AIBU to think Bs at GCSE are ok?

[catwalker]

Some issues with DS and GCSEs/6th form. He didn't get the grades he was predicted (As and As) but then I didn't expect him to as he doesn't put much effort into anything apart from his x box. He got mainly Bs, a couple of As, a couple of Cs and a couple of Ds. I was quite happy until I started reading the secondary education forum where people are tearing their hair out because their dc's didn't get straight As and may have blown their oxbridge chances. I get the impression that anything less than an A just isn't worth the paper it's written on. He could have done loads better but Bs are OK aren't they?

Well no, I haven't blown my chances as I went to uni many years ago!

Warwick uni is very good, Lizzy. The maths department is recognised s being particularly good - up there with Cambridge. Obviously, Oxford and Cambridge are a different kettle of fish and I think Fabby must be a little confused, but Warwick is hardly a new build!

OP I agree with other posters who say that b's are fine as lon as he can still do what he wanted to do post 16.

Warwick is a top University! It leads more tables than any university outside Oxbridge. The Times put it at position 8 this year, the Guardian at 6th place. Warwick has a very good name for Maths.
B grades depend on where he wants to go and importantly which subject.

Oxbridge is not a university, Fabbychic

LMAO!!!!!!

I think if your child is at, say, a large urban state school which can only manage a 'Satisfactory' Ofsted judgement, and is from a not particularly advantaged financial background, then colleges and universities are interested in the student's potential to achieve.

B's are good!! :o

What you do is find the degree course you want to take after you take your GCSE's you then take A Levels commensurate with the degree course you want to take.

Oxbridge may well be part of Oxford but it is a seperate entity.

The girl I know who went there was a mediocre student.

Oxbridge is not a university, Fabby - there's no such place! Oxford and Cambridge are of equal quality (so says everyone except those who went to one or the other!) and are grouped together as Oxbridge.

I don't know if universities are more picky these days but I got into university with 4 c's 4 d's and a g at gcse and an advanced gnvq merit which is the equivalent to 2 c's at a-level. I came out with a 2:1 degree. I think b's are brilliant grades, probably because I didn't get any!

Oxbridge may well be part of Oxford but it is a seperate entity.

As has been explained, Fabby - 'Oxbridge' means the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Oxford Brookes is an ex-poly. Not part of the University of Oxford - not Oxbridge.

I think if your child is at, say, a large urban state school which can only manage a 'Satisfactory' Ofsted judgement, and is from a not particularly advantaged financial background, then colleges and universities are interested in the student's potential to achieve.

I agree with LineRunner - but if your DS wants to do an academically demanding degree, then he's going to have to demonstrate this potential via strong AS & A levels quite soon.
University's certainly not the only route to success/status/financial security/happiness, though, and I think there's far too much emphasis/credence given to the deluded idea that it is.

MN can be weird about these things. To some, any less then a 2:1 at a Russell Group is a life doomed to failure, despite widespread evidence to the contrary.

Fabby are you thinking of Oxford Brookes as a previous poster suggested? That is in Oxford but is not part of the University itself. As Imperial said, Oxbridge is a contraction of the names Oxford and Cambridge.

Cambridge is top rank for 2012 and warwick is number 7 btw

X posted

He may not get into Oxbridge but most people don't! 5 a-c with English and maths should be enough for most courses. What does he want to do?

Have a look at some entry requirements for courses he wants to do. He can easily resit gcses at college anyway if necessary.

I rarely hear anyone saying (either here or in RL) that their DC 'work their little cotton socks off'.

I think my DD has a balanced approach to work. How exactly do we get them to 'wtlcso' and is it desirable that they should?

Just asking....

Oh and just quietly warwick is at nu,ber 4 for maths behind cambridge, oxford and ICL I believe (I think its ICL anyway )

Overall university rankings are a bit of a red herring - it depends on the specific course of study.

In my old college, you needed c's in english and maths and at least a B in subjects which were relevant to your A levels (which you needed to take 4, possibly only 3)

I agree Tchootnika. My point about Warwick was in reply to Lizzy that it is a good Uni , thats all. I did not intend to start a uni ratings competition!

Warwick is perfectly good. Quite a few private schools will recommend it to children who won't get into Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Bristol etc. I'd say it was one tire down from that in how it's perceived.

As for GCSEs 50% of chidlren in the UK do not get A- C in GCSEs. Rembebmer the average IQ if 100 so lots of children are under that.

It sounds like this boy is a fairly typical one into his X box and not his school work. It will make things harder for him as university places are on the basis of GCSE results to an extent as they are applying pre A levels but that's just how it is. He can work harder in the sixth form but he may need to down grade his university choices.

Me too, Dandy. It's their effort that makes me proud of them.

And, handbagCrab, 5 x A-Cs is NOT enough for most courses. You'd be seriously limited in which universities would make you an offer.

And, if you resit any GCSEs, it's often at the risk of losing an A level option.