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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Can my Y10 August born DS not do GCSEs next year?

11 replies

AliceMay55 · 22/05/2023 04:40

DS is struggling with some of his GCSEs. He is one of the youngest in class. He was a preterm baby - delivered at 32weeks due to growth concerns. He was so tiny when he was born! Although he got better later, he still looks small for his age. SEN assessment was done recently and he now gets a tablet and extra time for his exams.

I feel terrible we made him start school at 4. We should have pushed for a delayed start. Can he repeat Y10 this or is it too late? I think he’ll benefit from the extra year for his GCSEs

OP posts:

electriclight · 22/05/2023 04:59

That's a decision for the school but it is generally not considered to be the best option for the child, who watches their friends move on whilst being well aware of why they haven't. I'd be surprised if the school agreed, our school wouldn't, but it is a question you need to direct to the Head. And worth considering that he could well continue to struggle with the curriculum even second time round. Personally, I would be making sure he's receiving every possible support and maybe also arranging some tuition in key subjects.

BibbleandSqwauk · 22/05/2023 05:03

Our school (private) has a number of kids out of their "proper" year group. They actually seem to cope perfectly well with being "left behind" though that will depend on your child's friendship groups, peers etc. It is difficult in state because there is far less flexibility..the rule about starting late came in too late for my summer born son too and I may face the same dilemma as you in the future. Talk to the school, don't be fobbed off but ask for real reasons, not just "policy". And remember he could always resit at college.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 22/05/2023 05:05

Goodness, I'd say you have a good case. The other way of framing it is to frame this coming yr 11 as a "trial run" with a plan of him sitting them again in 2025 as this will certainly be possible.

LindorDoubleChoc · 22/05/2023 05:51

I'd be surprised if you can get another whole year of education "for free" in a state school.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 22/05/2023 05:56

But he can have 3 years of further education.
https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses#:~:text=Further%20education%20(%20FE%20)%20includes%20any,Higher%20National%20Diplomas%20(%20HNDs%20).

Further education courses and funding

Find and apply for a further or adult education course and work out what financial help you can get

https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses#:~:text=Further%20education%20(%20FE%20)%20includes%20any,Higher%20National%20Diplomas%20(%20HNDs%20).

84wood · 22/05/2023 06:03

This is very common in private schools. I’d ask.

ArdeteiMasazxu · 22/05/2023 06:13

I wouldn't think it's ever a good idea to hold a child back a year within the same school. The social and confidence fallout would be huge. But if there's another school you think he would be happy at, restarting y10 in September in a new school would be valid.

If he wants to stay in the same school then keep him with his age cohort. It doesn't matter that GCSE grades might be better with another year of work. GCSE grades don't matter much anyway in 10 years time and 6th form colleges generally allow students to do gcse resits alongside starting the alevel or btech courses.

MimiSunshine · 22/05/2023 06:54

Can you look into him dropping all but the essentials like maths and English?
a colleagues daughter is doing 6 GCSE’s (4 are the 2 English and 2 science, maths and 1 other) rather than the full list of options.

that may give him more breathing space than staying back a year. Plus he can always resit them if needed.

Foodielady · 22/05/2023 07:10

My DD repeated Yr 10 in the same school and is doing her GCSEs at the moment. Best decision we could have made. She has an August birthday and has some additional needs and so receives extra time for her exams.

She slotted easily into her new year group and has retained friends from the year above too. She is doing so much better academically and socially. It would have been a very different picture if she hadn’t repeated.

TeenDivided · 22/05/2023 07:12

You can get 3 years in 6th form.

But that doesn't mean you can use the first year to repeat y11. 6th forms / colleges aren't generally set up to repeat a full set of GCSEs. Normally you'd be doing a Level 2 course alongside resitting maths and/or Eng Lang as needed.

OP, I think you have 2 options.
a) See if you can move schools to restart y10 elsewhere
b) Continue and if needed do a Level 2 course prior to L3 course.

However As a parent of a prem 32.6 with SEN, with extra time & a reader, I think you have to think hard re repeating the year. Have you had a full assessment done of processing scores etc? Is it immaturity that is his issue or underlying issues? If it is underlying issues, would it not maybe be better to drop a couple of GCSEs to lighten the load rather than prolong the agony of GCSEs by a further year?

My DD 'coped' in y9 and then fell to pieces in y10. It was only when we did formal assessments for her that we realised how low some of her scores were (despite her underlying ability being in the 90s).

x2boys · 22/05/2023 07:25

I'm pretty sure you, can only resit maths and English at college ,my year 11 non academic son has had a terrible year health wise and has missed a good chunk of time as he was in hospital,and is still recovering,he's sitting his GCSE,s right now h
we are not expecting great results but he's hoping to get enough to.get on a level two course at college,there are loads of options post 16 ,not every body sits A levels .

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