Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to worry about my son's exam results? just in and not good

161 replies

creamola · 04/08/2011 18:37

We got the exam results in Scotland today, and whilst my son has passed two out of three highers ........they are C grades.

I'm dissapointed because he is really clever and A's were predicted but he got a girlfriend and a new xbox game and really didn't take it seriously.

With the current economic climate is there any hope for someone with two C's given the competition for jobs.

AIBU to feel extremely worried for his future ???

please someone tell there son only had one C and is now thriving indepently with his own flat/house......career, wife and kids

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 04/08/2011 18:38

With the current climate unless he wants to work in McDonalds who now take on graduates for part time work. There is not much hope for him.

He needs an apprenticeship, he should be aiming for college or university.

FabbyChic · 04/08/2011 18:39

Id make him resit them, and if necessary I'd get a tutor if he is not going to university.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 04/08/2011 18:42

Thanks for that positive bit of feedback there fabby Hmm

rhondajean · 04/08/2011 18:42

Of course there is hope. He has to want to do something himself though, and sometimes it takes a long time for people to figure it out. Just trust that you have done a good job and eventually he will act on it.

Doesnt stop you reading him the riot act in the meantime too though!

TheMagnificentBathykolpian · 04/08/2011 18:42

He can always retake them.

It's not a big deal, imo.

I left school without taking ANY gcses. went to college, got a few. started a levels, didn't take them because i became ill. missed out on my uni place too.

I can honestly say it has never ever held me back.

I got jobs, I started my own business...

In this climate, what matters more than qualifications - which many employers don't think worth wiping their arse on, let's be honest! is attitude to work. willingness to work, willingness to learn...

I have employed people. Give me a person with a sensible nature, who is willing to learn and has a good attitude over someone with a fist full of pieces of paper any day!

Don't make him feel like this is the be all and end all.

He can take them again. He can take them later. He can go down a different route and take some other sort of exam or whatever.

larakitten · 04/08/2011 18:43

Can he appeal them? Just wondered, given that he's been predicting higher grades?

justpaddling · 04/08/2011 18:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

2BoysTooLoud · 04/08/2011 18:43

What does he think?
By the way I think in a few years time results probably won't matter in that he will have 'moved on' to other courses or work..
However WHAT does he think..

EuphemiaMcGonagall · 04/08/2011 18:45

Could he consider an NVQ/HNC through your local FE college? Does he have a career in mind?

Salmotrutta · 04/08/2011 18:46

First off, is he going back for 6th year? If yes, he needs to buckle down and do some more highers. Don't panic just yet Smile
Why was he only taking 3 Highers if you don't mind me asking? Most high achieving pupils take 5 in one year.
It's not the end of the world but he may have to look at college rather than University - unless of course he wants to go straight into the workforce where he can start at training level.
Fabby your post wasn't particularly helpful - are you familiar with the Scottish system or are you in England where it is totally different? The OP's son could also go straight on to college to do more Highers there OR look into access courses at University.

FabbyChic · 04/08/2011 18:46

Results don't matter when you are over 30, but in this day and age they show you can achieve something, without results it makes it looks like you cannot apply yourself.

It is all different now, results do matter.

Salmotrutta · 04/08/2011 18:48

Also what were his prelim results because he may have a slim chance of appealing. But only if he did really well in the prelims.

Bluebell99 · 04/08/2011 18:49

I know someone whose "A" level results weren't great, but he went on the get a IIi in his degree and has done really well in his career, now a director, earns loads, bonuses, shares. Has family. I think Fabbychic advice was rubbish.

TeamDamon · 04/08/2011 18:50

I think we need to know a little more about what your son intends to do next to be able to be helpful. Is he considering university? a job? a career?

If he just wants a job and doesn't mind what it is, two Cs will be all right, I would think. Lots of jobs are looking for other things than top academic qualifications - he just needs to make sure that his CV is impressive overall. If he has a specific career in mind then he needs to research what it requires and ways into it and see whether he can get further qualifications/work experience to make his CV 'sell' him in relation to that specific career. If the career he wants has high academic requirements or he is interested in a university course which requires more than two Cs he may need to resit.

I would be less worried about his results than his motivation, tbh - people make their way in life from all sorts of academic starting points but they have to work hard to do it - if his girlfriend and his x-box take priority, he's not going to be that appealing to employers who presumably have their pick of numbers of applications... Does he seem driven and ambitious? How does he feel about his results?

LineRunner · 04/08/2011 18:51

To be frank, this isn't down to a new X Box game, if he was predicted AS.

BulletWithAName · 04/08/2011 18:52

With the current climate unless he wants to work in McDonalds who now take on graduates for part time work. There is not much hope for him.

Oh I do love you Fabby! Grin

wonkylegs · 04/08/2011 18:52

I got average gcses and a-levels (awful schools & poor health) but I was driven and worked hard at uni despite further poor health . I did ok at uni but fabulously at interviews and in all the jobs I've had I've been enthusiastic and hard working
I've always sought out extra experience and other stuff to go on my cv because exams were distinctly average - I think you just need to show willing, drive and work hard and that will shone through in any market... He can get this if he finds something he is truly interested in, we'll it worked for me Wink

Salmotrutta · 04/08/2011 18:52

Fabby you are talking rubbish - a lot of employers won't take on overqualified people because they reckon they will skin out once something better crops up. That was true during the last recession (happened to me when I applied for jobs) and it's true now.

Original poster
creamola · 04/08/2011 18:53

2boystooloud........I think he just gone shit I fucked up!

I was hoping for 3 A's and thought he'd sail it......and during the whole run up to the exams kept saying.....I'll pass easily.

I think he has just been introduced to reality

OP posts:
GleamingHeels · 04/08/2011 18:54

Firstly, don't panic, loads of people get worse than predicted results for all sorts of reasons, it's not the end of the world. Secondly take stock and make an action plan.

If you have College or University places reliant on his predicted results, then call them first and check whether they'll still consider him (though this may mean a wait until the A levels come out, depending where he was applying).

If you don't have College or Uni issues, then take the weekend to consider options e.g. retake or FE College alternatives plenty of fab vocational courses for him to get his teeth into.

In the meantime, however 'shruggy' or 'whatever' he might seem, he's probably panicking inside, and this is a really good time for parental calm and confidence that there is a way forward with as few recriminations as you can manage.

Good luck Creamola and Son!

pink4ever · 04/08/2011 18:55

Sorry but someone who was predicted to get all A grades would not have been doing only 3 highers-he would have been doing 5 at the least. Are you sure you didnt have unrealistic expectations of your sons expected grades?
I wouldnt worry about it-unless the current climate bucks up then going to uni is not going to make much difference-there simply wont be the jobs. Your son can either resit,head straight to college or go for an apprenticeship-the best bet imo.

Salmotrutta · 04/08/2011 18:55

Well, he needs to take this on the chin and think about 6th year. There should be a career advisor who he can speak to about his options and his Guidance teacher should also have some advice.

knittedbreast · 04/08/2011 18:57

its not the best start but good jobs are very often down to luck.

ask him what he likes, what he feels hes good at and hat he enjoys. Enrol him on a course doing whatever that is and if nothing else hes more likely to put work into somehting HE enjoys and values.

dont worry too much, he will sort himself out in the end, and whether thats tomorrow on 3 years its never soon enough to us mums :)

GeneralCustardsHardHat · 04/08/2011 18:57

Results mean jack all, the ability to graft is what matters. I have junior members of staff who i supervise who are infinitely better qualified than me. Just tell him to work hard and sign up for every job and recruitment agency going, moreso if they are for junior posts. Get his foot in the door.

microfight · 04/08/2011 18:57

I am sure he can go on to have a great career but it will be harder for him as exam grades are a first point for most employers. There are loads of success stories for people who left school with poor results but they are not the norm.

Swipe left for the next trending thread