Year 12 - 2025/2026: Here we go again!

[QueenMabby]

A new thread for the new school and college year. A friendly thread for parents of those going into year 12 in September 2025.

It's been a very big shock to my system having a dyslexic child (especially DD's level of it) and meant a completely mental re-evaluation of how our exam systems work. I'm the polar opposite of dyslexic, and while DH is, his is the kind where he needs someone to proof read but didn't stop him getting As in everything and humanities at Oxbridge.

DD's was picked up very early - primary paid for their Ed Psych to do comprehensive testing as soon as she was 7 as she couldn't read. She has an incredibly spiky profile. But there was never any intervention or support beyond getting her through the phonics test. We were London at the time and the resources were there for testing.

CAT scores at secondary meant she had targets of 8 for every subject - and was never going to get anywhere near that sadly due to her struggles with reading and SPaG.

I don't really understand how councils can just decide that something doesn't exist when there are so many examples of children who are intelligent but literally disabled. And even when you have involved and motivated parents it's incredibly hard to find resources or interventions that help - and the older they get, the more resistant the child is to doing things that are boring and emphasise their weaknesses.

I have no idea how you could run systems like GCSE and A level and make any kind of level playing field that would be acceptable and fair to all. We have found that BTEC is the answer for DD - the format allows her to gain the marks that reflect her actual ability and ignores her disabilities. (Again concerns me that governments are looking at cutting these). I am at least glad that 6th form and university will be easier for her in this regard.

I don't know what the criteria are for having software, but I was told that it would not be allowed - and that examiners were used to interpreting without penalising.

Had DD been allowed editing software for the exams, her writing would look more like mine (with the odd error where the system accepts her mis-spelling as a different word from the one intended) and would have been easy for an examiner to read for content and analysis without having to employ crypto-analysis before marking!

I've put in for both English Literature papers - she got very similar scores on both - a 6 on paper 1 and just missed a 6 on paper 2 giving her a 5 overall and a couple of marks off the boundary.

Then the anomaly is the English Language where she got a 3 on Paper 1 and 6 on paper 2 giving her a 4 overall. However, paper 1 Lang is invariably her best English paper in every exam and mock since I can remember. She's a long way off the 5 and very close to the 4/3 boundary, but I do wonder if hers could be one of those papers that sees a big jump because the examiner was tired and couldn't be bothered.

She's got the passes - but is very disappointed, and it has damaged her confidence.

I've asked the teachers to look first - so waiting to hear... and starting to bite nails, but don't want to bug them.

Just to flag to all of you – IME most unis for most courses don’t bother about GCSE grades really at all – I mean they want certain grades in eng and maths but beyond that they are focused on A levels above all.

DD and DS2 both got lots of RG offers (not Oxford or UCL tbf) with grades of 6-9; there is no need for all grade 9 or all 8-9. Seriously unless you are looking at medicine or Oxford @Mafaldaweasley @waitingquietly then an 8 or a 9 in geography or 7 GCSEs at grades 7 and 8 are fine for most unis, yes including London ones.

Don't believe everything you read on MN which can be very self-selecting as feeling as tho everyone gains all grade 9s – they really don’t.

Thanks @clary, my dd is potentially interested in medicine/ dentistry so it could possible make a difference - though I think at least some unis which score for GCSE score 8 and 9 the same.
@OhCrumbsWhereNow I can relate to the shock to the system having a dyslexic child, as English language/literature were always my best subjects. Dd was picked up very late, but since having adjustments put in place in year 10 has gone from predicted 5s to 7s, 8s and 9s in actual GCSEs which has been a bit of a miracle. Good luck for your reviews of English, and at least hopefully getting some understanding from her teachers of what might have happened.

Ah yes some of the unis do score for medicine. But yes my understanding is that 8 and 9 count the same. I don’t even think they all do the scoring do they? tho I am not the expert on this.

One thing I do know tho is that it makes no difference where you do your med degree – as in, it’s not the case that xxx uni is viewed as better than yyy uni.

Meant to add before @OhCrumbsWhereNow I am so sorry your DD is having such a tough time. It’s crappy is what it is. Hopefully with her post-16 specialism she will really start to shine. And hope you get some positive answers soon on the English reviews.

Yes the Essex issue us very bad, as schools can't afford it so just aren't doing it for kids who they spot with dyslexia, I know Jamie Oliver has been raising it with the Education Sec and DfE and got some sort of provisional investigation because it is illegal foe them to be doing something like that. So hopefully that does help, as I hadn't seen it get any media traction till he got involved, so that's something. It's because they can't fund it, so they've stopped doing any Ed Psych testing for potential dyslexia, even though that evidence will be needed by students later on in life, and it blocks them from receiving specific help and isn't at all their fault.

You are often right, kids who are smart or can revise etc sometimes get deprioritised for diagnostic testing, which causes further problems for them. Yes at least universities tend to have systems with marking for this (to stop them being penalised for bad syntax etc), so hopefully it gets easier for her as she goes along because getting the software for GCSEs can be very difficult.

I hope the review goes in your favour, but don't let her confidence be destroyed by this, I know that's easier said than done but with the way the system failed her, she really shouldn't see it as a metric on her skill at all. I'd maybe give the teachers a quick email asking for an update if they can.

Thanks.

To be honest, I worry about it on a much larger scale than DD (she's fine as she has music and nobody will ultimately care about her academic results). I just had my eyes opened to issues I had never really thought about.

And I honestly don't know how you come up with a system that is fair. It comes down to what are the results actually for?

Are you demonstrating to an employer that this person could walk into a job and reliably write a report, or a letter, or balance a book (or whatever)? In which case... sure if you have x, y, z tech available maybe they could.

Or are you saying this person has the ability to study at higher level?

It's really tricky.

I think you'd need to be really carefully looking at the unis you select, there's lots of information available on this, so you don't need to do loads yourself, YouTube etc have lots of detailed resources. For courses like medicine, GCSEs are scored but differently by uni to uni, a 5 in English Lit is likely fine as the others are high.

Whereas LSE, UCL etc for Law may penalise that, for medicine/dentistry they'll be focusing more on STEM subjects. UCAT and A-levels will still take precedence though so don't be too worried. Medicine has many applicants who applied 1 or 2 times before they got in and it's very normal, the UCAT is very hard and doing the best in that can make a lot of the rest easier, even sometimes for those whose A-levels then are somewhat lower.

The thing I'd be looking at when it comes to universities, other than the typical location, vibe etc, is things like intercalation, connections with opportunities, dissection v protection (mattered a lot to my sister, as she wants to be a surgeon so wants to practice on a full cadaver), those things in a climate of many doctors post F2 not having jobs will make you stand out on those applications.

I'm feeling quite conflicted (and annoyed) about reassessing papers. DD2 was 1 mark off the next grade in one subject, 3 marks off in another. Initially her school contacted her to suggest reviewing, she went as far as getting the scripts and then - (apparently) nothing.

One problem is that she has left the school, so perhaps they decided not to bother with an ex-pupil, and now she no longer has her school email account. The other problem is that she has been a furious prickly porcupine about the whole thing, refused all our suggestions to help facilitate, refused to tell us any but the barest information every time we asked, so we have been operating in the dark.

DH felt we shouldn't push as she was very upset about her (generally excellent) grades at the time. And now she's started at her new college and seems to just want to move on.

I don't know whether it's worth approaching her old school myself, but I gather the decision to review marks is entirely between the school and the pupil so it seems I can't get involved - and now she's not even a pupil anyway. But I am kicking myself for not being more of a pushy tiger mum, because DD2 wants to go to Oxbridge and I'm concerned those two little grades will be enough to make the difference.

@Poisoningpigeons - DD2 has been told by her english teacher that Oxbridge treat 9 and 8 the same, at least. She's keen to have a go and the school seems to think she'll be fine from a GCSE point of view. Mostly it's done on written work sent in and papers sat now anyway I think? DD1's friends got interviews and in some cases offers with all 7-9.

We're still vacillating over whether to remark Eng Lang - one mark off, but the papers are so confusing when it comes to the marking we wouldn't have a clue and it doesn't seem all that likely it would change.

Thanks @achangeofnameisasgoodasarest one of the grades is a 7 😖

But anyway I think the point is moot because (1) it's no longer her school and (2) DD2 won't entertain the discussion and (3) (feel free to judge me for being a wishy-washy parent) I don't have the energy to battle both her and (really wishy-washy) DH 😝

@Poisoningpigeons that still sounds incredibly good to me! I don't think they won't look at people who have a 7 - the thing about Oxbridge from what I've seen is that they want people who are REALLY good at one thing, not only those with straight a stars but who aren't as passionate.

I also know I am very old and Oxbridge has changed, but back in the day my one B (in music) at GCSE did not count against my application for Classics and English - because my inability to identify a gamelan orchestra was irrelevlant to the course. My younger sister's shoddy art grade, ditto.

@Poisoningpigeons please don't worry – there are a lot of hoops to jump through for a place at Oxford or Cambridge and GCSEs are just one. Unlikely that a grade 7 will be in any way an issue.

I have posted this before but a mate of DS's got a 6 in his English lang (I only know bc DS got a 7 and was delighted to have done better than him in something – anything!) and went to Cambridge. Tbh he is a brilliant brilliant mathematician who really excelled in the specific atmosphere there (which is not for everyone) and the uni would have been foolish if it had turned him down on the basis of a frankly irrelevant grade 6.

Thank you both! 😍 That is very reassuring indeed, DD wants to read maths so it's going to be unbelievably competitive as it is... hopefully her 7 in a totally unrelated subject will be long forgotten.

DH and I are also Oxbridge alumni but we're practically Jurassic in age, so our experiences aren't relevant anymore either

With maths I think lots of emphasis is placed on the admissions tests. They want people who can do hard maths and accept a spiky gcse profile as often those very good at maths struggle with essay subjects.
The Cambridge process is particularly brutal as the admissions test is taken at the same time as A levels and I think they only take the top half of their offer holders.
At least if you take an admission test in the autumn you can use the results to determine where you apply.

@TheLivelyViper my dd has an 8 in English lit, I think you may have confused my post with someone else. I'm aware of the GCSE requirements for medicine and need to apply strategically.

Sorry for the doom and gloom but DS’s day was worse today.
Politics was awful -not enough seats and he had to sit on the teachers chair . I have never seen him so upset when he came home-he usually so laid back and happy go lucky it has broken my heart to see him so sad.
Rational me knows it is day 2 and he can’t be with all his pals but he is with no one he knows and he is not that confident. I know it will be the same for others too and he has seen people at lunchtime at least.
I’m just venting really…

I am so sorry to hear that, I'd be heartbroken. Is he at same school for sixth form as GCSEs? Or somewhere new that his friends have also gone to?
I am totally "that mum" and I contacted DD's school before they went back to get her swapped biology classes. She has stayed at the same sixth form so they had access to their timetables about a week before going back, and contacted each other saying which classes they were in and which teachers etc.
DD was upset not to get the same teacher she'd had for GCSE and her old form tutor (who also teaches the subject) so I contacted them with an argument as to why they should move her. Luckily there were no timetable clashes, and turns out there were less in the class that she moved to than the one she had been put in!

I've done it for DS in yr9 too. His Head of Year invited me to the school the day before they were due back to discuss his classes etc (he is diagnosed AuDHD so not just me being "that mum") and he's moved from a class he would have absolutely hated (he saw who was in it on Teams before he was moved) to one he is really happy to be in. My other DD won't allow me to contact school on her behalf and whilst the other two find it "cringe" they are always grateful for the intervention.

I always approach it from the perspective that it is in their best interest educationally and so far the schools (they go to different ones) have always been receptive. And whilst it might be a bit cringy for a day or two being the kid that moved (though luckily this year I was able to get it done before they started back, so few, if any, knew about it) it's forgotten in a few weeks and the outcome is positive for both school and my child.

I'd defnitely contact school/college - obviously with DS's agreement - and see if something can be done to help the situation. It's in their interests for him to be settled and happy as well as his and yours. I always make it clear it is down to wanting the best educational environment for my child and not just wanting to be with friends - it is easier once they know the child and that they are committed to learning, and I think they see me as an invested and engaged parent (as well as a pain in the backside!)

Thanks @SuperSue77 .
It’s a new college that lots of his pals have gone to, they aren’t all doing the same subjects so he knew this could be a possibility but I think it hit home today that he is the only one of them to be totally without anyone he knows in any class.
He can’t do anything for 2 weeks movement wise but we will get him to look at options over this weekend so we are prepared.

Much harder to do any of the stuff I suggested, but hopefully it will get easier - maybe some will drop out and there won't be any more ridiculous use of teacher's chair - or they'll get their classrooms sorted so that they are timetabled in one with enough space. I really hope it gets easier for him.

@clary DD had first Spanish lesson today and is having a bit of a meltdown that she’s being exposed as not good enough as in a class with native speakers. She got a 9 in GCSE but isn’t confident in the speaking and listening as they were mainly taught to memorise certain paragraphs to do the speaking exam. She hasn’t had a lesson since April but does have her phone in Spanish and puts subtitles on TV. I’m hoping it’s an early wobble that will pass once she settles as it was one of her strongest subjects.
What can I do to help her confidence? Thx

Hey @BellaI firstly she should think of the native speakers as a great resource for vocab, idioms and maybe even some relevant political opinions on topics. I had a friend in A level class whose French was amazing – we called her the Dictionary.

She's not in competition with them – your A level class is a chance to learn, to extend, to do your best. So there are people in there who are better than you? Great! It's good practice for life – and a chance to learn from someone.

Sounds to me as tho she is suffering a bit from imposter syndrome – but she has just as much right to be in the class as they do and has plenty to offer. A 9 at GCSE is great. Even if she learned big tracts of answers for the speaking exam (shakes finger at teacher) she must have (assuming it was GCSE not IGCSE) had some spontaneous elements (photo, roleplay). So she clearly did well at those (well enough to counter the "lots of learned answers" which the examiners don't like).

She must also have done well at the other papers and that she couldnt have learned - esp the listening which plenty find a real challenge. So well done to her – let her remember that and build on that.

It’s a shame if the school set no bridging work – but could she over the next few days identify any perhaps weaker areas and have a really good look at them – verbs, key vocab, often-used structures – she might find that actually she knows loads more than she thought.

MFL A level is a big challenge but I think it's a great subject with really interesting topics and hopefully an engaging book and film. Can she find out what the film is they will study and watch that? And maybe watch the other films on the syllabus (assuming AQA this is the list: El laberinto del fauno Guillermo del Toro (2006); Ocho apellidos vascos Emilio Martínez-Lázaro (2014); María, llena eres de gracia Joshua Marston (2004); Volver Pedro Almodóvar (2006); Abel Diego Luna (2010); Las 13 rosas Emilio Martínez-Lázaro (2007).

Icl the only ones of those I know are the Almodóvar and the del Toro and they are not the easiest, but I imagine they are all worth a look (I know the films on the French and especially the German spec are excellent).

The books are really good for Spanish – Shadow of the Wind and Like Water for Chocolate, both amazing – so again maybe have a look at one or two of those and see what she thinks.

Bellal and SB1971 - sorry to hear your DC are having some teething troubles at their new colleges. I would absolutely contact them and just politely ask for a little support. I think 6th form is a huge jump and they must realise DC are going to need help still.

DD had a bad day yesterday, feeling frustrated by an old friend from her previous school stuck to her like glue and preventing her trying to make new friends. I'm trying to gently guide her how to deal with it, without being mean. She's enjoying her lessons though and had 3 tests on Monday, which were quite tricky but went ok ... she thinks!

Ratty went in early this morning, doesn't have a timetabled lesson until 11.30am to do so some independent study he claims!

Won't last.....betcha

Sorry to hear about DCs with early issues. Hopefully most of them will sort themselves out in the next few weeks. It is still very early days yet.

dd has thrown herself into the new term picking up the school play, a maths mentor role and has started her Gold Crest Award. She has quite a heavy workload already and also wants to cover off 3 music grade 8s in the next 18 months so she has a lot of work to do!

@QueenMabby how on earth does your DD fit it all in? She sounds amazing!

@SB1971 sorry to hear that your DS is missing his friends, that sounds so unfortunate, not even having one class together with someone you know. Does he find it easy to make new friends? Do they have a common room like area?

DS has gone back and forth over colleges and 6th forms and subjects and it's now finally resolved. So he's staying at his school 6th form and doing Maths, Physics and Chemistry. He decided not to go the 6th form college he had initially intended to go as he thinks a more structured environment would suit him better. So far he seems happy and settled and he says he is finding the 6th form better and more relaxed than the rest of the school. He's got a few friends there and also in his classes too, so I'm happy that he's in the best place for him now.

We went for his first ADHD medication meeting today and he will be prescribed the meds soon for a trial. He is hoping it'll make it easier to focus in class and less distracted. The last 2 years have been a challenge for him certainly.