Bouncing back from poor GCSEs - in praise of BTEC (edited by MNHQ at request of OP)

[Passingthrough123]

I’m sharing this as a message of encouragement/hope for any parents with DC about to take GCSEs who are struggling academically and are worried about next steps and think A-Levels might be too much for them.

That was my DD16 this time last year. She had major anxiety (needed CAMHs referral for therapy in end) and her mock grades were low. We knew A-Levels might finish her off so after coming on MN for advice, we looked at a BTEC in animal management because ultimately she wants to work with animals.

Her GCSEs were even worse than we feared. She only passed 3 above grade 4 and the rest were 3. We were so upset for her but hid our disappointment and tried to stay positive - we knew how much she’d struggled sitting so many exams and a practical qualification in a subject she loved might be a better fit. But it was so hard seeing all her peers get decent grades and head off to sixth form. It was hard not to think that we had failed as parents too.

Then there was a slight setback on college enrolment day. Because she hadn’t got a science at grade 4, she’d have to start at Level 2, where she could learn animal biology. It would be a one-year course that, should she do well, would get her to Level 3.

Yesterday our girl came through the front door looking the happiest I’ve ever seen her coming home from a day’s learning. She’d sat a mock test last week and found out she got 98%! She hasn’t scored so highly since primary. She was also told she’s on track to pass her course with Distinction, meaning she’ll have the equivalent of four more GCSEs at grades 7/8 as far as employers are concerned. She loves the practical elements of BTEC, including sorting out her own work experience, and finds the written work more than manageable.

It’s like having a different child, frankly. And the stress and worry that we carried while she struggled at secondary school is finally ebbing away. So if you’re a parent reading this worrying that your DC isn’t going to do well enough to take A-levels, please know there is another path. I only found out about BTECs from coming on MN so this is me paying it forward.
(Edited by MNHQ at request of OP)

Had a good discussion with school careers advisor today re 16+ options. Main points that came out were:

• Yes you can go to pretty much every uni except Oxbridge and some London ones with a Level 3 BTech (I knew this, but DH needed to hear it)
• Highgate Wood 6th form is worth considering as unusually they have an A-level and BTech pathway and also as they're not oversubscribed, so there is so room for negotiation if they don't make their grades. Also good SEN provision, and also my nephew went there so we do have some insight into it. My brother says he was happy with it as was nephew, who is autistic had been quite disengaged at GCSE but got BBC at A-level
• See if there are summer open days as it can be overwhelming - and I know from experience with oldest they all seem to be in the same bloody week for some reason! Capel has one on 20th June, so I think we'll try to go then and get one ticked off.
• Barnet Southgate is a bit reluctant these days to take people doing retakes

Apologies for taking so long to return to the thread! It's been such a busy few weeks with my work and DD getting to the end of her Level 2 course. She got Merits and Distinctions in her final exams and coursework, so overall she's passing with Merit, which we are thrilled about. It's been such a great year for her, she's grown so much in confidence and she's excited to start Level 3 in September.

It sounds like Highgate Wood could be a really great sixth form for your DS. How are his exams going? I hope he's doing okay. Such a stressful time for them all.

Thanks @Passingthrough123 - so happy to hear how well DD has done!

Exams aren't going great with English, wasn't able to do the papers, but happy with science and maths. We've established,, as I thought, that he really just doesn't 'get' English lit questions, like he didn't understand that when the question said 'how does Shakespeare present...' just means 'what does he say about...' and he so bright generally, which is one of the reasons I want to explore the possibility of specific language issues when we see the educational psychologist next month

Huge well done to your daughter @Passingthrough123 DD 18 hated school, anxiety, no confidence, definate autistic traits but no diagnosis.
We have had a BTEC journey too. All her friends did A levels and there were some horrid snide remarks from some people. She smashed it with BTEC Level 3 DDD in music.

Didnt want uni, didnt know what to do, was so anxious. Passed driving test, bought car. Worked in supermarket, got promoted to a team leader working fulltime - she is unrecognisable now with quiet confidence, spends her days allocating jobs and work to people many times her age. Gets her butt out of bed to do 4am starts!

She spent a lot of time visiting her friends at their unis around the country and decided she wants uni.
She did the Ucas herself, researching and took so much time over her statement, had to create a portfolio (photography) - again all solo research and work. She got a place!
This week she has confirmed & paid her deposit for her 1st year accommodation herself. I am incredibly proud at her resilience, independance and drive.

Taking this year out, working, saving thousands £ has really set her up for hopefully a successful FE experience.

She is so happy and finally feels positive about the future. I cannot agree enough, as proven in all these wonderful stories - there is much more than A levels to suit young people. I have loved this thread and apologise for the long post! Thankyou all for sharing.

My son (did a Btec in Music) has just fiished university. He says he has handed everything in but I''m not convinced he will pass his final year BUT what is more important is that uni has helped him to build professional contacts and he is currently working and earning a living in the industry he loves.

Fantastic, well done him! I have always told her I believe her career will come from someone she meets rather than something she applies for!

Well done to all of the DC mentioned on this thread!

I did reasonably well academically (I was described as being, "Bright but no good at exams"), but when I went to a more vocational college, I was coming out with top grades. It was a huge confidence boost, I wasn't permanently anxious, and it was hands-on learning for the first time in my life. It was also far more interesting!

I now work at a vocational branch of a college. We have students from the nearest high schools coming to study for practical exams here. I've had students sent to me who are awful in the classroom/have been kicked out of school, but because they're doing practical skills and something that they're interested in, they do brilliantly. After reading my reports, their tutors have been known to question as to whether I got the right student on work experience that week! Some of the students start off their journey at college very shy and/or "I hate school", and you wouldn't recognise them by the end of their time here. It just goes to show that traditional, academic education isn't for everyone, but there are ways and means to make a success of your life.

Late to this thread, but just wanted to also praise BTECs and well done to all the other DC’s on this thread. BTECs can be the making of them

My daughter also struggled with GCSE’s (Covid year, plus she’s also very dyslexic and had a mental health breakdown in the midst of Covid/year 10) and came away with a few grade 4 and the rest grade 2/3s.

Got into college and did level 2 Animal Management alongside re-taking maths and English GCSE’s (which she managed to pass after a couple of attempts)

Then did level 3 - finished with merits and distinctions

Is now at uni doing a BSc in Wildlife and Zoo Animal Conservation and is loving it. There’s very few exams in the course and she’s keeping up with the work and getting good results.

She’s a couple of years older than usual for starting uni, but in her case, it was absolutely the best thing for her - she worked part time, worked on her mental health and physical health and just generally grew up and matured and was in a much better place by the time she went.

Ah, it's so great to hear more success stories! @PoemsForTea and @Comefromaway, you must be so proud of your DC. And thank you @TheeNotoriousPIG for the college insight. How amazing that the kids excel so much their tutors are genuinely taken aback – it just goes to show how vocational learning can be a game changer for some.

@Springersrock Your DD is on the animal care path I think my DD might eventually take. Which uni is she at?

My DD has ended L2 with DMD. If you'd said this time last year she'd be capable of getting Distinction I don't think we'd have believed you. The M is for the science paper, and we did suggest she take a resit to see if she could get a D (she was just a few marks off) but she decided not to for the sake of preserving her current non-anxious state, which we understand and support. With those grades she'll still start L3 in September with more confidence and desire to learn than she ever had at school. She's even volunteered to go into college over the summer to help out with the animals kept there. It's been truly wonderful to see her soar.

@Passingthrough123 I’ll PM you

DS (14) really wants to do animal management and a degree like your DD. GCSEs are very uncertain (might do quite well, might struggle to get more than 5 GCSEs above grade 4) but I think worst case scenario is he has to retake English Language and do animal management L2. Great to hear about your DD's path, that really gives me some encouragement!

I think starting uni later might be a good thing - he is August born so even if it takes him another year, he'll still be the same age as the other students essentially.

DD has had her place confirmed to progress to Level 3 and today went back into college to formally enrol, so she can now relax over the summer knowing she's sorted, plus get a head start on applying for the required work experience. She's lined up some cat sitting in our neighbourhood for the holidays and is looking for part-time work too. Cannot believe how brilliant this year has been after such a tough summer with GCSEs and poor results last year!

To any parent whose child has just sat their GCSEs and is now worrying about what they'll do if their results aren't great, do check out BTECS. They are a seriously brilliant alternative to A-Levels!

Oh that’s amazing news! Well done her @Passingthrough123

Thank you! She's thrilled to bits and I'm mightily relieved!

My DD had decided she wanted to do nursing. Her third A level was Biology. After a couple of days in the (grammar school, fwiw) sixth form, she announced that she was changing to Health & Social BTEC. I suggested she gave the A level another couple of weeks. She agreed, and then came back from school the next day saying she’d swapped (obviously taking a lot of notice of her mum’s views ).

Just before the February half term in her Upper Sixth, she wandered into the house muttering something about a Distinction Star. I didn’t realise for a couple of weeks that this was the final mark. As this is an A * equivalent, this took a load of pressure off her two remaining A levels. She got an A and a B in these, which meant that had she decided not to go down the nursing route she could have gone to most universities - yes, including most of the RG.

And, just to have a boast, she graduated last September with a (very high) first.

I admit that I was a little bit snobbish about BTECs - but my DD made completely the right decision. I will say that she still laughs at anybody who sees her Distinction star as equivalent to an A * - but that’s what UCAS points say.

I remember your story and I think I commented. I am so pleased for your daughter and wish her the best of luck in the future 😀

Love this success story! It's so brilliant that your DD followed her instincts like that and well done her for getting a first! You're not alone in being unsure about BTECs because schools don't tend to inform parents about them, because it's more the done thing for kids to go down the A-Level route. I only found out about them coming on Mumsnet! And yes, people might also scoff that they're not true A-Level equivalents, but UCAS points say differently.

Thank you so much!

Went to Capel Manor open day with DS and found out more about Animal Management and I was pleased with what I heard. My worries were whether it would be a bit too specifically vocational and not lead on to much except low-paid work, but it sounds like there is a decently challenging scientific element to it. And that most students do go on to degree or equivalent qualifications and it can open up veterinary, zoological or bio-science degree options. I'm confident he can meet requirements and that there would be options for dealing with it if he can't get a 4 in English Language. Even if he had a real disaster, he could at least get on to L2 and retakes, so it's a definite back up.

DS was very taken and I think it will be hard for him to see anywhere he likes more, but I have said we will look at a few and maybe put in some A-level options in case he does very well or his feelings change - just so he has the options.

But I feel reassured that he could make a success of things from this course so I'm really pleased we went.

That sounds like a really positive visit! They are definitely not limiting themselves to low-paid work doing this type of course and I'm glad Capel has made you see that. It's great he's got options now.