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.

The local very high performing college that’s where I want my child to go has been celebrating a plethora of students by where they are heading next.. all sorts paths. And clearly not were all A grade students - so refreshing. Massive range of options being championed
( local school where you can’t event enter sixth form without all 7-9 GCSE’s winds me up bragging about A stars)

Seriously? I for one had very disappointing A level results, only passed two of the four I took. Went to university as a mature student, got a first and a departmental prize and now earn 6 figures. There is life beyond A star and A grades you know.

Sorry, but what is a ccu mark? I googled it ,but still have no understanding 😕

CCU is presumably 2 grade Cs and one Unclassified.

I think the A and A star students are disproportionately represented on MN. I'm another one who went to uni in the 80s with quite shit a levels, probably due to immaturity and not really enjoying the ones that I chose.

I loved my university course, did well and continued on to a Phd and got a decent job afterwards.

I would actually worry more about the A star kids who are perfectionists and never dropped a grade in their life.

Those with lower grades have to dust themselves down and get on with it.

Fuck me the amount of miserable people on here!! The OP’s son attempted suicide at age 12 and has now got himself a place at uni - bloody well done!!! Who gives a shiny shit about A stars, honestly the way the media goes on it’s more unusual these days not to have one. What has happened to people celebrating individual achievement rather than listing ways that people without A stars will fail in life. Habe a look at yourselves and think beyond the perfect!

Also OP, there are sadly some people who would be inclined to leave unkind comments on a social media post featuring someone with “poor” grades.

I’ve seen this on two occasions already this week and was appalled that the admin of the account hadn’t immediately intervened to remove the trolling comments!

This thread is crazy. Of course schools and colleges should be celebrating the students who have achieved the top grades. Parents can be as proud of their little darlings who got average or less results as they want but that’s not the point of exams.

Congratulations to your son, @Variationofnormal, for getting the grades that he needed.

What do you think that the school's social media account is for, though? Do you really think it exists to dole out a fair share of acknowledgement/validation for achievements? Teachers have to do that as part of their role, but social media is for the school's branding/PR/promotion.

How did this happen, over the last few decades - this idea that young people have to be constantly praised and validated. There's a time and a place for that. Your son has done well. I'm sure that you, and perhaps his teachers (if he has seen them since the results were published) have made that clear

This is how I feel too. Of course students who get low grades may well do great in life.
But for the moment, those who got high grades should be celebrated.
It's like giving a prize to everyone on sports day!

He didn't get low or poor grades though, he got into his first choice university.

You think CCU are good grades? Which uni did he get into with the those grades?

Amazing that your kid got into uni with two C’s. Sounds like he’s going to need a lot of support

It doesn't matter which uni Ops kid got into. I am not trying to be nasty. DD didn't get the grades she aimed for, and didn't get into her first or even her second choice uni.
But then she worked harder and graduated with a first.

I am only saying that I am not keen on the American method of celebrating everybody.

I agree with you, OP.

I think it's bad for schools to only celebrate the top academic achievers. I know they almost all do this, but I've just checked DD's (great, inclusive, London) school and whilst they do boast about the overall spread of grades, they don't actually post those absolutely cringe pictures with students holding placards showing their individual grades. They could. Some got A star, ,A star,* * A, or close, AAA, etc.

In fact, they don't attach grades to individual pupils at all, and their results day promo pics include kids who I know did not get very high grades but who worked their arses off in difficult circumstances, including a young carer and one with an EHC plan for SEND that impacts intellectual ability.

I love their approach. They actually remember to mention the students who didn't do A Levels as well. In fact I am going to write to them when the holidays are done to thank them for doing it this way.

Son's school however... very desirable, gets good results but so it should given only circa 6% are eligible for FSM. It issued a list ranking the top ten or so students by grade, A* folks first. No mention of anyone doing anything other than standard A Levels, no recognition of individuals who might have got lower grades but worked harder for them or got exactly what they needed for great onward destinations, except a platitudinous "we''re proud of you all". Nothing says that like leading with a ranked list of high achievers, eh?

It does matter though. I think kids are being misled if they are told that a degree from Oxford Uni is worth the same as one from the Uni of Hertfordshire (for example). It really isn’t worth spending £40k+ for a degree from the latter.

“It really isn’t worth spending £40k+ for a degree from the latter.”

says who? Hertfordshire has some well regarded courses and many successful graduates

Maybe not the best example. How about uni of Northampton which gives unconditional offers to 56% of applicants?

Im not sure they do believe they are the same though. I think its more likely they feel a degree from oxford is undervalued and in a proper open market would be much more. Clearly the Oxford grad is getting a great deal on their brand but it doesnt follow the other degree isnt worth the fee.

The worst uni in the uk for graduate employment employment still get a lot of grads into grad level jobs within 15 months of leaving, and in many instances the subject chosen correlates with earnings more than institutions ie creative arts is low paid and the uni of the creative arts is bottom for getting grad level employment at 56.8% (last years cohort)

But even then, many people go in with open eyes knowing they would still rather study arts and then work in lower paid roles in the arts over not studying and staying in retail or hospitality because they enjoy it.

That’s fair enough if they realise what they are doing and that the majority will end up in jobs which don’t require degrees.
I think the university experience in the 1980s was so much better because we didn’t have to worry about part time jobs or debt and we came out with a valuable degree which led to graduate level careers. Of course, that wasn’t for the masses as it is now

Loads of lower tier universities take basically anyone. Why is that a problem? Doesn’t mean their experience isn’t worth it, it’s just a reflection of there being too many university places in the market.

It’s only a problem if they don’t realise that it isn’t an achievement to get into that level of university and that they are just paying a huge amount for the university experience. I think a lot think they will get a graduate level job and that’s not realistic.

Most students don’t get a “graduate job” (if by that you mean graduate training scheme) no matter where they go

As a mum, I feel your for you.

But, there is no college in the world that would advertise the poorer grades. They are not advertising because they are proud, they are trying to attract new students.

Perhaps, separate your intent and theirs, might seem less unfair?

They used to in the olden days when it was only the most academically able who went to university. It’s bonkers to think that the majority can attend without the academic standards being reduced.