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.

Yes as I said in my post, her degree from University of Leicester, in English, BA Hons.

I'm not sure why you are so doubtful. There were certainly other unis that offered similar as it was one of her key questions at open days.

It may be as a PP says that unis are less willing to offer this now with advances in AI: DD took her degree in 2022.

Well I and another poster have given you two examples.

Oh sorry English

she was able to do 100% coursework English degree?

DH gained a First in his degree in Music/ Creative Music Technology at Hull University. There wasn't a single exam in three years.

Good on him! What’s he doing now out of interest? My friend did similar. Then did law. Now a music or something lawyer in house for a recording label!

Yes.

You say you don't doubt the existence of a 100% CW degree but have questioned whether DD's was actually a degree, and then whether it was actually 100% CW. Even those both those details were included in my first post to you on the subject.

I imagine with the development of AI, coursework led degrees will become drop In numbers

I questioned because in your first post you referred to it as a course

Stephen fry went off the rails at a levels and then had to re sit.

I would just get him to re sit op and perhaps if you can afford get him a tutor as well.

Resitting is not always the best option as it can be had to get re-motivated going over the same course materials again with the same teachers who didn’t motivate you the first time round. Foundation years, access to HE or other courses through FE college might provide a better route.

For those who say no to uni because of the grades - that really depends on the reason for the grades. Someone who worked hard to get them is different from immaturity meaning they just messed around but have since had a change of attitude. The change of attitude is important though.

I agree with PP that it is rubbish of the school not to have anyone available to put in priority remarks.

It clearly says ‘degree’ in her post at 06.16am, in the chain of posts that you were quoting.

We had disappointing grades here too. We just said to family that the grades weren't quite what we had hoped for so we are taking a few days to decide on the best path forward. We will then say they decided uni wasn't for them rather than sharing the actual grades and saying they didnt get their place. There is so much pressure as it is and wider family pressure is just an added layer of stress. I hope it all works out. Mine has decided not to take the clearing route and to travel for a year / explore other career paths

Bizarre. If it were my son I would not be lying about the grades but I would be defending him from any unfair criticism. Grandad would have to take his chances.

Yes.

With it being filmmaking I don't think AI is as much of a worry and it's fully coursework assessed.

Yes as @Jaimelefromage says, I actually didn't say a course. I said a degree in English, all assessed via CW.

This is what I posted:

My Dd's degree had no exams after the first year ones (which did not count, just needed to be passed). She collapses in exams so she chose coursework modules. English at Leicester but for sure that's just one example.

My DS was predicted B C C and got D D D
he has managed to get into his planned course though (just about) but we are also dealing with the wider family being disappointed at results issue. At gcse he had all 7 8 9

Apologies btw @LadySadMum for thread derail there. Tho info about possible CW assessed degrees may be of interest if that is a method that would suit your DS.

This was the post to which I had asked was it a degree. Others responded but it was this poster responding. Hence asking if it was a degree

This is the post I was referring to. The one where you ask ‘was it a degree out of interest!’ when it says below in the thread that it was a degree.

Apologies. Forgive me?

Op I think first job this morning is to be one at with family and explain you are stressed and not thinking straight. They will be nothing but understanding I reckon.

Then your boy…. Talk to the school. Talk to him. Really talk to him. Speak to school. Go out for lunch with him and then don’t talk about it at all!

This is great. Impressive.

@LadySadMum hang on in there!
I've found looking for an apprenticeship hard going but stick to this government web site where anything posted is paid. Use the filters but don't stick to just degree apprenticeships (level 6) look at levels 3, 4 and 5 and then you can get an idea of that he might expect to be able to do with his current A level grades

Search for Gov.uk Find an apprenticeship

I am stepping back from the thread now as we can’t do anything until Wednesday and I don’t want to think about it anymore.

I will update the thread then.

Thanks for the suggestions and helpful comments.

@LadySadMum

OP, when you ask him what kind of job he would enjoy on a day to day basis, what does he describe?