About GCSE results

[Curioushorse]

Hullo!
I don’t know if I want advice, really, this is probably just a rant. My school has just had a fabulously successful set of GCSE results- particularly in my subject. We’re very good at our job, I have a superb team, and my students are great.
But I just had to give one of the students the news that she has failed her GCSE in my subject for the fifth time. Her father cried when I gave them the news. She is, once again, very close to that magic C borderline- but not close enough. The four re-marks and appeals that I’ve made for her in the past were (obviously!) unsuccessful, and she stayed at our school last year essentially just to try and get her GCSE English.
She is an absolutely lovely student who has worked incredibly hard to improve her English- and she has been partially successful. But essentially, she’s just not very bright, and she’s now so anxious about sitting the exam that she’d probably fail anyway.
What on earth do you say to somebody who feels that their entire worth is measured by a bit of paper which they’ll probably never get? And she knows it’s a flippin’ important paper that the colleges are telling her is essential in order for her to do the course she wants?
-Yes, she’s worked.
-Yes, we’re very good at our job.
-Yes, we’ve looked at all of the alternatives- but the reality is that she’ll never get a job in her chosen (low level) field without an English GCSE
Sigh. Just feeling sad.
(and even the walloping great set of 8s and 9s our other students attained haven’t helped)

It's so annoying in one hand that colleges place so much on the results as I have never had to show my results when applying for jobs.
Anyway you can speak to the college to see if there is anything they can do for her? A girl I did my college course with was allowed in despite not having the English grade required

Albert Einstein wrote, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Curious I could be the parent of that child My DD has worked up from an F to a 3 over 4 years, and as she has ASD English is a huge challenge for her.

You sound very much like her college lecturers, very caring and compassionate- willing to try just about anything, so I'd like to thank you on behalf of my daughter

DD is desperate for a C, or a 4-5 as it is now. She is being accepted on to her foundation degree on the basis that she gets the written part of the level 2 functional skills completed asap, yet she is determined to do her GCSE as well. College are supporting her in this, yet I'm not sure if it's ever going to happen

Poor girl. Has she been assessed for dyslexia?

That poor girl, she's is trapped in a situation beyond her control.

I left teaching a few years ago because I felt strongly that our education system was/is failing vast numbers of children. I get there needs to be a measure of academic ability but there HAS to be an alternative for those youngsters who will never pass GCSEs at a high enough grade rather than demoralising them at such a young age.

I just don't think she's not bright, if she's sat this exam for years in a row has she been tested for some sort of learning disability?

Can I just point out that she hasn't "failed" a fail is a U. Will the college course she wants accept a Level 2 qualification in English, or just the GCSE? If so there are alternatives you could look into offering her.

Crap isn't it? One exam can influence the way employers and college sees them. Mine left with a low language grade and a failed lit. Passed three of four modules of functional skills after multiple attempts. Failed writing element. Complex sen. His tutor said he was one of the brightest pupils she had and his verbal analysis of the subject was extensive and deep. However, he could not process the questions to understand what they wanted without someone rewording (not allowed) and failed.

@Curioushorse Could I ask a quick question?
My son just got Grade 4 for Maths & English Literature, but Grade 3 for English Language. Does he need to resit the Language? Some sources online say yes, some say no.

Yes he will as it's below a C

Op she would be better looking at functional skills English - had that been discussed

It is bollocks, isn't it? What is the difference between students who are one mark above and one mark below the boundary? It shouldn't affect the rest of their lives like this

It's such a shame. My DS is halfway though an extended diploma in performing arts and is doing brilliantly. However he's just got a D in GCSE maths for the third time. He'll have to resist next year as won't get into uni/ get a job without it, but really doesn't want to.

@hedwig2001
I'm pretty sure that if he got the English Lit that's fine, and colleges will accept that... worth double checking though

Would she be better doing one of the level 2 key skills type qualifications in English - does that still count as a GCSE equivalent?

Op, my DD was a couple of marks off Language last summer and again in November. She was fortunately accepted to do her business BTEC as she had Maths and other subjects above C.

Her remark last year failed (not surprisingly, we were told it was unlikely to succeed even for a couple of marks, but DH nephew got a remark that was 6/7 marks off, the previous year??)

When she got the Nov mark in January, the head of English told me he would move her to foundation (had done higher) and get her to re-do coursework (I know this is no longer an option going forward). I questioned the wisdom of this but he said Trust Me

She re-did 4 pieces of coursework over about 8 weeks, in a 1-1ish scenario at college, pulling the mark up by 9 marks. It did mean that she took her eye off the ball a little on her BTEC, but fortunately not enough to fail the year. She also had a tutor, whom I didn't particularly like, and was hard as it was 9.30am on a Saturday, but we persevered with her.

We were all very relieved when she got a C today. I was dreading her having to retake it on the new syllabus, and am sure it would have impacted her business again. As it is, she can now concentrate fully on her BTEC this next year, then decide what she wants to do. No idea if she will try for a degree, but we know that getting her English will open more doors. She has already decided on a gap year, she is quite young for her year and it will give her a breathing space after the stress of this last academic year.

Whilst we are very relieved she passed today, DH and I also have had many conversations over summer of why does her future employability/course selection depend on one qualification, that she was 2 marks off, twice! Is she really less employable than someone who had 2 marks more than her on those 2 occasions?

I know there has to be pass/fail marks, but by god it is hard just missing that pass mark.

And I so feel for that Dad, I couldnt sleep last night and would have cried too of she had failed again. So much riding on one exam.

hedwig - the golden grail for most courses and jobs is Cs (or 4 now) in Maths and English Language, so yes I think your DS will have to resit. Most specifically state C in Maths and English Language. My DD also narrowly missed Lit last year, but has never considered re-taking that, as Language is what everyone wants.

Ah, you guys! Super lovely of you to give me (and my fabulous student) sympathy. You've made me feel more cheery already- though I feel so bad for the rest of the students out there with the same problem. The thing is, this student would be amazing in childcare (which is what she wants to do). I'd be much happier leaving her in charge of my children than many of the hordes of students I've sent off down that route in the past!

Peppa I have spoken to the college, and she has been accepted- but in her chosen, vocational qualification, she will ultimately only be able to get a job in that field if she has a C grade (or a 4).

Boney it is ABSOLUTELY that situation. You're right.

Lonicera and Laud, she's been assessed for everything. She's just EAL (but has lived in this country all her life) and weak, sadly.

Hastings I really feel for you. I'm sure this girl's parents have spent their afternoon sobbing. I hope it works out for you.

Hedwig, I think the honest answer at the moment is that we don't know. We are being told that a 4 in either is fine....but really, I'm seeing the colleges round here mainly requesting English Language. And we have no idea what future employers will want.

Could she crack on with the childcare course and have a break from English and do it in a year or two?

My Nephew struggled like buggery at school but went to some adult classes when he was 19 or 20 and got a C in Maths and English.

As your OP says, the pressure of failing will not help and maybe a bit of a confidence boost from doing what she actually wants to do and, sounds like she will be good at, will give her the confidence she needs to get her through the exam.