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Education

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Original poster

What do you do if you don’t get any GCSEs?

25 replies

Prideandjoy2 · 10/02/2023 19:04

Dd just came home with her GCSE mock results and she only passed one. Grade 2 and 3 in others.
What happens if this is repeated in the real exams? 6th forms all asking for 5 grade 4s or 4 grade 5s.

OP posts:

timetorefresh · 10/02/2023 19:05

Vocational courses at college

wizzywig · 10/02/2023 19:05

There's entry level/ functional skills exams

Findyourneutralspace · 10/02/2023 19:06

She’ll need to resit maths and English and consider a BTec or similar. Are there any colleges in your area, as opposed to sixth forms?

MintJulia · 10/02/2023 19:08

Or find a work placement with a local trade. What does she like to do?

recklessgran · 10/02/2023 19:09

College or apprenticeship? sports/hair/beauty/childcare/catering etc
What are her interests OP? Does she have any idea what she'd like to do with her life?

Rummikub · 10/02/2023 19:09

She will have options depending on what she wants to do.
Eg level 2 business plus GCSE English & maths then can progress to a job or apprenticeship or level 3 and uni if she wants

Did she revise?
how did she revise?
HoW close is she to a grade 4 and in which subjects?

WhatIsFairForAll · 10/02/2023 19:09

wizzywig · 10/02/2023 19:05

There's entry level/ functional skills exams

This is what my DD ended up doing as she became seriously ill during Y11 and only passed one GCSE - French. She remained quite ill during her time at college, but they were fantastic with her, supporting her all the way and she worked her way up to a Foundation Degree. I was secretly devastated when my bright DD who was predicted top grades could only manage cookery and pottery in her first year at college, but it was exactly what she needed to destress and find her path in life.

I'm not saying your DC will have to start at the bottom like mine, I am just trying to offer some reassurance that although the path may be longer and have more diversions, there will still be a path for them

Nimbostratus100 · 10/02/2023 19:10

BTEC level 2, and functional skills

TheFallenMadonna · 10/02/2023 19:11

Level 1 or level 2 courses at an FE college.

Galarunner · 10/02/2023 19:12

All of the above . She might be offered a functional skills qualification in English if school are concerned she won't get a 4. This is equivalent to a 4 at GCSE and is widely accepted for vocational courses and apprenticeships ( not suitable preparation for A level study.)

MissMarplesbag · 10/02/2023 19:16

I would get her some tuition know on filling in the gaps and get a tutor to work on revision skills. It is not too late to turn it around, concentrate on her best subjects.

Some kids need help with revision skills and we've all got different ways of learning. That's what I'd focus on for now as May/June is still a few months off.

LIZS · 10/02/2023 19:19

Maths and English resits until she achieves a gcse or level 2 pass, sixth firm of further education college would accept her onto a level 2 btec/nvq while taking resits, or entry/level 1 courses if that seems too big a jump.

Bringonsummer19 · 10/02/2023 19:21

There are still a few months to go. Can you get a tutor? Can you help her structure her revision time/can you supervise this?

LIZS · 10/02/2023 19:23

Was this a surprise? Did she revise or does she have any additional needs? How can the approach change to give her a better chance of passing?

Poblano · 10/02/2023 19:25

Were these results a blip or expected?

If they were a blip, the shock might make her prepare better for her real ones. Does she have feedback from her teachers on where she can improve to get herself over the pass mark?

If they were expected, then look at vocational courses at FE college at Level 2. These will give her an equivalent qualification which she can either use to find a job or to move on to the next level of study.

Greyfelt · 10/02/2023 19:28

One of my family members got one GCSE, grade C Art. Did some re-sits and got a job in a shop.In her twenties she became a well paid banker. Looks had something to do with it I think.

Original poster

Prideandjoy2 · 10/02/2023 19:43

She wants to do BTec Sports.
I’m concerned that if she has to do an extra year before she can start it, she’ll lose interest and drop out before she even starts the Btec.

She puts in minimal effort and very little revision. I’ve had to back off as she started to self harm when doing her mocks at the end of last year and we have a very difficult relationship.

OP posts:

LIZS · 10/02/2023 19:46

Dn did btec sport level 3 and plenty were resitting maths and/or english in the first year.

Original poster

Prideandjoy2 · 10/02/2023 19:51

Thanks for all your replies -they’ve been helpful.
She won’t accept any help from us at all, even though we have been desperate to help. She won’t attend the booster sessions school are running.
We changed her school at the start of this year, which was far from ideal, but necessary due to bullying. New school is small and caring.
I’m more stressed out by the situation than she is I think 😩

OP posts:

LIZS · 10/02/2023 19:53

Surely the school won't be happy if she is underachieving. Would she listen to hoy or pastoral about putting support in place.

Bunce1 · 10/02/2023 19:55

Feel reassured that there are options and other pathways for her. It might take a bit longer but she will be able to do what she wants.

Rummikub · 10/02/2023 19:56

Prideandjoy2 · 10/02/2023 19:43

She wants to do BTec Sports.
I’m concerned that if she has to do an extra year before she can start it, she’ll lose interest and drop out before she even starts the Btec.

She puts in minimal effort and very little revision. I’ve had to back off as she started to self harm when doing her mocks at the end of last year and we have a very difficult relationship.

Attend the next open evening at college.
They’ll discuss with her the requirements for level 3 sport as well as the level 2. Hopefully armed with the info she can choose to work harder to get the grades.
If she’s sitting 8+ GCSEs then she doesn’t have to achieve in all of them. Focus on maths, English lang, a science plus another 1 or 2.

Whu · 10/02/2023 20:09

Mental health over GCSEs. It sounds like she is going through a lot with mental health/ self harm and bullying / school move. I would focus on English and maths as they are usually the gateway to other things. Plus PE for her sports btec.
Lots of children don’t achieve GCSEs at 16 but still go on to achieve success later in different forms.
It sounds as if she is very into sports, I would be speaking to the college she would like to attend to see what their minimum results are. Is she involved in sports clubs and things too? Could she get involved with coaching younger children at her chosen sport? Build up her confidence and skills in a practical way.

Bringonsummer19 · 10/02/2023 22:39

How many is she taking? It would be better to pass a core set of 5 than none at all. Speak to the school on this

TeenDivided · 12/02/2023 18:26

DD didn't get any GCSEs due to MH issues, the world didn't end.

If you don't get enough for a Level 3 course, you do a Level 2 or even a Level 1 course instead whilst resitting English & Maths.

She gets 3 years in college, so could do L2 BTEC Sport for 1 year, then L3 for 2 years.

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