A level results disaster

[LadySadMum]

DS was predicted CDD which was low and based on not doing much work in year 12. However he really started working much better in year 13 and seemed to be getting better marks in his results for mocks and class tests.

So we were hopeful that he would get better than the predicted grades. He seemed happy after each exam, completed all the questions. There were a few questions that he said were hard but this is normal, right?

Anyway he got CEU. Obviously he missed his firm and insurance but it’s not even enough for any foundation courses.

The C is fine and the E was in his worst subject so can understand that. But the U is unexpected and I feel it can’t be right as he wasn’t that bad at it!

We’ve asked for a review to make sure all the questions were marked correctly and if it changes to an E that would get him onto a foundation degree. We made a mistake as we didn’t ask for it at the time (we were shocked and didnt think to ask) and by the time we contacted the school again they had left.

The exam officer is not available until next Wednesday now so it’s an agonising wait.

The worst thing is we’ve had to lie to everyone that everything is OK and he’s been accepted into uni. His grandad is ill and would be devastated if we said he failed. We also don’t want to navigate all their questions and worries until we’ve worked out the next steps ourselves.

So now we’re getting congratulation messages from all the family and his uncle is also visiting later today, probably with a present. It’s all so so awful.

What university courses aren’t exam based?

Some courses are 100% coursework, some mixed, some lean towards exams. Some have different types of practical assessments.

I'm no expert on the subject in question, you could research if interested.

I am not interested enough to research.

You mentioned it as a possibility. But don’t seem to know either.

I have noticed a more concerted effort by posters to persuade other people not to support their kids to go to university. There are good options via HE, via apprenticeships, and via work, but I find the anti-uni pressure people apply to posters is very marked.

The whole point is people can choose. The facts on the costs are not secret, the likely earnings. But one thing is for sure - the only people who can access graduate careers are graduates. So whilst being a graduate is no guarantee of a good career, and definitely not the only way to have a good career, it's got to be an individual choice to rule that out.

I know enough to make my general statement - that kids with those grades can do a foundation year and go on to succeed.

I simply asked an example of one of the non exam based courses you suggested might be an Option

Oh I see, I think you misread what I wrote. I didn't suggest any specific courses.

My point is that some kids who perform badly in exams go on to do well on degrees not primarily assessed by exam.

This is a general point that is widely understood - some courses assess via coursework/project/other assessment.

Honestly it’s not a disaster as there is more than 1 path to get to where they want to be. Stop. Breathe and regroup when the emotions have calmed ✨ FWIW absolutely nothing wrong with changing the rhetoric from they got into uni to they are deferring a year to explore their options and live a little

Yes graduates. Not people who fail their degree and run out of funding because they’re not mature enough to make their 4 years of funding count.

But you can go to university later down the line. With more maturity, a resit or two, experience in work and a clear idea for your future. You don’t have to go at 18, panicking to let your family down at a crap uni you scrape into through clearing.

And you’re acting like the only result of university is a degree. I know multiple people who left with no degree and £40k of debt due to simply not being mature enough to take the opportunity and dedicate themselves.

Don't go into IT. The jobs are vanishing as Large Language Models take over.

Take up a trade that requires a human to turn up and physically do the work.

Come clean, lighten up and paint a smile on, reiterate to DS that you have his back…this is NOT a disaster and perhaps a helpful sign. I agree with PP that uni perhaps isn’t the right place for him; there are probably better options out there X

It's your job as parents to have DS's back on this. If necessary, you bar DH's family from seeing him.

I did that and my A-level results came out the same. Waste of time.

Take up a trade. There's never not going to be a need for sparkies.

Yes, yes it does explain that.

It will be so much worse for him when the lies come out, and they will.

I agree there is a non monetary value in education, but it is also probably the second biggest purchase anyone will make in their lifetime and does deserve some level of scrutiny. We were fed the lie that university was for everyone for a long time, and it’s now actively detrimental to some people’s success, so does deserve some critical thinking and debate before the decision is made.

So why did he take those subjects then? Don't tell me, family pressure to take prestigious subjects instead the ones that actually interest him. The same pressure that has you and him lying to save face.

I think OU needs a bit of thought. I am going into year 5/6 of a BSc (after doing BA years ago at brick uni). There is no real social contact - just WhatsApp groups and forums. Tutors are often excellent but sometimes not engaged. I did not have the discipline for this when younger. Pace is quite intense with only 3 weeks’ hols over academic year.

Cost is now £25.5k for a degree. Brick uni is around 27k??

The worst thing is we’ve had to lie to everyone that everything is OK and he’s been accepted into uni.

Why on earth did you lie?! Your poor son - he’s done his best and passing any A Levels is an achievement.

Please try to be proud of him, and encourage him to consider the options he has. Perhaps an apprenticeship would suit him? Or he may return to higher education later on.

I don’t think you should be pushing him into uni if he’s not very academic - it’s just setting him up for failure and unhappiness.

By lying you’ll be making everything much worse - please reconsider.

No one was ever told university was for everyone. It was for everyone that wanted to go. It has never got as high as 40% of 18yos go to uni. Of course there should be thought - many parents have always supported this thinking. It's not just money but time and effort, it needs to be right.

The fact is that graduates have access to more opportunities than non-graduates, so not going also needs thought. It's a big choice either way.

Apprenticeships are great but a long road, they also can feel like a tough call.

The message it gives to the boy is what is wrong with this sort of lying.

Keele is an hour's drive from Manchester (if he can drive).

If he can get that U up to an E with a remark, they will take him directly into first year for computer science

If not, they'll accept him for foundation year https://www.keele.ac.uk/clearing/current-vacancies/

Agree with another poster that UA92's 1 year CertHE would be a good entry route too

Good luck!

My DH works in cyber security, so I asked for his thoughts on this. Firstly, you definitely don't need a CS degree to get started in this field. DH dropped out of CS at uni, but has held significant security roles in international corporations and currently works for a bank.

As a PP suggested several pages back, there are specific certifications that you need to take to advance in this field and these are usually taken while working in a related job. Therefore, the suggestions to look into apprenticeships or other entry level roles are good. DH suggested that even a general IT apprenticeship would be good for your DS if it gets him a foot in the door at an employer that might offer the sort of security roles he'd eventually be hoping for. IT teams often prefer to put effort into developing someone they already know is reliable, willing to learn and able to take initiative vs. taking a bet on a trainee who is new to the organisation. DH's current employer actually has some apprenticeships which are only available to existing staff, reflecting this philosophy.

My ds did a foundation year, he had quit his A levels due to his anxiety & depression & applied 2 years later, he absolutely loved his course & came top in his cohort. He has just completed his first year of his degree course & got 2:1 marks. The tutors on the foundation courses said that students doing a foundation year generally do better than students who start post A levels because they have spent a year learning how to do the essays in the right way, how university life works, how to do the research which helps them build up their skills for degree courses.

This isn’t the same at all