College only celebrating A grade university entrants on social media

[Variationofnormal]

I know why they do it but it's irritating. My dc1 2 years ago got A*AA in his a levels and obviously I was proud of him as was the college. He's now at university and doing really well.

Dc2 got his results yesterday. He got CCU and he is off to his first choice university in September. I'm extremely proud of him. He has autism and he attempted suicide when he was 12 so we are so lucky he is here at all. But the college posted on social media about "some" of the students who got into university. They all got A grades. He's not on the list along with presumably other students who got into university with B's and C's. There is a photo of 3 of his best friends from secondary school holding balloons and grinning. They could have easily included him and the other students who didn't get A grades but they didn't.

They don't have space to include everyone and they are advertising and promoting the school not celebrating the achievements per se. No one is going to see CCU and say "I want my child to go there"

I can see why schools post about kids getting into top unis/top jobs or apprenticeships. When people are considering schools they want to know that if their child is bright enough the school would be able to help them get into a top place.
My kids' ex school posts about top 15 unis young people have got into, but posts about other achievements too, such as jobs in top companies or apprenticeships

Forgot to add, they post about top grades in btechs too. They can't include everyone though as it's too many young people to list

While he got two Cs and that's enough to get him to the next stage, they aren't going to publicise the kids who studied a subject at A level with them for 2 years and then didn't get a grade.

Dc2 got his results yesterday. He got CCU and he is off to his first choice university in September. I'm extremely proud of him. He has autism and he attempted suicide when he was 12 so we are so lucky he is here at all.

This is fantastic! I'm sure you're all very proud of him and will celebrate accordingly.

But as a PP said, this is not what the promotion is for as prospective pupils will aspire to higher grades even if they don't end up getting them.

They're always going to promote and advertise in the best way possible.

I remember when my DD went to collect her A level results from college. The local press was there. As the students were opening their results they were approaching them and asking for their results. Those students who had A* and A were asked if they would be in a photo celebrating their results.

My DD and her friend both got their results and were approached. My DD got the A* and A grades and was asked to be in the photo, her friend got C's and was ignored.

The schools social media page was also all about the A grade students and their success.

Unfortunately the press/school only want to do shout outs for those with the highest grades as it makes the school look good.

They didn't seem to give a shit about those students who had worked really, really hard to achieve their B and C grades and were really proud of themselves.

It does seem a bit shitty doesn't it?

Slightly worrying to that with those grades he is going to university. Hoping of course for the best for him but could be a very difficult experience, and wondering what uni/course he is doing that will make it worth the cost of the course. Is he getting a loan? Or are you paying?

I read the other day that only 6% of UK students don't take out any loan at all, so quite a small proportion

Just concerned that the parents who pay, and the students are being exploited if this is a course that won’t provide a good experience or outcome.
If it is a loan that will never be paid back then it is scandalous that the taxpayer funds it.
Who is paying?

I went to uni when there were unis and polys and you got a grant. People saw higher education as a good thing for the country, as is the case in many European countries still. Some of which have no or very low tuition fees and subsidised accommodation and canteens. It's seen as good to have an educated workforce (and voters,) not scandalous.

Do you rain on everyone's parade in real life too or only online?

The OP is a capable parent advising her child to do what's right for him.

Sometimes, it really is a good idea to follow the old advice of 'if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all'.

It’s scandalous is they (or the taxpayer) are being duped into paying for a low grade ‘couse’ with no employment prospects just to keep the uni paying their jobsworths.
Many ‘universities’ are now financially on the brink because they deliver no value and are desperately clinging on to their grift.

This thread isn't about your political views.

I think you should take this line of discussion to a different thread.

This really annoys me, local press and SM full of stories about high performing students and how many A and A star grades were achieved. No mention of the student such as your child, or those who worked bloody hard to get their grades up from Ds/Es to Bs/Cs.

The whole system is wrong. I wish they would do away with the whole grading thing. The effect on children’s mental health is dire. So many kids think they have failed if they get anything less than an A.

If A levels are just a stepping stone to get to the next stage, then have a simple pass or fail.

And well done to your dc @Variationofnormal 👏👏👏

How about mind your own business?

Geeez!

So that would be pass/pass/fail. Even if you said two passes, that's not the norm (three). Still not what they want to publicise.

And actually maybe by making more fuss over the average grades will have a positive effect. Even a grade E is a pass, we need to remember that.

Schools and colleges can’t take all the praise for top grades anyway. Lots of kids have private tuition.

School social media is advertising - not anything more or less. They are promoting their services as an A grade factory. It's not part of their pastoral care or student engagement - and it's good for students to know that social media validation is not an indication of worth. Celebrate his results in your own way. Both my kids have always declined permission for schools to use their image on social media anyway and this helps.

So what? The end result is achieved. Even top universities give out offers of two Es sometimes. Nobody cares about A level grades in adult life.

YANBU. They should certainly celebrate those who have triumphed over adversity. Nearly all of those with top grades would have got them wherever they went. If I were choosing a school now I'd be looking at whether DD2 would fulfil her potential with AuADHD, not DD1 who is super academic and would do well anywhere.

What the actual fuck are you talking about?

Do you think you have some claim over who should go to university and who shouldn’t?

The OP’s son has achieved the grades he requires to go the university of his choice which is fantastic. And nothing on earth to do with you.

YANBU. They should certainly celebrate those who have triumphed over adversity. Nearly all of those with top grades would have got them wherever they went. If I were choosing a school now I'd be looking at whether DD2 would fulfil her potential with AuADHD, not DD1 who is super academic and would do well anywhere.

And if he (at CCU) and they (‘do what big brother did’) are being duped into a scam where he can’t manage it .. by a ‘Uni’ that just wants bums on seats paying fees (especially if state funded (but also terrible if parents are paying what they can’t afford to spaff) - yes that is scandalous exploitation of the poor boy.

This toxic focus only on top grades contributes to the really negative culture in schools.

It would be WAY more inspiring to share a range of stories.

It would also help advertise the school to a wider range of parents.