‘Star’ GCSE pupil flopping A Levels - Advice?

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DD, Y12, has always loved school and been a high achiever academically and a real ‘joiner’ (sports teams, debate club, all sorts of extra curricular stuff). She aced her GCSEs (Grades 8 & 9 in everything) and decided to stay at her school Sixth Form and do A Levels.

She hates it. Everything about it. Hates her subjects, but hates the idea of all the other subjects too. Hates academic writing at this level. Completely unmotivated to do her homework and and is way behind. Anxious and crying most days. Says she ‘just can’t do any of it’ and doesn’t understand why. Has stopped joining in with any extra curricular stuff at school and is generally extremely negative about all aspects of school.

Her attendance has always been close to 100%, but is now 70%. She just failed her mid year mocks in two of her three subjects and we have been called into school for a meeting. School have been supportive thus far, made adjustments, helped her plan her work, extended deadlines etc. But to no avail.

She is a good girl - mature outlook, thoughtful, kind, responsible (comes home when she says she will etc). Never had any issues with behaviour. She has friends and still has some outside hobbies (dance, music) which she loves. She just seems to have totally lost heart with A Levels and is now questioning whether university is for her.

Im just at a loss as how to support her. Tried listening, advising, practical support, offered a tutor. Tried ‘tough love’ and saying she just had to get through and see it as a means to end.

Now thinking maybe A Levels were the wrong choice for her? But what else does a bright but clearly not-interested-in-the-academic girl do instead?

Are foundation years at uni still a thing?

I spannered my A-levels but managed to get on a foundation course at my uni of choice which led to a degree and did much much much better.

I think this is more common than people realise.
My ds ( year 13) hasn't loved sixth form . It caught me completely by surprise, he also got mostly 8's and 9's at gcse.
He had a massive wobble in year 12.
We talked through the options- sticking with it, leaving and starting year 12 again somewhere else or with different A level subjects, going to college to do alternate level 3 qualifications. I told him whatever he decided to do I would support his choice.
He decided to stay and will do his A levels in May.
I think all parents can do is give teens the confidence to make their own choices and support them in their decision.

My daughter got 7s 8s and 9s for her gcses. She is doing three essay based A levels and finding it very full on. She too suffers from anxiety. She loves the subjects but gets so worked up near exams. I worry about her so much..I feel your pain OP

I did O levels and then A levels. Aced the first, struggled with studying for the latter and had dreams about being unprepared for A levels for at least 20 years!

In my experience it was the difference between rote learning and critical thought.

I studied English, History and French so there was some rote learning in terms of literature and dates etc but the critical thinking took me a while to develop.

Yes they were hugely essay heavy, as was my degree and subsequent qualifications so I don't think that was my problem. It was more having an opinion of my own.

Snap on the subjects @Pebbles16 . I think the most helpful advice we got from our (genius) History teacher was to read real academic books about the Tudor period, plus historical novels, as well as the main textbook she used. It was superb preparation for university in that respect.

Huge jump from level 2 to level 3...
Grade Ds in Y12 aren't as rare as people think

@Tipsowner I had an equally genius history teacher (wish I'd done the Tudors but was stuck with the Stuarts and Cromwell until William and Mary). He had a friend from the local university come in and really explain reading round the subject and finding a passion for focus. Sadly my European history teacher didn't believe girls needed to be educated so was lacklustre at best. I would have liked to perform a defenestration on him. GRRRR

You have mentioned ND - could it be ASD?

This sounds very similar to my first ASD burn out (I didn't know at the time). Star pupil and suddenly at A level, everything fell apart. Very scary, frustrating and debilitating.

I'm sorry I didn't have any advice other than maybe defer a year so they can rest, recharge and get back on track with minimal stress and expectations.

Maybe grade inflation has impacted GCSEs more than A levels? It is virtually unheard of for anyone getting less than a 2:1 at university nowadays due to the fact a degree is paid for and universities are reluctant to fail their clients effectively.

To my mind GCSEs possibly reward a reasonable level of intelligence rather than work ethic which is a bit of a failure of the system. 7-9 results at GCSE are part for the course for a bright primary school child entering secondary school and I don't know if being the straight A student is on a the thing it was.

Happened to my husband too, albeit back in the 1980s.

My DS didn't get it together in Y12, did similar subjects, History, Politics and Sociology so all essay based. He all of a sudden started working in Y13 and really knuckled down, finally got 3 Bs. So there is still hope. She like him may realise that she has to do the work as otherwise it won't get her anywhere. (Not true but that's what happened to my DS)

What did you do after A levels?

Might she be more interested in an ibac programme? (International Baccalaureate) - this is a post-16 qualification that is more similar to how other countries exoect their children to study in the last 2 yearsof senior school, with a broad range of grneral subjects rather than the depth and specialisation of A-Levels. It might really suit your DD - options for schools that offer it are limited, usually private or online study.

Although there's a much-quoted statistic of 7% of pupils in private education it's more like 25%-30% for post-16 because a lot of families who could never commit to 7-14 years of fees can manage 2 years, so if this would be in reach and there's a feasible way for her to get a place it would be much more sensible to restart year 12 in September doing something else rather than pushing through with something that isn't working.

She has a few options.

She could leave and look for a job. Easier said than done but perhaps give her from now until September.

She can stay where she is, personally I don't like school VI Forms, they are too much like school and a lot of students stay with their school because it is familiar.

She could restart in September at a different VI form or FE college. Have a look at what subjects are available at colleges near where you live.

Is there something she likes outside the more academic subjects? Cooking, photography, drama or something else?

I've taught quite a few BTEC students who had dropped out of A Levels.

It's a pity in some respects you can't take a gap year between GCSEs and A levels as there may be elements of burn out here or a personal desire to broaden horizons away from education. It's such a difficult age 6 th form as in previous generations there would be people getting married and child bearing and this shows you are in a phase where young people really wish to feel adult and may be having school strictures still in place may cause a bit of rebellion.

@mids2019 Look up the Irish "Transition Year" - I think it sounds brilliant!

Reading all these helpful replies, I'm wondering about the idea of you talking about a period of reflection and gathering advice to answer the question: 'Where am I going?' As well as school, the National Careers Service is a great source of information. You can book a free session with a careers advisor.https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/government-services/national-careers-service/

If she doesn't want to complete her A levels, you could encourage her to stay for the rest of this year and take her subjects as AS levels. That would mean she hadn't 'wasted' a year. Another option, if she's self-motivated, would be studying the second year from home with an organisation like the National Extension College.

There is far too much pressure on young people to go to university. I hope your DD will resist it if she's convinced it 's not for her. My brother refused to do A levels, to the regret of our school, and got himself an engineering apprenticeship. A friend's daughter shocked her parents by leaving after A levels and did a pattern- cutting apprenticeship. She's not even 30 and is already progressing fast up the hierarchy of a major French fashion brand. Good luck!

You have just described my daughter who was diagnosed AuADHD just after GCSEs.

She is now year 13 and my it’s been a slog. In year 12 she used to get bus as we’d always expected that however by year 13 we agreed to drive her in as she has no time management and couldn’t get ready in time. The step up to A levels is much harder not cognitively but the organisation and intensity of that skill which they struggle with is behind. So they get more anxious. My daughter is now starting to mature a bit more but she is exhausted. Quite often she struggles to complete the whole week and often will just have to decompress alone in dark bedroom. I’ve learned a whole new set of listening skills ( I was too much a fixer before) and that has really helped. Some ADHD mentoring / coaching would be helpful. Have you tried SEN at the school? And the school counsellor? You should still get support in place as just having a trusted person and get more accommodations around exams etc

I try to work alongside her where she lets me and offer help but know when to back off. I expect your young lady is exhausted / burnt out and struggles to get started as she is overwhelmed. She will be having a ‘threat’ response with the A levels and rigid nature of school. My daughter hated having to confirm to a dress code, no jewellery and ignored it all- I was horrified as the behaviour points mounted for too many short skirts. It will get better but it’s a lot if parental nurturing and teaching new coping skills. A 121 tutor in the trickier subjects will make it more enjoyable. You normally hate what you find difficult but a good teacher will bring it back to life for her. Just remember not to pressure her - as worried as you will be- she will find her level in time she just might take longer. These young people are so pressured to have it all figured out by 18. Their brains are not fully developed until 25 or even 30 often with ADHD.

Good luck and look after yourself too

If she is considering a change of subjects, how about Classical Civilisation and Film Studies or Drama instead of History and Politics? These subjects are similar to English Lit, so she would probably do much better in them.