To have not known kids have to attain grade 4 in maths?

[Pepperpotladles]

I did not know this!
I have obviously been living under a rock.
So today someone told me that if kids get grades 1, 2 or 3 in their maths GCSE, it is compulsory that all these kids have to keep on studying GCSE maths until they achieve a grade 4 or above, and they have to keep trying to achieve this up until their 25th birthday.
Is this true?!?
I can't believe my ears.
What about kids who simply can't achieve grade 4 or above in maths, for any number of reasons?

Lots of the maths skills to get a grade 4 are essential to life.

I'm not sure about the 25 bit but they do have to resit at college if they don't pass.

I think it's up to age 19

Do you not pay attention to you’re children’s education/attend GCSE meetings/read their report cards/attend parents evening?

I'm clueless as to understand how you did not know this?

Yeah i knew this it was the same when I was at school if you didn't get a C you and to keep doing it at college.

It is not compulsory at all. Nonsense.
They can resit alongside whatever they do at college.
They can do Functional Skills alongside an Apprenticeship.
Who has told you this?

@Pepperpotladles have you got school aged kids?

I’m not sure which way to vote but if you have, especially secondary school aged kids then I think you must have been living under a rock!

If the school gave told you that it’s not true.

The pass rate (ie to get a grade 4) is incredibly low in maths, something like 19% so if a child can’t get that they’re going to struggle in life.

Used to be Grade C before the (confusing 🤣) numbers

It was required to apply for college etc as well as most jobs requiring is as a minimum in Maths and English

Functional Skills courses at adult training centres etc cover the same

What do you about kids who simply can't? They keep learning and trying. It's not acceptable to just leave them to it at 16 without another go. The skills are needed to be functional in society.

Same with English; grade 1/2/3 does not represent a literate adult.

That would be my worst nightmare I hate maths, bot site what my grade means now as it was a 3 in Scottish Standards grades in the 90’s ( a C equivalent in old GCSE money). I wasn’t allowed to do the credit paper as I was not going to pass. Had to do spud maths, I’m ok with arithmetic but when the fucking alphabet and demonic symbols enter the chat then I can’t do it I freeze. I also have a fear of the 8 times table.

i now know I have ADHD and that was my main issue. I work in finance now and rely on spreadsheets and macros to assist me. Also to Mrs Magee who liked to scream at me I do have a fucking calculator in my pocket all the time…let me introduce you to the fucking smart phone.

Yep it's pretty common knowledge among people who have kids, but I'm pretty sure they only have to keep doing retakes until end of compulsory education age so 18/19. Apparently the pass rate if you don't pass first time is abysmal though so it seems tortuous to just keep making them retake over and over knowing most will never pass

You really can’t understand how children with send, medical issues, chaotic home lives etc don’t do well in school? My son works incredibly hard, but struggles badly in tests, always has and will struggle to get a 4 in the exam. He can function perfectly well in the world without being able to do simultaneous equations. There are lots like him out there. You really must live in a weird academic bubble.

I didn't know this. I attend every parents evening, read every report and my DC is sitting his GCSEs now. He is predicted higher than a 4 and needs a 7 for A-Levels, I guess what will happen if he doesn't pass has never been discussed as it's not a concern.

I’m a secondary school parent and had no idea about this but it’ll be a cold day in hell before I let a child of mine leave secondary school without a pass in English and maths, so it’s of no consequence to me tbh.

There is no compulsory education after the age of 19. How on earth could adults aged 19-25 be coerced into taking maths lessons and exams every year in a free society? You need to apply a little bit of critical thinking to outlandish claims like this, OP.

My eldest son finally passed after 3 attempts at college to get his GCSE grade 4 maths......he only missed out by one point on the last attempt.

As part of the conditions of funding those aged 16-18 (and 19-25 if they have an EHCP) who do not have at least a grade 4 GCSE (or one of the accepted equivalents) in Maths &/or English must continue to study Maths &/or English as part of their programme of study. Those who get a grade 3 are expected to work towards GCSE. Those who get below a grade 3 can work towards functional skills instead. There are a few exceptions. You can read more here.

That isn't pass rate, that is sometimes the pass percentage on the higher tier paper. To pass the foundation tier you need 55-60% or so.

GCSEs are marked so about 1/3rd will fail Math/Eng Lang.

Lets hope your children don't have SEN, or don't suffer with MH problems in their GCSE years then.

I didn't 'let' my younger one leave secondary school without her GCSEs, circumstances intervened.

I think they decide to continue with the lessons and exams when they realise they are viewed as unemployable by hirers.

Oh the privilege of having academically average or above children is strong on this thread!

One of my children finds school straightforward. One of my children has learning needs. They both try their best but one of children may not pass their English and Maths GCSEs. It won’t be for lack of effort on theirs or the schools part. It’s just that learning is really hard for them in an academic context.

It's MUCH higher than that ... in 2024 it was 59.6% to get grade 4

Yes, exactly.

It wasn’t my plan for DS to be autistic and not be able to attend secondary school, but that’s what happened. I’m really proud of him for resitting later this year.

How exactly it is often not quite as straightforward as getting them to revise. Sometimes brains understand both English and maths and sometimes just one.

When I did exams we had a girl with SEN who was amazing at the English and social sciences side - on course to get good grades in her a levels she just couldn’t pass maths.

because remember there isn’t a pass mark per se it is bell curved and a certain percentage fail

that percentage around 30% Maths and 30% English

that said functional skills is a valid alternative it’s just getting whatever establishment to agree to the move from gcse to functional skills (which won’t be a sixth form attached to a school) and is harder than it should be to move - that does have a standardised pass mar