Don't want dd to be under pressure in year 11.

[Forthisthread222]

Dd is behinde at school. She's just finished year 10 so will be going into year 11. She got the following marks end of year grades.

English language 3. Predicted 4
English literature 2. Predicted 0
Maths 1+ predicted 3-
Combined science 3-3 predicted 3-3
RE 2+ predicted 2
Business study p2 predicted p2
Geography 3 predicted 4
Creative media p2 predictive p2

Personally im not worried about her grades. I feel like there are alternatives in education that she could study at college or other educational settings. We are not an accedemic family. Well apart from my oldest ds . But everyone else not at all.

Dd feels under alot of pressure the school is very strict. There's definitely no school home life balance. I dont feel theres enough down time theres always something lingering.

I feel her grades dont define her as a person and her mental health is much more important. She's on the waiting list for CAMHS. She's in contact with samaritans. I know she was doing something with kooth but shes not mentioned them in a while. I dont think anything will come of CAMHS. But we will have to see.

I have given her lots of hugs told her not to worry . Told her to do her best for HER not the school its her who matters not them. I told her education is for ever. And theres alternatives in education such as animal courses, photography amd other things.

Im pretty sure there's alternatives to gcse ?

Functional skills, numeracy and literacy. Not everywhere offers them and there are still exams. If they get a 3 in gcse that is normally the course offered for resits.

Does your daughter have any idea what career she would like to do. Has she had a careers interview at school?

Teachers in secondary schools often have limited knowledge of the range of courses on offer at college, so please go and visit the FE colleges. They can often do 3 years (hence 16-19 age range). Once they’ve done a one year level 2 qualification this qualifies them for a level 3 qualification. It’s a very different environment to secondary school. My dd struggled in year 10 and became a non - attender. College has been a life saver in terms of her education and her mental health.

Please try not to worry - GCSE’s are not the only route to success. (And I say this as a secondary school teacher of 30
years !).

Yes if you get a 3 in the GCSE then government funding rules say to resit the GCSE rather than do functional skills.

What happens if they keep failing though ?

If they keep failing then they keep resitting until they are (I think) 18.

Ok I never realised that seems pretty shit to me . Need to rethink now.

Mind you it could be the setting for dd . She may have to resit them . But if shes at some type of college or alternative. She may do better.

They keep making them re sit.
Hence try and avoid it if you can

It is pretty shit as only a few do better with resits.

I'd also advise looking now at your local colleges - as some of DD2 friends were very upset when they realised not having the 4 (C's here) was a huge problem for them at open days. They all found routes through for next step but it was a huge blow to some of them and their confidence.

If you can afford it, getting a good tutor experienced in dyslexia and dyscalculia to work with her on achieving a 4 in English language and maths would give her the best options post-16.

It will be tricky with the maths, but I helped a student go from a 2 to a 4 in Y11.

I’d get her to focus on English & maths. Getting a pass in these will avoid her having to resit them for the next two years. School are unlikely to allow her to drop subjects as it will have a negative impact on their progress 8 and Ebacc scores. That being said she can informally do this herself. Just get her to do the bare minimum with regards to homework & revision a couple of subjects. Then she will have more time & energy to focus on more important and or enjoyable subjects.

OP I think you sound fantastic. I wish more parents were as connected and wise as you

She needs some targeted focused help in English and maths. There's plenty online but it will need to be done gently and routinely.

Re the resits:

can’t speak for English but in maths if you get a 3 you do resit the gcse.

if you get a 2 or a 1 or a U even the government admits you are unlikely to pass and you do an “appropriate” course. For most students this is functional skills maths level 1 for some students (mostly those who got a U it is entry level maths)

for some years 16-18 providers have done minimal teaching for resits (some are an exception) largely because it costs money and doesn’t give good results. My (school) sixth form scheduled one hour lesson a week and basically didn’t care if students went or not. I had 30 on the class list and 3 regularly turned up (they were the ones that needed to pass for uni).