Help - DEE

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Ds got D E E in his end of year 12 exams in Geography maths and economics.

He always does well in his class assessments. Always has done but says that the important exams are always "stupidly" hard.

Going to ring school tomorrow but should he just quit and get a job now.

He doesn't really have a very good work ethic so don't think he will put the work in to turn it around.

What does he want to do?

@BunnyRuddington he has no idea which is causing him a lot of angst.

I think for the moment he wants to stay at school but only because he knows that any job without a-levels probably won't be a very enjoyable one.

That sounds tough and I really haven't got any answers, sorry.

Has he got any idea what he can do with those results after his A'Levels?

He only received results today so hasn't really looked into anything yet.

He really has no idea what he wants to do at the end of year 13 with or without good results. He has said in the past that he doesn't want to go to university but he doesn't know what apprenticeship to do either.

I think it is bothering him as he thinks he should know what he wants and feels he will have to start applying soon which is putting the pressure on.

I think it is bothering him as he thinks he should know what he wants and feels he will have to start applying soon which is putting the pressure on.

Well quitting school now will mean even more pressure, so no he shouldn't just quit now. He should use the summer to knuckle down and sort his revision out.

DEE at year 12 can be converted to BCC or better, if he's determined.

He (potentially with you if he’s agreeable) needs to have a good conversation with each teacher to find out what each of those grades mean in context. If he does well in class assessments those grades don’t tally, so what’s going on? Has he made loads of stupid mistakes and lost marks there, misunderstood questions, is his exam technique or revision poor or does he actually not understand? If it’s any of the first three, they can be sorted relatively easily with a bit of effort, but without knowing what’s specifically is going on it’s hard to say.

Also worth bearing in mind lockdown - did he work or do sod all? If he’s missed a lot of Y12 and either didn’t work during it, teaching was rubbish or he didn’t get on with the online teaching, then that could well indicate those grades aren’t as bad as they sound.

This is for next years exams? Did you speak to the school?

He could better these - hard work over the summer going over the basics again and working through the topics he has doing hard. The teachers should be able to help him and show where the weaknesses are.

The other option you didn't mention would be to 'restart' and do a BTEC at college.

In a similar situation here. Poor results, DD determined to carry on.
Does anyone know if Y13 looks as though it is not going well could she stop and then start at a new place Sept 2022. How does funding work? I feel the need for a plan b in case we need to completely rethink choices.

@Summercleaning

In a similar situation here. Poor results, DD determined to carry on. Does anyone know if Y13 looks as though it is not going well could she stop and then start at a new place Sept 2022. How does funding work? I feel the need for a plan b in case we need to completely rethink choices.

Students get three years of funding for post 16 education

With those grades I think he should redo year 12, either at the same school or at 6th form college, maybe consider changing subjects (especially maths) or maybe consider taking BTECs instead.