Would you let your kids give up on some of their GCSEs?

[ElsaLing]

DS (15) has GCSE mocks coming up. He's really struggling in one of his optional subjects, so DH and I basically said he could let that one slide to focus on his other subjects. A few weeks ago he decided to essentially give up on one of his other options as well, and today he told me he's also not going to revise for a third option because he's better off spending his time on more important subjects. And he means for the actual GCSE exams, not just the mocks.

Even if he fails those three subjects, he should still be able to get the marks he needs to do the A Levels he's chosen. DH has no problem with DSs plan to prepare to fail all 3 subjects because none are essential and none are required for the next step of his education (he only needs 5 5s to do A Levels). I want DS to try to pass at least one of these subjects (and would prefer he not give up on any, but prepared to be pragmatic). It's particularly frustrating as he's predicted a 6/7 in at least one of the subjects he wants to give up.

There's no SEN, no MH issues, doesn't seem stressed/overwhelmed.

So, I'm wondering, how relaxed would you be if your DC wanted to basically give up on 3 of their GCSEs?

YABU: It's no big deal, as long as they pass the basics it's fine!
YANBU: I would not 'allow' my teen to prepare to fail 3 GCSE subjects (I appreciate 'allow' is a relative term with teens!)

Seriously, as someone senior who runs teams in tech and interviews a lot I never look past university qualifications.

Having stronger GCSEs provides better stepping stones to the next level though.

this is a worrying thread. Didn't know that unis look at GCSEs. What about students who only have 4/5/6 GCSEs because they couldn't attend mainstream? Many smaller specialist setting offer only limited GCSE options - even for highly academic students. will EHCPs/SENs taken into consideration?

I wouldn’t be too happy. If he is predicted 6/7 he’s not lacking in ability. They have 3 months can he not just crack on with all of them? He could put more effort to the ones he likes/ needs? Writing 3 off seems extreme.

The thing is about choices.

If there's a chance he wants to go to University then he needs at least 8, as many take the average best 8. So no need to slog your guts out for 11, but 6 or 7 will raise questions.

There are people who have less and are still accepted but they usually have a reason why. Health issues, adverse circumstances etc that can go on a personal statement or talked about at interview. 'Didn't see the point' is not going to go down well with employers or university admissions.

Those people who didn't get their GCSEs but eventually did well still had to put the effort in (often more so) eventually.

He is extremely unlikely to be allowed to officially drop anything at this stage. The entries have gone in (each one costs of course) and schools don't have capacity to supervise y11s who've suddenly got hours free in the week.

He should have a long hard think about why he chose options he wasn't sufficiently interested in. I understand the RS-type subject may not have been properly optional.

Computer Science is understandable - tough subject. But Business? Seriously OP - browse a revision guide. It's a cramming job for anyone with reasonable intelligence.

If he does go forward with what is essentially "quiet quitting" then please emphasise that he must not disrupt others in those classes, some of whom will be planning to go on to Business A level or BTEC, Computer Science A level etc. Also that he may well encounter those teachers again if he's staying on.

Obviously as teachers we know who these kids are!

Some schools (wrongly) still link staff pay reviews to their exam class results. Years ago I had a tiny class and one student who did really poorly despite many extra hours of my help, so brought the class grade average right down. I didn't get a pay rise that year.

If he's going to do this please send an email in to the teachers. If I'd had 'evidence' it wasn't my fault, then I'd have still got that pay rise.

Is it too late to formally withdraw from some of those subjects? Would be better for your son and the school's results. Talk to his head of year and go from there.

I think they will look at these factors and DC can highlight it in application and so can referee

That is different though. There is a story to talk about and valid reasons.

There's also a certain amount of resilience and drive required to work with those issues.

This is not that.

I think this can be covered on the personal statement.

Assuming no SEN or mental health issues, it sounds like pure laziness. To be honest, I'd probably rather have not bothered with French, RE or ICT, but I still did them, and tried my absolute best. Life is full of things we'd rather not do.

GCSE results absolutely do get looked at later down the line, and having 3 that clearly show "couldn't be arsed" doesn't give a good representation of his work ethic.

I'd kindly say that if he can't cope with 8 GCSEs, then honestly, 3 academic A-Levels are probably going to be beyond him.

I'd be digging into why he wants to drop them. If it's to have more free time, then ho ho ho, absolutely not. Any free time obtained by dropping the 3 subjects, you use that time to increase your study time of the other 5.

Also to add, 5 GCSEs from a mainstream setting, points towards a kid with either SEN or some other pretty significant reason as to why they couldn't do more.

8 GCSEs looks like "normal".
People WILL dig into it. And "5 because I couldn't be arsed to do more" isn't a good look.

Yes, there is a special section on UCAS to cover those kind of issues and situations.

"It's all too much effort, argh" is not one of those situations.

Sometimes I think about that girl they interviewed who survived Grenfell. She stood outside with her family all night studying a revision guide, because she had a GCSE exam the next day.

I specifically said as long as they get what they need for the next step it's fine. Dropping a GCSE such as English or Maths wouldn't even be allowed.

GCSE subjects that have no relevance to future study or employment and require a huge amount of time and effort that could be better spent elsewhere, could, in my opinion, be dropped to ease the pressure on a stressed student.

@JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn what you said was that no one looks at GCSE grades ever again, but that really isn't true, and honestly I don't think it's helpful to say that. As I abd others say, unis, sixth forms, employers will or may look. Students are obliged to put all their GCSE grades on the UCAS form fir example.

We are not talking here as I and others have said, about a student who is struggling with SEN and will do amazingly to get 5 x 5. Thus sounds like a student who CBA with three choices and I don't think approving that is a great message.

A student should do the best they can. And who knows what the next steps will be?

It’s the step after the next step that matters too - see the posts about uni admissions.if a course is over subscribed why would you give a place to someone with fewer passes at GCSE, everything else being equal?

Like it or not, it’s a competitive world. He has the opportunity to compete on a level playing field. He’s choosing not to.

I should think so.

I think the point is you can't possibly know at 15 what future life and employment will hold, hence the aim of a "broad and balanced" curriculum.

We got a letter from an ex student once (IB school, compulsory language in 6th form) to thank us for making her continue French. It was on CERN headed paper...

All GCSEs do is move you into the next box. No one cares once you're there.

Better, I think, to do well on 6 or 7 than to stress over 9 or 10.

I actively encouraged my elder daughter to give up on a couple. The stress they were causing her was starting to threaten her success in those she was naturally good at.

But to get that uni place you need to get A levels.

To get on the A level courses you will be competing against students who didn't give up and have the grades to prove it.

You're using unofficial ways to screen students? How unpleasant.

I work in HR and wouldn't dream of doing what you're doing. If the person has the skills or qualifications for a role, they are shortlisted. You need to work harder on creating a more robust screening process. I dread to think how many capable students you've thrown out.

This is what's wrong with the education system. Too many are too keen to throw students on the scrap heap if they don't get 12 GCSEs.

pritty much

...oh, just to add....she was later offered a place by all five universities she applied to.

I agree with you to an extent. If someone applied for a job who had years of experience that would off set poor exam results. If there was a young person applying with limited or no experience, exams results are very important as it shows their abilities as well asvattitude towards work. I also work in Hr and interview a lot of people with varying skills, experience and qualifactions. Even if it was a graduate applying, straight from uni, I would be wondering why they has fewer GCSEs.

Thank you for this perspective. In regards to Computer Science, we had already discussed that he needs to respect his teachers and the other students in the class who are there to learn - not because he had been misbehaving, but to ensure he didn't in the future. Fortunately, I can't see him doing anything blatantly disrespectful, but definitely something to look out for!

Oh no! I hate to think that this could impact any of his teachers in this way. Thanks for the heads up.