Page 3 | home schooling year 11 son

barbsbarbs · 2017-09-02T15:29:25+00:00

I have just made the scary decision to honeschool my son for five gcses from next week, He has failed badly at school, always in trouble and bunks off all the itme. Thsi way I know he will get some education. Any ideas? Also does anyone have any links etc to find out the gcse curriculum.

Cubtrouble · 02/09/2017 18:12

Good luck OP (in a sincere manner)

ommmward · 02/09/2017 18:13

The 16 year olds I know who stuck it out at rubbish schools without support, and have just come out with 1 or 2 GCSE passes are now embarking on college for retakes. They'll be there at 17 with (if they manage to regain their confidence) a little handful of 5 GCSEs.

the OP's son can take a whole year as a recovery time, go to college for 5 GCSEs and be in exactly the same position as those damaged 16 year olds.

Mumsnet tends to be quite densely populated by people who are academically successful, with academically successful children. There's no value in staying in an educational setting that doesn't work for you - and frankly, if someone is going to fail all their GCSEs anyway, then tertiary education is not going to be GCSEs-A levels-Russell group uni configured, is it?

Wolfiefan · 02/09/2017 18:17

OP he sounds like he was truly unhappy at school. Poor kid. There's been some helpful advice here from people who know much more about home ed than me (ex teacher!)
I hope you find the support you need and that the next year is a much happier and more successful one for your child. Good luck.

SweepTheHalls · 02/09/2017 18:21

The science GCSE doesn't have a coursework element anymore, but 30% of the terminal exams is on required practicals specified by the exam board. Not ideal, but he can learn these dry. There are some good YouTube videos that I use with my classes.

ragged · 02/09/2017 18:27

Good Luck Barbs. I hope it goes well.

Kardashianlove · 02/09/2017 18:29

For the first time in a long time, he looks slightly relaxed and happy

Seems like you're making the right decision.

There are so many ways to succeed in life. I think people are in a mindset of thing school is the 'only' way or the 'best' way purely because they have never experienced anything else; they went to school, everyone they know went to school, they send their kids to school.
School is not right or best for all children, it takes guts to recognise this and do something different. Your DS is very lucky.

YogiYoni · 02/09/2017 18:38

Op, you sound brave and committed. I know very little about home schooling, but I teach GCSE English so if you want any help or support please feel free to pm me.

Copperbeech33 · 02/09/2017 18:45

required practicals specified by the exam board. Not ideal, but he can learn these dry no, required means they are required to complete them.

I would suggest seeing if he can stay enrolled at the school, and be marked as educated elsewhere, whilst still having work sent home, coming in for practicals, etc.

It might be possible, we still take some excluded students back for the actual required practicals and exams.

Copperbeech33 · 02/09/2017 18:54

ommmward one year's grace, you were talking as if there is several years leeway in your previous post, there is not. Students can repeat either year 11, OR year 12, OR year 13, post 16, not more than one in normal circumstances., there is one year's grace if someone need to spend another year resitting GCSEs, or taking another level 2 course, or if they start the wrong level 3 course, or fail year 12 and have to change courses and start again.

And you need a good reason, you can't just drop in and out when you feel like it and play around for a couple of years.

Those students you mentioned are making good use of their time retaking GCSEs for one year, if they need to, but it doesn't put them in a particularly strong position, not only will they most likely have had little choice which ones to take, they will also have to record both the original fails, and their retake scores on every application they make.

ommmward · 02/09/2017 19:04

Would they be in a worse position leaving school before taking the GCSEs that they are going to fail?

Honestly, I think the best thing to do is to meet the emotional and physical needs of a vulnerable teen first, to get them into a position to make good decisions about their future, and be able to engage with learning ANYTHING effectively.

If they were on track to fail all their exams anyway, then leaving formal education at 18 with a few GCSEs but their health and self-esteem in good shape has GOT to be a better outcome than pushing on through, failing exams, or passing them just well enough to get a couple of minimal passes at A level and years of misery to recover from.

I learned the Alexander technique in my 20s. There's a concept of "end-gaining" in that practice, which is extremely valuable, and applicable to all sorts of aspects of life (basically: if you're going to damage yourself emotionally or physically by pushing on through something, then it's very much better to become consciously aware that you are going to damage yourself, and then make an informed decision about whether you genuinely think the result will be worth it, or whether you'll be better off taking time to find a non-painful way of moving/ acting, which might not get you to the same place, but won't result in RSI or whatever).

Copperbeech33 · 02/09/2017 19:27

Would they be in a worse position leaving school before taking the GCSEs that they are going to fail?

yes, they are called resits, because they are RESITTING them, mostly, which is entirely different from SITTING them, the course is done much faster, there is much less time to do it in, it only works if you have come fresh from year 11, at least for most of the exams.

In my school for example, you are allowed onto the resit course never having taken geography before ( it is one of the GCSEs in the 5) , but you must have taken either French or Spanish, and you must have a D in it.

Colleges and sixth forms offering the EBacc typically have geography, one language, one science maths and English. Choice is limited, you may have a choice of which science or which language, or you may not.

You also need to have taken GCSEs the previous year, and have achieved the minimum entrance requirement, which is typically 4Ds or similar

Phosphorus · 02/09/2017 19:32

Copperbeech , many candidates have taken IGCSEs in science subjects without doing the practicals.

To pass the exam, you only need knowledge of the procedures. It's perfectly possible to get an 'A' knowing only the theory, and recognising techniques and equipment.

Copperbeech33 · 02/09/2017 19:52

of course it is perfectly possible to do GCSE science without doing the required practicals. Its criminal fraud, but apparently that s acceptable. Of course if it ever comes to light any time in the future, the candidate stands to lose all their qualifications, but hey, if you reckon its worth the risk, go right ahead.

Phosphorus · 02/09/2017 19:58

Criminal fraud

Don't be ridiculous.

Original poster

barbsbarbs · 02/09/2017 20:08

I'm with ItsAllGoingToBeFine on this one.
Though there are some people quite able to take on their child's secondary education, they are rare and it is my experience as a child protection lawyer that there is a very strong correlation between home-schooling and children with deficits in their emotional &/or societal &/or physical care. As I say, there is variation, but it is always a flag to those in my line of work.
Now an essential part of education is knowing how to present ones knowledge. It has been pointed out to you that the appearance of your first message indicated that you might not be the best candidate for teaching your child. Despite that, you have posted two further messages with typos and other errors. That is perhaps nothing more than curious, but again it raises questions about how well you are likely to be able to provide for all your son's educational needs for the next five years.
Frankly, that; the fact that you have offered no explanation for his problems to date; the fact that you seem to have concluded that there is no alternative despite several being suggested and the fact that you appear to have concluded that he is bound to fail, cause me to be gravely concerned that this boy should be home-schooled by you.
Could it be OP, that you might have contributed, if only in a tiny way, to his problems at school?

This is the most disturbing reaction to a post that was to gage some helpful advice.

OP posts:

Copperbeech33 · 02/09/2017 20:24

Criminal fraud grin

Don't be ridiculous.

what do you call it if you send faked records to the exam board that the practicals are all completed. Who is going to sign them? are you going to sign your own name or someone elses?

If you don't think that faking exam results is fraud, and that fraud is a criminal offence, then you are not fit to be anywhere near a GCSE student.

Phosphorus · 02/09/2017 20:32

You don't send faked anything.

The candidate sits the externally marked ' alternative to practicak' paper, no lab work required.

All very easily, and regularly, done.

BarbarianMum · 02/09/2017 20:33

The fact he is excited about being home schooled is very positive OP.

I'm not a huge fan of home schooling in general but there is no doubt it can be a Godsend for children for whom school is not working.

Agree with a pp. Try posting on the Home Ed board in here and look on Facebook for local home school groups. Good luck.

Copperbeech33 · 02/09/2017 20:34

The candidate sits the externally marked ' alternative to practicak' paper, no lab work required.

your talking about iGCSEs, which are not equivalent. I am talking about GCSEs

Phosphorus · 02/09/2017 20:37

Yes, most home educated students sat IGCSEs.

Which is why I mentioned them in my post.

titchy · 02/09/2017 20:37

Phosphorous was always talking about iGCSEs copper.....

Copperbeech33 · 02/09/2017 20:43

It may also give him a chance to really think about what he wants to do and what GCSEs are most suitable. He could take them over a few years, so only a couple at a time meaning lots less pressure.

you need to be aware that in many circumstances GCSEs taken over several years are invalid, its only ones taken together that count

Copperbeech33 · 02/09/2017 20:47

The science GCSE doesn't have a coursework element anymore, but 30% of the terminal exams is on required practicals specified by the exam board. Not ideal, but he can learn these dry. There are some good YouTube videos that I use with my classes.

I was referring to this, which is illegal, and invalidates the whole exam centre.

Copperbeech33 · 02/09/2017 20:51

You need to know what you are doing, we turn away distraught and tearful home educated children and their parents every year, because they expected to be able to walk into their choice of sixth form course, and are simply not qualified, through doing things like iGCSE instead of GCSE, taking GCSE exams over several years instead of all together, and things like that.

we would normally offer them something, but they are very upset to expect to be allowed to enroll on a level 3 course, and to get offered a level 1 course, and it is upsetting for us too, to see a young persons dreams come crashing down in front of us.

Not all home educated children, obviously. Some turn up well qualified and equipped to move on. Many don't.

SummerKelly · 02/09/2017 20:51

IGCSEs are equivalent and The Times reported today that many private schools are sitting them instead of GCSEs because of the changes. Copperbeech you appear to be ill-informed about some of these issues.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/private-schools-shun-tougher-gcses-until-new-exams-prove-their-worth-2z29tszww