Advice on AS results & where to go now

[mammasmadhouse]

My dd is disappointed and shocked with her results DEEE, she wants to do teacher training next year and would need BCC at least. It it likely that she
could get the grades and possibly look to re take some or would it be better to re take the year??

Any thoughts appreciated

What were her predicted grades?

It's quite a leap to get what she needs. I think retaking the year might be best, otherwise she might not have the grounding she needs to do well in the next year.

I was thinking it would be better to retake the year.

Predicted grades were D/E;C;D;C

Her predicted grades are not too far off, if there was a huge jump then it's sometimes better to resit just the exams as it could be put down to exam nerves. I'd agree that retaking the year seems like the best plan. She shouldn't be embarrassed, loads of people do this. She can do them at a college if she prefers not to return to school. It must have been really upsetting for her. I failed most of my A Levels, it was a blessing now I look back at it.

It depends on things that only you and she know.

Being honest, how hard did she work, really? I think I would only advise retaking if she and you both agree that she spent most of the last year mucking around and not bothering with schoolwork. If that is the case, and getting poor grades has shocked her into performing better, then yes she should go for it (and should retake the whole year).

If she worked a reasonable amount and wasn't mucking around, then I'm not sure it's the best plan. Missing required grades by a small amount, its worth retaking, but that's a huge difference unless she wasn't really trying. If she's not that academically inclined, perhaps you should encourage her to think of a different career path? I know too many young people who get disappointed at AS, retake, but are then disappointed at A-level, retake, get to higher-ed and are still behind and struggling at Uni or college, paying additional fees to retake years. By the time they realise their chosen career isn't going to happen they have spent years in this struggle, and I think they would have been a lot happier if someone had encouraged them to think in terms of a more vocational career path earlier on.

I've suggested this to someone else, but have a look at BTEC. It would mean her spending two more years in college rather than one but it would get her on a teaching course (well I know a few who have, of course I can't wave a magic wand).

If she doesn't get on to a teaching course at the end of it she will have a vocatinal qualification and two years work experience. It is all course work and there is no results day, so she would know how she is progressing throughout.

My ds did this. He knew he would find History hard but certainly didn't work as hard as he should.

He retook the year. If she can do this, she should use this extra year to get as much school based work experience as possible under her belt.

Ds is now off to do primary Ed with BBC, but his offer was CCC.

Good luck to her

Thank you all for your replies and advice.
Overall she worked hard throughout the year, although she does tend to coast and not push herself.(A point always mentioned at parents evening) The practical side/coursework she is fine with,her artwork was graded by the tutor as being 'B' but was graded by the examiners as 'E' , and this seems to be consistent across a number of students,so she feels understandably let down. I think it comes doen to the exam prep which lets her down and like many of us exams = stress.We have talked about the different options avaliable, retaking subjects/retaking the year and have also looked at the BTEC option at a different college. At the moment she is keen to look at the BTEC option and seems very positive about this as a whole. In checking the entry requirements for the teacher training course she would like to do,BTEC is acceptable at(distinction/distinction/merit).She has this morning spoken to a local college to check avaliability on the Art & Design course and has been advised that she can enrol on 30th August. So fingers crossed she is sorted!!!
Thank you again for your suggestions