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AIBU?

"F is not a fail"

136 replies

MrsBombastic · 14/05/2013 21:53

This is what my DD's maths teacher told her class yesterday.

DD is 15, she is not gifted in the maths department but even she (and I) was shocked and frankly devastated that she got an F in her mock GCSE.

She was not the only one, apparently the entire class failed this mock and when my daughter became distressed along with another pupil her teacher told them all to stop complaining that;

"This is not America, F does not mean fail and you should be satisfied with what you've got"

Needless to say I have contacted the school to make an appointment to discuss this poor attitude and to find out why my DD got this mark, why she has actually dropped a set since she has been in this school and why, despite repeated requests for more support she is not getting it.

AIBU? x

OP posts:
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kim147 · 15/05/2013 13:28

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MrsKoala · 15/05/2013 13:32

I was made redundant from a 38k job as a manager of student liaison and recruitment at a London Uni. A year later i was still unemployed and applied to a another uni for a role working on a student help desk for 17k (including Sat) and wasn't even shortlisted as they had people 'more experienced' Confused .

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BeckAndCall · 15/05/2013 13:39

Sorry, mrsKoala, I hadn't read your earlier post....

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leeloo1 · 15/05/2013 13:41

"same as now the government saying childcare providers should be MORE qualified - WHY?!"

Perhaps so children will go into nursery/primary education with basic maths (and literacy/creative/social skills)?

If childminders/nursery staff are consistently poorly educated then (whilst the children may well be safe and happy) they're not likely to be passing a love of learning onto the children they care for. Many children are now in daycare from 7.30/8 - 6/6.30 5 days pw. If they're not being well taught (through a range of well designed & constructed free play experiences and skillful adults extending their play) there then there isn't much hope for them.

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kim147 · 15/05/2013 13:45

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Sonnet · 15/05/2013 13:47

Totally agree with Bigkidsdidit post:

^it may as well be a fail.

I would become a tiger mother for this - maths is too important.

talk to the HOD, push for her to go on revision sessions at the school. Insist she is entered fior the higher paper. Get a tutor, then sit down with her and talk to her about her ambitions in life. Make sure she knows that she needs to work hard, at school and with the tutor and BBC bitesize and all those things. And she will need to work all holidays.

It's only a year - worth going all out, I think.^

You cannot rely on the school - you will have to taker charge to give your DD the oportunity

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marcopront · 15/05/2013 14:40

If everyone can get a C, then it is meaningless.

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JugglingFromHereToThere · 15/05/2013 15:13

Actually maybe if Maths is going to be required for so many training courses and careers it might be an idea to lower the standard slightly, to say around a D grade, so that most people can pass it ?
How often do you really need to use maths in most occupations ? And a calculator is often handy too.
I'm not talking about a big reduction in the level required for a pass, but maybe there should be something that tests the real core skills of using and understanding maths in everyday life and work - plus an understanding of stats would be good too !
Someone up-thread said 40-60% gain a C or above. Maybe we need something that 80% plus can achieve ?
A combination of raising standards with the introduction of a slightly simplified, more practical exam could be the way forward ?
In the days of CSE's a grade 2 still seemed to count for something, whereas now with GCSE's it seems to me that only a C or above counts as a pass ?
(I got a C by the way which I've needed for several things in life, including teaching)

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Lilka · 15/05/2013 15:42

OP - if your DD is performing at A-C level in all other subjects then I think it might be worth hiring a tutor -someone friendly and engaging as well as good at maths. You can find that students who hate their teachers or struggle in their classes start falling behind where they have the potential to be. I would be surprised to see a child getting F's in one subject and B's and A's in everything else. She may not make it up to C, but if she is determined to be a teacher, it's probably worth the trying

But to the people saying a G, F, E and D are crap....seriously, get out more and see the children in the bottom sets and view their educational records...it's a major achievement for some. And as for saying you only need to write your name to get an F, dream on.

My DD2 has a mild learning disability with brain impairment caused by alcohol, plus aa significant mental health problem. She spent the first 4 years of her life suffering from abuse and neglect, then 4 years in care, and when she came to me aged 8 she could do virtually nothing. I mean, she couldn't even hold a pencil, let alone write

And because she was in a school with no pastoral support and understanding with teachers who had no understanding of her needs for about 18 months, she made little progress. She turned 10 and couldn't spell her (4 letter) name. She could make pencil squiggles. She could count up to between 5 and 10 using her fingers depending on the day but no further

And then she got a fantastic special school who worked with her...and i worked with her

And guess what? She went from reception level at 10, to sitting down in front of a GCSE foundation English paper at 16 and she PASSED WITH AN F GRADE (literally just by about one mark over the G border). And it was not crap at all, it was bloody fantastic achievement Grin We (me and her teachers) were all extremely proud.

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Lilka · 15/05/2013 15:44

Seriously, I couldn't be prouder....if i had an extremely intelligent child who never got less than an A* and who got into Camridge, and then my DD2, I would be more proud of my DD and she would ultimately have achieved something more...because she had to work much harder

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JugglingFromHereToThere · 15/05/2013 16:02

That's lovely to hear Lilka.

I just think there maybe needs to be a more even grading throughout the levels, so less concept of passing or failing maybe ? Things seemed to be heading that way more at one point with CSE's but they were always pitted against O levels which tended to undermine them somewhat ?

I'd like to see something that really works for all the ability levels.

So that everyone who does their best can feel proud of their achievement.

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