My 16 year old just failed maths resit, and has ONE gcse. Talk me down from the ledge.

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He doesn’t seem even slightly bothered. He said he knew he was going to fail it again. He’s doing a level 2 course at college and the accepted him on the basis of 3s at GCSE but want 4 in maths and English for the level 3 course which starts in September. He has another shot at it in June but that will also be in conjunction with English.

What’s driving me insane is that he’s fresh out of fucks to give and wants to get a full time retail job. But of course there’s no chance of that at the moment without Maths and English. He’s not particularly committed to his college course.

What are some realistic options? He’s nicely spoken and well presented, but has ASD (bit PDA) and dyslexia and reckons he can’t remember “stuff” apart from gaming stuff.

Help. Help help.

As the mother of another AdHD/ASD DS (nearly 18) who failed three GCSEs (including Eng lang), don't give up hope. He'll get there. My son didn't resit his English until the following June as the college felt he could use the full year to relearn the content. (My son DID
get the pass, btw) The fact that yours was scheduled to resit so soon in November is encouraging. He is probably almost there. They'll find their way eventually, even if it takes a long, meandering path.

And well done to your son for having a work placement. My DS is meant to have one as part of his course this year but hasn't managed to score one yet. Tense times...

Thankyou, everyone, for your thoughts. He’s very keen and motivated to get a part time job in addition to his studies so that’s something, although I think it’s to spend the wages on War Thunder…

Make a list of all his strengths, weaknesses, quirks - cognitive / ND assessments if you have them, emotional profiles that you observe, interpersonal preferences and optimum environmental situations and triggers. Load all of that into ChatGPT and ask what career paths would suit him - then ALSO ask how best he is managed and motivated - so that YOU can tailor your own interactions with him so that they land and impact better.

My dd left school at 16 with one Nat5, also very dyslexic, she went to the local college to do professional cookery, starting in the lowest class learning basic kitchen skills, she liked cooking at school, she done 3 years at college, got selected to work at a top hotel, at 22 is now quite a high level chef!

what was important was for her to learn how to learn, she had to discover how to learn out with a one size fits all school!