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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Will DS be capable of doing A Levels with these GCSE results?

123 replies

PSLK · 29/08/2023 10:41

My DS achieved the following GCSE results:

Maths 6 (one mark off a 7)
German 6 (one mark off a 7)
History 6 (three marks off a 7)
English Lit 6
English Lang 5 (one mark off a 6)
Combined Science 5/5
Food Prep 5
Statistics 4

He has been very unsure about what to do at college but feels like maybe he could give A Levels a go as his results are better than we expected, specifically in English and Maths. He was predicted 7s for German and History and isn't far off those grades. We are getting the scripts for the subjects he was one mark off in.

He's looking at German, Modern History and Law as his choices, although not set in stone.

I'm concerned that although his results are good he will struggle with the step up to A Levels.

Does anyone have any experience with their children or themselves doing A Levels with these kind of GCSE results?

OP posts:
Mayhemmumma · 31/08/2023 09:49

Seems odd to think he's not capable, those marks are more than good enough.

I work in a college where he comfortably meets the entry requirements for A levels.

If he's not had the best work ethic at school then he's a clever boy to get those results. Hopefully choosing A level subjects he's interested in will encourage him but not all teens arrive at college ready to work hard tbh...it's a whole life experience of new relationships and developing independence that is part of life learning.

ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 31/08/2023 09:53

My GCSEs were higher than that and I really struggled at A level. Would he be staying at school or going to a local college? I hope things have changed, but I couldn’t do a levels at a sixth form in a school, so I had to go to a local college where classes were very large, I was allocated a personal tutor who I never saw and didn’t know me, and the pastoral care was non-existent. We were just left to it and nobody really knew us or knew our potential. I think it could be better at a school.

Notquitegrownup2 · 31/08/2023 09:53

Yy. Would he consider Business Studies, psychology or sociology instead of German, which I think is the hardest of his three choices? You can't fudge it with German. You have to focus and work steadily/hard all of the time. You can't guess/make it up.

My ds sounds v similar to your. He managed to get ABC and matured a lot from 16-17.

And if it doesn't work out, he can review next summer.

Bramshott · 31/08/2023 09:56

Those look like pretty reasonable grades to me, definitely if you can get them remarked and he goes up to a 7 in a couple. My eldest DC got a bunch of 6s & a few 7s at GCSE and thrived at A level once they could concentrate only on what they wanted to study. Now at a well-respected uni and getting a solid 2.1, sometimes a first in some essays. Let him start the A levels if that's what he's signed up for, and deal with any problems as/when they arise. There's plenty of scope for changing course and adding a third year to sixth form if necessary.

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 09:57

PSLK · 31/08/2023 09:36

He has freshers' days next Thursday and Friday and starts college properly on Monday 11th.

Good heavens. Surely there was a deadline for course choices?

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 09:58

PSLK · 31/08/2023 09:39

The thing is, there's nothing else he wants to do. None of the BTEC options interest him. At least he's picked subjects that he has some ability and interest in.

He's also not (currently) interested in going to university. Unlike some people, it's not the be all and end all for him. He literally is an average kid who has to do something.

I suspect op that he will not enjoy or flourish with a levels and definitely not academic rigorous ones.

An apprenticeship?

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 09:59

@Layinwait he enrolled earlier this week

OP posts:
Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:00

PSLK · 31/08/2023 09:59

@Layinwait he enrolled earlier this week

With what courses selected?

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:01

An apprenticeship would suit him but they are few and far between where we live. It also seems they don't tend to give the Level 3 apprenticeships to school leavers.

OP posts:
Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:02

@Layinwait yes. That's the decision he has made.

OP posts:
Luckypoppy · 31/08/2023 10:02

Layinwait · 29/08/2023 10:54

Maths 6 (one mark off a 7)
German 6 (one mark off a 7)
History 6 (three marks off a 7)
English Lang 5 (one mark off a 6)

really? In all 4 subjects he got exactly the same mark?

Teacher speaking. He should have a remark in those 4 subjects.

Yes with the right support he's capable of A levels but probably at C/D grades with maybe some higher ones if he works his socks off.

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:02

@Layinwait sorry, I misread your post. He's selected the subjects that I men

OP posts:
Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:03

Gah! He's doing German, history and law.

OP posts:
Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:03

PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:01

An apprenticeship would suit him but they are few and far between where we live. It also seems they don't tend to give the Level 3 apprenticeships to school leavers.

What about he gets a job, earns some money, with the view to doing an apprenticeship? He will have proved himself as reliable and much more appealing to apprenticeship offering employers

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:04

You have to stay in education until you're 18.

OP posts:
Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:05

@Luckypoppy thank you. Are C/D grades considered bad? Even if you don't want to go to Uni?

OP posts:
Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:12

I would pour my energy and encourage him to do the same to pursue a traineeship or apprenticeship

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:13

Him doing a a levels will be very stressful for you too op

As you will be frustrated at his lack of focus and you nagging him to study and then the disappointment in his results

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:13

I can pour my time and energy into it as much as I like but if there aren't the opportunities available then it's futile. So I'll support him with his A Levels instead.

OP posts:
CocoonofDavid · 31/08/2023 10:14

If he pulls his finger out I’m sure he’ll be fine.

My DS is bright but not exceptionally so… but exceptionally lazy at school.

His GCSES were a cluster fuck due to covid. He had coasted throughout y10 on 5s… target grades 7s, 6 and a 8. Finally knuckled down in January y11. Report in early March said if he kept it up he’d be back on track for his 7s… then lockdown….

He was allocated a mix of 5-7s and an 8. The two 5s were allocated because teachers said they had to look at the whole performance, not just the last 8w. So it really stung him. One of his 5s he continued for A level. The school said normally they wouldn’t let him do it without a 6/7 but due to the circumstances they’d make an exception.

A levels he got 3 Bs (cruised a bit in y12, worked reasonably well from Jan/feb in y13- had been predicted ABB/C, and is now doing a subject he likes at a top 10 uni, and finished his first year on a high 2:1 (still awaiting some of his exam marks back due to strikes.)

His girlfriend worked her socks off, and got
A* A B and is struggling at uni (different course) despite continuing to work hard.

If he enjoys the subjects and you can help him with essay structure/study skills (which is where I think his girlfriend has struggled) I would think he’ll be ok.

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:15

I think you're making a lot of judgements about me and my son.

He's made his decision and we will deal with whatever lays ahead when it happens.

OP posts:
Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:15

PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:13

I can pour my time and energy into it as much as I like but if there aren't the opportunities available then it's futile. So I'll support him with his A Levels instead.

Really? Employers have considerable financial incentive to take on apprentices

both teens either side of me (neighbours) are starting apprenticeships

Original poster
PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:16

Really.

OP posts:
Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:16

PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:15

I think you're making a lot of judgements about me and my son.

He's made his decision and we will deal with whatever lays ahead when it happens.

A little prickly op

I too would be stressed. It was not a criticism

you asked in your op a question
I have answered - no

Layinwait · 31/08/2023 10:17

PSLK · 31/08/2023 10:16

Really.

Very substantial financial incentives for offering apprenticeships, yes.