening. I'm hearing loud and clear that it would be wise to look at alternative pathways such as alternative exam boards and different styles of qualifications. I think connecting with home Ed groups might be a smart move -I've considered home educating in desperate moments, but DC1 has always insisted on staying on in mainstream.

My DD stopped going to school at 15 due to mental health issues and didn’t get any qualifications. She is 19 now and works full time as a receptionist in a golf club. She earns good money and is very happy, she will likely end up in a management role in the next couple of years.

Unfortunately things change though to do any kind of apprenticeship they have time have at least a grade four in English and maths or have passed functional skills
I trained as a nurse in the early 90,s I don't even have maths GCSE having failed it three times, but they accepted a science instead which I had two of I would never have Been accepted these days

I know, @x2boys! I don't have a Maths GCSE either, so had to do a maths proficiency test in order to gain my professional qualification as a mature student some 25 years ago. Which is interesting to recall actually: I was completely maths phobic at secondary school and was allowed to drop it (I strangely love it now and my work entails quite a lot of maths). These days I wouldn't be eligible to get on the same course at Uni.