All 3s in GCSEs. Feeling hopeless.

[eyespartyparty]

I haven’t slept or eaten much since. Colleges are all closed due to the weekend/bank holiday so I can’t confirm DS has a place anywhere to do anything. I just feel like screaming. All his friends have done great and will all be going to their chosen places in a couple of weeks and I am just avoiding speaking to anyone or leaving the house as I can’t bear to keep repeating it.

My Ds is exactly the same except for a 4 in maths. We were really shocked he got a 3 in English as he had been getting consistent 6's in mocks but he will obviously have to re-sit this and this means he won't be able to do music performance I don't think (which was the only subject he really wanted to do!)

I'm going to go with him to enroll and try and fight his corner a bit (he is on the wait list for an autism assessment) school were really unhelpful and wouldn't even contemplate putting him forward for extra time. We had to really push for him to be in a smaller/quieter room as noises really trigger him and even that was last minute because I sent an angry email!! They also left him in a top set maths group, learning Higher maths stuff despite repeatedly asking that he do the lower paper amd then at the last minute moving him down to the lower paper. Same happened in science.
To say I. Annoyed at the school is an understatement but I'm just sad for my son! He doesn't have a plan B at all so we will just have to wait and see what 6th form say next wendnesday.
I hope you manage to get some answers for your dc!

Don’t worry. He’s got plenty of time to make a success of his life and I’m sure he will - both career wise and personally

just keep being a suppotive presence ❤️

The boundaries between 3 and 4 seem to have been set very far apart (further than 4 to 5 for example) for most exam boards for core subjects. It might be that be has performed at a standard that could gain a 4 in Nov resits, or could do so with a bit more preparation. Ring colleges on Tuesday and see what he can sign up for.

How does your son feel about it? How did he do in his mocks?

I’m sorry that must be tough, and if you’re feeling like that I’m sure he’s feeling even worse.

Given that you can’t do anything about it til Tuesday can I suggest you do get out of the house ideally including your son and get out for a big walk somewhere away from other people? Nearby woods or river walk? Or a swim? Remind yourselves that he’s so much more than his results and reinforce your relationship as he’ll be needing to know he hasn’t fucked it up.

Then tomorrow sit down together calmly and make a plan of action. All is not lost, loads of people go through this every year and turn out great.

All is not lost. I take it you don't have a plan B? What was plan A?

With 3s the obvious thing is a Level 2 BTEC alongside compulsory maths and English resits. Then after a year move up to a 2 year level 3 course hopefully.

Loads of advice on the Further Education board, and we even have a shiny new BTEC thread running.

Look on college websites today and Monday and identify suitable courses ready to hit the phone or visit on Tuesday.

I seriously can’t cope with how I’m feeling, I need to snap out of it and try to move on but my brain is just exploding inside.

He was predicted 5s and 6s so we knew he wasn’t going to be opening amazing results but we just assumed he’d get enough to move on.

We don’t have many options where we live for colleges etc so I’m worried places will be full for a September start, and we didn’t even look round any apart from the one he wanted to go to, which he now can’t.

Check grade boundaries. If he's within a few marks of the higher grade then ask for a review of the marking. You've nothing to lose.

Check no papers were lost. School can find out. This has happened with some exams this year and then they just take an average of the other papers but if the lost one was your strongest that will bring the grade down.

Other than that, take a breath, look at all options including resits and remember it isn't the end of the world, even if it feels like it.

What was Plan A?
Tell us that and his interests and we can suggest courses.

Find all the colleges within1h.5hr, there may be more than you realise.

Thank you for all the helpful comments so far. I think it’s just such a shock.
He’s camping with friends so I haven’t even had a chance to talk to him properly about it. He seems pretty non-plussed from the brief minutes I’ve spoken to him but that might be a bit of an act.

He was going to be doing a-levels at the local sixth form but he can’t be accepted with what he has.

Which A levels? (It will help me suggest BTECs).
This may be a blessing in disguise as with 4-6 predictions he wouldn't have been on for great A level results.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed I really recommend getting out and doing a walk or swim or just putting on some really loud music and going GAAAAH, it’s ok to feel upset and frustrated. Great your son isn’t there so you can get it out of your system.

It really isn’t the end of the world. Are A-levels the right thing for him given his results and even at 5-6’s he might have struggled with A-levels.

What about a Btec or apprenticeship. He’s 16, he has so many years left to be successful. No one cares about GCSE’s once he has moved on.

If he's not very academic he needs to get onto vocational courses but work on getting English and maths gcse.

Yes I agree about the A-levels, looks like he wouldn’t have managed them.

Yes I think I am overwhelmed. It is helping to write it down on here.

It's such a shame that the system works like this. Low GCSE grades, especially when it sounds like they were a blip, shouldn't stop a child trying A-levels.
I really feel for you eye.

He was going to do A levels in media studies, PE and sociology

So there are BTECs in
Sport
Outdoor pursuits
Applied Science
Business.
Any of those sound possible?

They will all help him be work ready in various ways. The first 2 will have physically active practicals.

BTEC in Sport Science? Maybe add in Applied Science and then with resits, he could have qualifications that play to his strengths, involve all of the aspects he's interested in from his A level preferences and be considerably more enjoyable in delivery than A levels can be for somebody who doesn't sound like he's particularly keen on the A level pathway.

I’ve been looking at some websites but they all say ‘clearing’ and some courses full, which I’d expect this close to starting.

Yes maybe Sport Science might be a good option.

He can do 3 years. So a year at level 2 plus resits, then 2 years at level 3.

@Thissickbeat A levels study is pretty intense for 2 years and some students would do much better on vocational courses.I know someone who had GCSEs 5s but mum wanted them to do Alevels. At the end of lower 6th they dropped out, which made it more difficult to do/get a vocational course, plus the students confidence was much lower.

After a while they got onto a practical trade course which was the right path for them, they should have just started it after GCSEs.