School Have basically given up on entire year 11

[ReformedWaywardTeen]

Our school have been questionable at best for a while. I've allowed a few concerns to slide, haven't we all, putting it down to unforeseen Covid related kiboshing.

Our school is different in that it starts GCSE studies in year 9 rather than 10, so they traditionally choose options in March of year 8. It was promoted as being helpful as work is more staggered and worst case they could swap a subject if they hated it in year 9.

So, DD was due to choose their options in March 2020, with an options evening for of all dates the first day of lockdown.

When it didn't happen we assumed they would cancel options picking completely. Except they didn't, we did it with just a booklet giving some idea of the curriculum. They were slow to organise online learning so no virtual event took place (not a surprise, these were very strange times).

DD ended up picking 4 subjects, 1 of which they were on the fence with.

Obviously, as we all know, life didn't go back to normal as predicted, and a few of us parents did voice perhaps by December 2020 that maybe they should start from scratch for year 10. The school was hit hard by Covid isolations from Octopus onwards, whole year groups were off due to a lack of teachers. Then we had the January to March lockdown, and within a week of being back they were on school break.

This has had a hugely negative effect on DD, they've gone from a confident kid to being a shell.

Year 10 was a nightmare, not just for DD, for the entire year group. They did tests before the end of term and it was, to quote one teacher, a nightmare. How it's taken school this long to realise how badly behind they all are and the knock on MH effect of lockdown is beyond me. They also hadn't taken up the government offer of tutoring.

Meanwhile, DS didn't pick his GCSE subjects in 2021 (year 8), down to covid, he waited until year 9 and had the benefit of talking to tutors to ensure they are right for him. He has entered year 10 last week full of confidence and is thankfully very happy.

The one constant we had was the school has always had a place for any pupil who wanted it at the school's onsite sixth form.

Until last night.

We had a curriculum evening, not unusual, but this time, they are about to become part of an academy.

Suddenly, the school has been trumpeting their top 25% results for GCSE this year and top 20% A'levels.

They have now said the kids won't get a place automatically, and of you think they won't do well, then start looking elsewhere. Charming.

They have to apply, have an interview, get grades and have an exemplary record of great grades. DD does not have that since Covid.

On the way out a lot of parents were angry. It felt like because they were going on about the top 20% score and they realised the tests done at the end of last academic year were terrible, they are replacing kids they let down by not responding to covid in year 9 effecting GCSE study to be able to show off.

My AIBU is whether I'm right to raise this with the headteacher? I feel like they've let them down so much and the lack of foresight with their year group is ridiculous.

Is this what happens when a school is an academy?

DD was utterly broken last night, saying they may as well give up now, as even the school thinks they suck and will fail. They know what they want to do post A Level and need GCSEs to do it. It's been so hard to try and reassure a kid who is totally adrift thanks to two years of carnage.

What would you do in this situation?

A levels are tough - every school has always had e try requirements for sixth form - typically 5 GCSEs at c or above (now 4) with b's (5 or 6's) in the subject you want to study. Quite frankly it's a waste of 2 years unless they are at least this capable and they are better directed towards programmes of study that they are more suited to or retakes

If you think your daughter is struggling then have you tried the school counsellor/ early help/ local charities/ counselling service? That would be your first point of call and waiting list not that long.
the disruption etc has been awful but has been country wide, it’s reflected in grade boundaries. Realistically to do a levels she needs at least a 5, most places ask for a 6.

By the way I had to get 5 GCSEs grade c of above including maths and English in the 1980's!

I have concerns about DD1 and motivation - though today she has perked up.

As for tutoring - well if you can't afford it - that's hard and and I do get that its expensive we are currently looking.

However I suggest instead of just buying books you have times to sit down and go through resources/questions with her. I've had to with with my current Y11 - seemed to help a lot though they did want help and it was still hard but it did lead to grade improvements.

senecalearning.com/en-GB/

Might be worth a look.

However ultimately your DD need to find motivation and knuckle down - however shit the school is - and I know that's hard message because DC school gone from good into special measures and is losing staff with rapidly declining pupil behavior.

Few schools let pupils stay for a levels without a solid set of GCSEs though. Waste of everyone’s time if they can’t do GCSEs no way will they cope with a level.

Other than complaining to the Head in vague terms and demanding action ( what action?) I don't see what this will achieve apart from alienating the head. It sounds like a complete waste of time.

All schools we've ever been to have said that you have to get minimum grades to get into six form and said if you don't think they will get them, then start thinking of alternatives. All of them. This is standard but you seem to have taken personal offense at this.

I'm sorry your DD is so upset, It has been a stressful time that is true.
But when I read things like this in your post and that you want to complain to the head in the manner that you have stated ....
DD was utterly broken last night, saying they may as well give up now, as even the school thinks they suck and will fail. They know what they want to do post A Level and need GCSEs to do it. It's been so hard to try and reassure a kid who is totally adrift thanks to two years of carnage
I am really sorry but I don't think your attitude is helping your daughter at all. Eg describing the last two years as ... "Two years of carnage" I think she is taking her cue from your example of catastrophising.

The fact is, it happened. It happened to all of them... you can't change the past so what are you going to do next? You need a positive plan moving forward and turn the conversation away from everything that has gone wrong or of course she's going to think she may as well give up.

if you think your daughter is bright and capable, then stop moaning about the past and tell her she can overcome this. Even if it does take a bit longer than you've both hoped. The positive is that she knows what she wants to do.

What is your end goal, uni? apprenticeship? All of these things are possible.
She can start working now towards the grades she needs. If you are unhappy with the school, sixth-form colleges are completely focused on those two years and getting people onto their next step.
Also, start looking at the UCAS website. It doesn't just deal with uni applications, it has other information as well. It may be that the grades weren't enough and she needs to add a foundation course which could be done at a local HE,
If she does well those qualifications are accepted by uni as well. Or she can take an extra GCSE at sixth form college.
If you know what area she's interested in going for, its also a good idea to get some extra curricular things to write about in her applications.. or outside interests.
There are all kinds of routes to what she may want to do and just because the standard route is more difficult due to the last few years, doesn't mean she won't be able to achieve what she wants.
Everything boils down to attitude and encouragement and looking forward to how she can overcome the next hurdle - that is the thing to focus on not the difficulties of what has gone before. Best of luck

OK so answers to some of the responses.

When I mentioned buying books I said that I have offered help. I've not just dumped them on their lap and said off you go. I've also tried incentives, like extra pocket money, cinema trips etc. They've no interest though and apart from school they don't want to go anywhere.

I've suggested having friends over to study together but again that's been declined.

One subject teacher we swapped to this year because DD was not feeling supported last year has spotted an issue with work and being behind (which she didn't blame DD for) and has offered after school lesson for an hour a week. DD was reluctantly but as they are collected from school we told her we just won't pick them up so they've no choice.

With regards them having had two years already, it hasn't really been two years. In year 9, they barely had lessons in school. And when they did, they had mostly cover work as teachers were out isolating or covering higher year groups. One subject teacher started in September and left in July as they caught Covid and then struggled with long Covid. They did one topic on repeat all year as due to circumstance the teacher hadn't always set full cover work. We also had second lockdown nationally and before that school closed early as we were a tier 4. It was a literal dumpster fire here for months.

DD did have some level of counsellor last year but again, this was cut eventually due to funding issues within school and waiting lists.

This has been so bad for DD that it resulted in disrupted school for 3 months as stress caused a period of ill health.

We have access to Seneca thank you to whoever suggested.

It's just difficult because if they were primary age it would be easier but getting a nearly 16 year old motivated is hard. I can't revoke toys and grounding them would do nothing as they really aren't interested.

They come home shattered after school too. They're very obviously depressed but as our GP said, so is half the teen population of the country at least.

I do give some leeway as Covid has impacted so much hasn't it?

There's also the friend aspect, these are hugely important to DD. Although I know they have been whatsapping now on what the hell do we all do now?

It was a BTeC DD was looking at I think but we have open evening coming up so would find out more there

I'm sorry this has happened to you at this stage, but there is still time for your DC to do well and get in to the right sixth form for them. This is standard in our London borough, you need to get a certain number of 5s and 6s as a minimum to be accepted in the sixth form of any school and then conditional grades for your chosen A level subjects. There are no schools here that will admit you to sixth form for A levels without achieving those grades. You must have at least a 5 in both English and Maths. My daughter has just started Year 12, some of her friends didn't get the grades to join her in the sixth form. But at least we knew about that possibility from Year 7. Her school encourages at least 2 or 3 applications - one ambitious and one fallback at least. My daughter's first choice was the school she's been at since year 7 - the pressure of thinking she might not achieve the grades to be accepted was a bit stressful to say the least!

You need study guides for everything.
You can find past papers for everything on the exam boards website.

Very few sixth forms will take her unless she passes English and maths.

For English Lang and Lit - go through the Mr Bruff you tube videos.
The best way of learning quotes for literature is for your daughter to create quizlets. These are useful to foreign languages as well.
These are really good too nearer the exam.
www.tes.com/teaching-resource/aqa-gcse-english-language-exam-revision-knowledge-organiser-11631897

Maths is more difficult unless you're really good at maths yourself.
There are some very affordable tutors here
www.mytutor.co.uk/tutors/2127142/

I'd then concentrate on the subjects that she wants to do in sixth form. Again get study guides and work through them with her at weekends. Then nearer the time download all the exam papers. Consider telling school that she's going to drop a subject to concentrate on the others.

There's still time OP.

Also, what is say here is very, very different to what is said to DD. I've not mentioned carnage to them. In fact I've tried to reassure that they're not alone in feeling that they are going to fail, that everyone is in the same boat with feeling a bit lost due to Covid so it's not a her alone problem. In fact I tried to suggest opening up in tutor group weekly discussion because I bet others feel like it too. From what school said over the exams they sat in July, they are far from alone.

I've done nothing but reassure DD that if they feel they are behind, then they must, 100% work now, and do what they can to mitigate how they feel. That actually, they can do something to get a good grade. That perhaps they won't get 9s or 8s but as long as they try as hard as they can and work to catch up and revise now, then I will be proud and they can get enough to move on to what they want in the future.

So no, internally I'm worried sick, outwardly, I'm putting a smile on and attempting Disney levels of positivity.

They were always just happy to do work and home work and were in mid sets which was fine. Since second lockdown? Different kid. Everything is hopeless accordingly to them.

OK, the idea of mocks is partly to get used to exam conditions and avoid the panic (I too have a panicker). Looking at past questions will be useful, but maybe just a few at a time so that it isn't overwhelming. Can she also practise some calming techniques?

Maths and English can be re-sat repeatedly if necessary. That's the fallback to bear in mind.

Meanwhile, lots of reassurance -- 'you can do some of it, you'll get more marks for writing something than nothing, and nobody will actually die if you get the answers wrong'.

Gentle, frequent practice for maths in particular. Is your own maths OK enough that you can help?

I see you're already doing that (I type too slowly).

My ds just done Alevels and despite getting 6 and above in all GCSEs and getting 8s in Alevel options he still found it a v big step up. So if achieving 4/5 Alevels might not be best option. Dd doing a btec but still determined will go to uni and do a masters to get into her chosen career x

Everything is hopeless accordingly to them.

that would be a huge concern to me.

Your school’s approach is completely reasonable (in fact sensible). Why waste everyone’s time having two years of a 16 year old who failed all exams, disinterested, likely disruptive as a result of disinterest, and leaves after two years with no qualifications. I’m not saying that’s your DD. But if not yours, it would be someone.

Needing the required grades (equiv of 6 Bs in recent years) to access Sixth Form is quite standard in the schools around here, OP.

Can you explore HE colleges too if you're not sure your DD will get what's needed?

There is a long time to go, though, OP. Your DD certainly has time to pull GCSE grades up if they start really applying themselves now (with your support).

Hi

most schools across the counties who previous took options in year 8 have reverted back to year 9 options - this is down to pressure from Ofsted to follow a three year KS3 and to stop schools spending three years on GCSE. Your child has benefitted from three years of GCSE during this covid period so I don’t see what this is a negative.

in terms of the entry requirements, all sixth forms have some entry requirements! Some higher than others but ultimately a place is never guaranteed if you don’t do well. It would not be in the best interest of a child to accept them into a levels if they were below the academic ability needed to access the course.

many towns have colleges and other FE establishments that cater to all abilities of students so your child should have plenty of options available to them.

plus part of these messages will have been designed to motivate your child (and others) to work hard, show up and perform as well as possible in the exams. I don’t understand why you feel upset by these. I’m reality, most schools are very accommodating to individual students!

As you daughter wants to do a BTec, I think she needs to find out what that means in terms of entry requirements. They’ve become an academy, they’re changing the rules - that’s fair enough. It doesn’t sound like they’ve announced only a full sweep of 7-9 gets you an A level place. There will always have been entry requirements - even if soft ones - for A levels and Level 3 BTecs. She needs to find out exactly what she has to get to progress to BTec and what the options are - Level 1 + GCSE resits for example. Get facts first.

The school is not writing off an entire Y11 or they’ll be up the creek filling the spaces they have. Perhaps they’re aware that too many children and parents are coasting because they think it’s OK “cos Covid” and can sail into 6th?

How did this summer’s Y11s do? They had the interruption at a more critical time. If they did OK, so can current year at same school.

Honestly it sounds like your focus should be your daughter’s mental health issues, not the school. It’s those that have made a previously strong candidate get a 2 in English. Maths hard to tell as you say she’s always struggled. If you can’t support her and motivate her, why do you think the school can? You can get a higher grade in Maths than a 1 with KS3 work alone, so there’s more going on here than just “giving” up on an entire year.

Did she do badly only because she had a panic attack, or because she didn’t know the material too? You need to understand whether she needs academic support or health support or both - and prioritise accordingly.

Do not waste your time arguing about a school wide Y12 entry policy that doesn’t seem clear anyway. Talk to them about your child.

Most schools have a minimum requirement to do a levels. It's not fair on the children otherwise. Someone getting a 2 in a subject is not going to be able to study it for a level. They also have a requirement to pass maths and English because that's a minimum.

She has the whole of year 11 to study and work really really hard. And try and pass her gcses. Then she can work out what to do.

But unless she passes she won't be able to.do a levels anywhere.

I've never heard of a school giving automatic places for 6th form. DD has just started 6th form. She applied for the one at the school she was attending, 2 colleges and also 6th form at a selective grammar. Her own school wanted her to get 7s in the subjects she wanted for A level and 3 6s in any thing else. The colleges wanted at least 6s in the A level subjects plus 3 5s in anything else. The selective grammar 8s in all her A level subjects and 3 6s in anything else

Her friends have gone to a variety of settings for 6th form and all of them had to meet offers and a lot of them had interviews. A couple of them didn't get the grades

DD is so demotivated they couldn't get the wherewithal to be disruptive.

They've previously always been a good kid. Quiet, respectful. Not a rock the boater. Not a kid known to all students as chasing headgirl status. Just a kid who was liked by staff, small, very close group of friends. Had some mild bullying but sorted very quickly.

They as I say we're mid groups for subjects. Had no restrictions on subjects picked for GCSE. In fact quite the opposite was seen as capable at a number of subjects.

To my mind, they were just turning 13 in 2020. It's like they've stayed there. Couldn't have the awkward teen year of 13 due to lockdown so had it last school year instead and we still have the hangover now.

Science is their kryptonite. They hate the staff (quite a weak department, very old staff, not very approachable). They've never been very keen but now they say they feel physically sick before class and during.

Maths again was always a difficult subject but they had an amazing teacher last year who was disappointed that they went to pieces in the exam. Said with the right attitude could get a 6. He then left in July but she seems to like the current teacher.

Same with English, great teacher, was so gutted by her result she phoned me to say she was very worried for her. Also left in July. She was given a teacher who has been there for decades so seen it all but has yet to really gel there as not been taught by her before.

I will reiterate though, this school has never not had an automatic place for sixth form for its year 11 cohort. They would obviously advise those who weren't up for carrying on in education post 16 and also helped those who wanted to study something not offered there.

Really don’t understand this. We’ve all had covid disruption dds cohort last year year 11 just done their GCSEs lots with very strong passes 8s / 9s even the less academic ones have got what they needed for the next stage. State school.

There's no point doing A levels without strong passes in those subjects and at least 5 GCSE passes. If your DD is unlikely to get those grades then 6th form isn't likely to be the best place for her. Looking at the college options is a good idea and perhaps a more interesting option for your DD.

Offering all pupils a 6th form place is very very unusual. The school hasn't really made a shocking change there, they've just moved to be in line with everyone else.

If she's year 11 now then she would have had a normal year 10. Hopefully a normal year 11 too. That's 2 years without Covid disruption. 2 years of normal GCSE lessons is what most schools do. If she works hard for year 11 then she's got a chance to catch up and make up the lost learning.

My DD picked her GCSE options in year 8 using just a booklet. She could have asked her teachers questions but didn't feel the need to. To be honest, once you've got the core subjects in such as Maths, English, Sciences etc actual choices are fairly limited. Is usually only 2 or 3 things that you actually get to select based upon what subjects they enjoy. I don't really see the problem of making those choices without an open evening.

Her grades from her tests are obviously lower than expected and hoped for. She's got time to turn it around though. I would stop looking back and blaming the choices process and Covid issues in year 8 and 9 (all children suffered the same problems) and crack on with doing the best you can, going forward.

“Science is their kryptonite. They hate the staff (quite a weak department, very old staff, not very approachable). They've never been very keen but now they say they feel physically sick before class and during.“

Again, I’d look at the summer’s Y11 results.
This is coming from your daughter’s mental health issues not a bit of age-ism regarding experienced teachers.

I wouldn’t waste any energy on the school rightly selecting for Y12, because you need all that energy to be focused on her mental health issues.

You are adamant they would accept all to Y12 before. Have you actually checked with them whether this means they will not be offering Level 1/2 BTecs and Maths / English resits? Do you actually know anyone from previous years who got 1-3 and has nevertheless been accepted to A levels or Level 3 BTec? I find that hard to believe.

The thing is, from speaking to parents at the school, and from the angry in some cases reaction last night, I don't think this is singularly a DD issue.

It's been widely discussed online too.

DD was predicted between 6-7 for maths previously (they give GCSE predicted grades on all reports from the start, we don't get written comments at all just numbers, was fine before parents evening went Virtual as its 5 minutes per tutor and some don't turn up (eg I've not seen a science teacher in person or virtually since 2019 for DD or DS)

We were hoping that should they not do well at GCSE English and maths they could resist at school but that is part of the whole not guaranteed a place thing.

Currently, I'm going by a "Well you're not very happy there recently so perhaps a move is a good idea?" I booked a tour of the local college but as I say it's that or very hard to find an alternative here.

At home we are encouraging I can't stress it enough but I wish they'd had done the meeting for parents last night because it's really hit hard and to her mind (and her friends) they think the school thinks they are failures and wants rid of them. I've said to not see it like that, but when your already feel like you will fail everything it's not come at a great time and rather than encouraging them post the exams last term, it's done the opposite and I guess that's why I'm disappointed with school. Bad timing, bad audience!

She needs to be looking at other options. She's not suited to A levels. They are hard. Very hard. Get her looking round colleges for something vocational. However miserable she is now will only be made worse by two years of a level pressure