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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:
MadamDeathstare · 04/08/2011 20:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

branstonsandcheese · 04/08/2011 20:03

Whatever he decides, he needs to have a plan to contribute to the family life - he needs to see that Real Life is starting and one way or another he needs to be independant.

Original poster
creamola · 04/08/2011 20:03

semuchtoodo his prelims were A's

It's sixth year

He hopes to go to college but was ment to go to uni but the results have just scuppered that idea

OP posts:
EuphemiaMcGonagall · 04/08/2011 20:03

Creamola I meant for your DS, as a career choice.

MadamDeathstare · 04/08/2011 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Vicky2011 · 04/08/2011 20:12

I agree with MadamDS, I think resitting them is the way to go. It sounds like this will have been a wake up call for him and that he was guilty of some major overconfidence. I would advise, go to college where the teachers tend to be less "on your case" than in school and resit them, doing all 5 this time with a clear idea of what he plans to do next. It's annoying to waste a year but I honestly believe it will be better for him in the long run.

PrincessJenga · 04/08/2011 20:27

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

I don't have a son (yet! hurry up baby!) but I was in his position 15 odd years ago and I now have my own house, career, fiance and baby on the way. I know life is different now, but 'failing' (not doing anywhere near as well as I was expected to) my A-Levels was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Until then I had sailed through everything academic and life was easy, but like your son, in 6th Form I got into my first serious relationship, discovered pubs and clubs and just didn't work as hard as I should have. Not getting into my first choice uni (and having been so arrogant that I didn't have a second choice) meant I had to really think about what was important to me. I went to uni through clearing (presumably this is still an option for him?) and made a promise to myself to take every opportunity going. I spent a semester studying abroad, set up some amazing work placements and ultimately got a 2:1 and an excellent graduate job, bu most importantly I learnt not to take anything for granted. I fear if I'd done well in my A-Levels I'd have continued 'cruising' and not put the effort in.

Hopefully your son will have a similar epiphany and realise he needs to take a little responsibility. Let him get drunk with his friends tonight and then ask him tomorrow what he plans to do now.

EuphemiaMcGonagall · 04/08/2011 20:34

Creamola where do you live?

Salmotrutta · 04/08/2011 20:43

Can I ask Creamola what he was taking in 5th year if he was sitting Highers in 6th year? Or do you mean he's now going into 6th year?

Sounds like college may be the way forward BUT if he got As at prelim he should ask at school about possible appeals?

Chummybud1 · 04/08/2011 20:57

My daughter didn't do so well last year. She never got accepted to uni, she then went back to school for resist and did a lot better, has however been refused yet again for uni, she is now off to college to do HNC and HND, this will take 2 years, then she will do a further 3 years a uni. All is not lost for your son, where's there's a will and a lot of determination he can still follow the path of a good career.

avoidingwork · 04/08/2011 21:02

Dss got an F for maths in his gcses so OP's looks good to me!

Mrsxstitch · 04/08/2011 21:04

Not great but not the end of the world. What did he do in 5th year? On the bright side he may have learnt a valuable lesson.

I have qualifications up to post grad qualificationa yet am struggling to find a full time job at the moment. DH dropped out to help support his family after his dad left them in the lurch. He currently has much better prospects than me.

The way I see it he has a number of options but the key is developing a work ethic. He could go to college and get qualifications, Get an apprenticeship, try and get any job and get qualifications at night classes.

Sewmuchtodo · 04/08/2011 21:12

Cremola, He needs to call the school and ask to speak to his guidance tutor tomorrow morning. They will most likely be in school and if not speak to the next in line.

Explain that given his A's in prelims and level of course work he would like to appeal his C grades. They will not consider the A but it could bring him upto a B.

What had he applied to do at uni? Put a call into the UCAS helpline and ask about the 'clearing' dates as there may still be hope of a place. Then call the local collages and ask what courses they do in relation to his aims. With what you have said about the subjects he has sat and if he is hoping to go into teaching I would suggest an HNC in social science as that would lead to (and if he passes well possibly 2nd year of) a BA in many scottish uni's (excluding St Andrews, Glasgow etc, but including Strathclyde, Dundee etc). The BA could be followed by the teaching post grad.

All is not lost, but he needs to act quickly to secure places.

Sewmuchtodo · 04/08/2011 21:18

UCAS Clearing information. Your son seems to fit the criteria required. Click Here for information on how to do it. Hope this helps Smile

Soopermum1 · 04/08/2011 21:20

Just a thought. How did the girlfriend do? Is she off the Uni? Her choices may influence what he decides to do. With a bit of luck, she's off to Oxford and he may feel under pressure to keep up so will buckle down and resit Grin

I was also confused about what year he's in (Scottish as well) If he's done the Highers in 5th year, he can easily do a 6th year and resit them then with no loss of face. That is one of the benefits of the Scottish system.

Milngavie · 04/08/2011 21:24

My higher results were dire (3x C 2x D). I now have a BA, MA and am found another degree next year as part of a career change.

All is not lost Smile

Milngavie · 04/08/2011 21:25

Found? Doing!

SkivingAgain · 04/08/2011 21:27

I agree with many earlier posters, exam results are not necessarily a predictor of success in life. Smart people are still smart, even if they haven't performed well in exams.

Haven't read the whole thread, but - How does he feel? Is he disappointed with his results and what does he want to do about it?

suzikettles · 04/08/2011 21:34

Dh screwed up his Highers (he's also very bright but mucked about at the crucial time). He went to the local college and resat a couple, did an HNC and then on to Uni where he got a good degree.

If your ds does want to go on to HE then he still can. He'll just have to buckle down and work hard. Doesn't need to be the end of the world Smile (I know it feels like it just now but he's only 17. Plenty of people don't make the best decisions at 17)

Loshad · 04/08/2011 21:45

This is an identikit thread to one from last year or the year before - try a search for it creamola and there may be extra suggestions

flatbread · 04/08/2011 22:04

Creamola,

I was educated in the American university system, so cannot help with the specifics. But with regard to him getting a good job and future:

  • His choice of courses except for math, forgive me, seem crap. Can he take math, computer science, economics, finance...or something more along these lines, or is he tied in to his chosen subjects?

He should definitely sit for his exams again next year, if* he can change subjects, otherwise I would suggest he takes a year off and volunteers in Asia or Africa - it will at least build his character and broaden his mind much more than his current academic majors.

  • I remember reading in recent labor statistics publications (in US granted but don't think it is that different here) that 50% of the job growth in the future will be healthcare and IT. Your son should be able to get into a community/vocational college (not sure what the equivalent in UK is called) with poor grades. He could study IT (system administration, database administration with windows/oracle certification) and then look to get onto the NHS gravy train.

We know people here in Scotland who have the above IT skill set and they earn between £60-120k a year.

Don't worry OP, it will all work out Smile. He seems like a smart kid and better that he gets a wake up call now so that he can push himself to excel.

pleasenap · 04/08/2011 22:07

Hope is not lost - and life sucess is not dependent on exam grades.

I didn't get the fairly mediocre grades I was expected to get (just didn't realise how hard I needed to study), got into uni anyway (course not so popular), 3rd 1st year, 2:2 2nd year, top 1st of the year in final year, then PhD. Worked hard for it. I've got a good-ish job, great family and house.

But the most financially successful of my friends didn't get anywhere the grades I got - but worked hard, have drive and determination and are personable. And yes, still have the great family and house.

One of my school friends didn't go great at A levels - didn't go to uni - was clever, but 'studying' just didn't do it for him. Sucessful career in the city and now own boss.

You just never know. Maybe it will give him a kick into realising what he wants and how hard he has to work to get it. What's for you won't go by you (as my Mum always says!)

pink4ever · 04/08/2011 22:30

creamola-I now have a bit more sympathy for your situation as currently have bil in house raging over dn higher results. She failed chemistry and got c's in english and maths-despite the fact bil/sil paid a fortune for a tutor as she was struggling in those subjects.
I am actually really shocked as she appeared very concientious with her studying. In fact I have hardly see her for 6 months as she was constantly at her books?
However she is only in 5th year so will either re-take or do other highers in 6th year.

Salmotrutta · 04/08/2011 22:35

pink - how did your niece do in her SGs, if I might ask?

pink4ever · 04/08/2011 22:42

salmon-very well. All 1 and 2's. I really dont understand why she has done so badly.