How Important are GCSEs

[FiveGoldDoughnutRings]

My son is in y10 and has just had his first set of assessments with a report sent home. He is bright and very able in maths/science but struggles with the more wordy subjects. He is predicted 7-9 in everything except the two English exams where he is predicted 5/6.
I have no doubt he will smash a levels as he will then have specialised into science and maths.
He wants to go to a decent university to study maths and then become an Actuary.
So my question is, will those lower GCSE grades hold him back if he goes on to get 4 A/A* A level grades?

A sixth form will have minimum entry requirements so do check what he needs to be certain of entry for year 12. As long as he passes English it is unlikely to generally hold him back.

A lot of universities don't look at GCSE, this includes some Russel Group ones.

Oxbridge do.

He should be fine so long as he meets the minimum grade requirements for the course.

My dyslexic DS has a very spiky set of GCSEs but is doing really well in his A levels and already has an offer from Warwick MMath. I think most universities don't care that much about GCSEs as long as you meet the minimum requirements (usually a pass at grade 4 in English but some unis ask for a 5.)

Thanks all, that is reassuring. His sixth form require 5 grades 5 or above including maths and English so he should be fine as long as he doesn’t slip down. I was just worried they would look at the GCSEs as they are the only solid proof they have when applying.

DD got one six, one seven and rest 8s and 9s at GCSE. DD is at an Oxbridge college. Certainly no need to get all top GCSEs for any university.