Predicted gcse fail

[Unusualusernames]

I've been trying to get in touch with my daughter's science teacher since December after her school report indicated she is on course to fail science gcse (she's in year 10).

After emailing five times and making a complaint about no response I now have a phone meeting with the teacher.

I don't want to be rude because I know it's hard teaching especially now but does anyone know what I should ask?

I'm totally clueless as I took GCSEs years ago and failed science. I'm also scared of teachers generally and I don't want to be confrontational but I'm really worried my daughter will fail and I don't know how to support her.

I would say this,

"I'm really worried my daughter will fail and I don't know how to support her."

She's only in year 10, don't panic!

Ask

1. What were the assessment topics she has failed?
2. When is the next assessment?
3. When are the mocks?
4. What revision books would they recommend?

Then prioritise revising the topics she has failed assessments on and good revision strategies going forward.

Your DD also needs to get proactive on this too.

Can I also recommend Free Science Lessons on YouTube? Nothing fancy but very good quality content.

www.youtube.com/channel/UCqbOeHaAUXw9Il7sBVG3_bw

Or Primrose Kitten

www.youtube.com/channel/UCBgvmal8AR4QIK2e0EfJwaA

Also Seneca app or online which is free for the most part, it can help her. It is good that you know early enough to do something about it.

I'd use the word, 'Target' perhaps. I presume she has a 'target' grade that is a pass. (4 or above)

Ask the teacher what strategies will you be using to ensure my DD hits her target grade? as well as asking what can I do as a parent to support this?.

Bit naughty you've had to put in so much legwork to get some time with the teacher but well done for sticking with it. When you say fail, do you mean a low grade or a no grade?

If you go into the conversation and say look, I'm worried my daughter is going to fail this, what has gone wrong and what can we do to support and give her a chance at improving, you should have a decent conversation. It may be behaviour, it may be attitude (which isn't completely the same as behaviour), it may be lack of confidence, it may be that she simply finds it bloody difficult.

It may be that where she sits, what class she's in (combination of students) or may even be that she doesn't click with the teacher's way of explaining- any experienced teacher will have had this on occasion and will know it's nothing personal.

If you stick with a 'what can we do, what will you do' sort of structure you will probably get somewhere. And try to get a follow up conversation booked in while you've got them.

I like talking to parents that want to support their children so keep calm and don't be intimidated by the situation, it's just a chat, we teachers go to Aldi and watch reality TV just the same as everyone else 🙂

I would say they have their hands tied with sorting out grading for yr 11s at present.

You need to ask if she will be entered for Foundation level GCSE and which exam board she will be sitting. Get the CGP revision guide for Fuel Award Science (exam board). You can also buy a commentary work book, 10 mins test and an answer book. Ask if school will be spending some of their catch up fund on additional tutoring for children who have fallen behind. Ask if she can have additional small group tuition at school. I would pay for s couple of hours of private tuition at home. There are also.many YouTube resources for Science.

Thanks so much everyone. It was so helpful to know what to say and hopefully the conversation went ok.