Sixth form

[Smithy01]

My son started six form in Sept, taking Maths, Physics and English Lit he has been struggling with Physics from the start and his attitude is going downhill fast, we’ve tried to be positive and help but he won’t talk about it. He has targets of B’s he thinks it’s a waste of time unless you can get A’s these days. He’s just received his current progress - Physics and Eng Lit D’s and a C in Maths. This has just made matters worse, he is saying he can’t grasp Physics, it’s boring and he is stupid. I’ve never struggled to talk to him previously but it’s like he has a brick wall up and I’m very concerned. Does anyone have any experience or advice please?

Would hiring a tutor help? If he feels he has chosen the wrong subjects he could start again in September and redo year 12.

It's hard but I only really got though to DS1 (who was like this for GCSEs but seems to be much better for Alevel) when I backed off and let him decide how much work he needed to do and let him deal with teachers etc himself, on the understanding that the consequences were his after all.

Has he spoken to his Physics teacher? Is he talking to the others about what he needs to change?

Ultimately he can stay on the course or not, what will he do if he leaves? He needs to decide, I think there comes a point when our "help" is counter productive, it's not until it's their responsibility that they step up.

A tutor is an option I’m considering, if I can get him to open up. His secondary school didn’t have a sixth form, hence a completely new school to start now which could be adding to the problem. He’s struggling to build any connection up with either of his Physics teachers but is fine with the other subjects. I feel it’s just a big barrier he’s built rather than tackle the problem. I’m not sure if after just 4 months he’s current grades are a big concern or if it’s just the way he’s feeling.

What’s the end game? Has he thought about next stage- Uni or otherwise? What subject? Why did he choose that particular combination of A level subjects?

IMVHO C/D after one term is not disastrous, but he needs to know he has to keep working steadily to get to peak at the time of the A level exams. Perhaps having the goal in mind will motivate him to keep it up.

I'm probably going to get shot down. Could he very picking up on your view thst it isn't worth it unless you get A's. That's hugely demotivating.

I think you have misunderstood me here, it isn’t me who has the opinion that you need A’s, that is my son’s opinion.

Theworldisfullifidiots: They do need mostly As and Bs nowadays to get into RG universities. It's demotivating to students just short of this requirement, but a sobering truth.
The whole application process has become a bit of a game of smoke and mirrors, IMO.
Ten or twenty years ago, I believe Bs and Cs would see you onto all but a handful of courses and demonstrate that you had the cognitive ability to cope with the rigour of an academic degree.
While a few depts rigidly stick to their As requirement, dropping people who miss a grade,
lots of depts now end up taking ABC grades on confirmation of offers, but keep up a pretence of only accepting A graders when people apply.
The problem for the beleaguered pupil comes at the predicted grade stage. Student has to have AAA predicted to pass the initial sifting rounds, because depts with competitive degrees, i.e. ones which render job success, get thousands applying. It's opaque and subjecting adolescents to appalling levels of anxiety. Hence, rocketing levels of self harm/eating disorders/self medicating. It puts teenagers under duress when they are having to cope with transitional background pressures, such as change of school, first sexual encounters etc. Then it's compounded by unconditional offers to lure students into firming early. After the latter, pupils down tools and do zero work. Only one in six predicted grades is accurate, according to retrospective research based on UCAS stats. Pupils are at the mercy of impressions formed by teachers and any subjective value judgment/stereotyping therein. Not to mention the potential for funny pecuniary goings on! "Dear parent, our school is having a renovation project". "Dear Alumnus, Our University continues to expand". Etc.......

finnto having had one go through the system already, with another just started 6th form, you speak a lot of truth. My first one had the benefit of AS levels so “actual” grades not predicted. My younger one won’t have this benefit, and not being near the A grade standard is already essentially writing herself off. I think also being of the vintage to know that some Uni’s are ex-polys (and therefore supposedly inferior) doesn’t help our kids, and us parents need to educate ourselves of the merits of the non-RG world.

How much effort has he actually put into his Physics? Many students come into sixth form expecting it to be like GCSE and to be taught everything they need to know in lessons. In reality, the lessons are mainly to transfer the required information, then the hard graft of really getting to grips with it happens at home. How much independent work is he doing? He should be doing at least 12 hours of study per week in his own time, probably more if he is struggling.

I think in some of the tougher subjects, Maths, Physics, it's been necessary in some years to get over 60 per cent to get a C grade. If he's been predicted a B, couldn't a good tutor work with him to boost his confidence to move him up to an A?
It's worth a try if you can afford it.

He’s moved from a secondary school with no sixth form to another secondary close by with one. Harsh but true this puts him at a disadvantage from the start he’s not home grown, they don’t know him and tbh where the expected grades came from I have no idea, for example he got a 9 (above an A* in old money) in English Lit GCSE, so this also has de-motivated him! He doesn’t know what he wants to do but he loves Maths and English Lit, he also wanted to do a science and he performed the best in Physics hence his choices. I believe he is more than capable of the B’s I just need to get his head back in the game really. Not a easy task with a 16 year old.

It might be useful to get him in front of the school careers people ASAP and/or searching on WhatUni for possible courses. Reading prospectuses, going to open days etc this year may give him a reality chevk

Thank you for all your advise, it’s helped and I think he’s turned a corner. The physics books have been out a lot over the holidays and I think he realises only he can change things. I’ve had a full conversation about it with him too - progress. Fingers crossed it lasts and in the new year I’m going to broach the subject of a private tutor again.

As he got a 9 for English Lit GCSE and loves English I would be more surprised and concerned that he has only got a D in that subject for his current progress grades. Is it purely through lack of effort?

Don’t want to sound patronising, you may well be aware but it's a massive jump from GCSE to A level. It’s not so much his current progress I was concerned about (speaking to his teachers at parents evening this isn’t unusual after the first few months) it was his attitude towards Physics. I do find the comment “Is it purely lack of effort quite offending too!”