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.

The

That may be true in various humanities courses but in many maths and science courses the first year will still count, albeit with a much reduced weighting.

For example, the first year may count for between 7.5% and 11% of the degree.

Years ago when I did A levels, one of my friends unexpectedly got much lower grades than expected, including a U. He was absolutely gutted, as he missed out on the uni course he wanted to study, but actually things worked out really well for him - he got a job in customer service at the local bank, found he was really good at it, got promoted quickly and was managing a branch and getting paid pretty well by the time the rest of us graduated and were starting from scratch with loads of debt. He’s had a very successful career (and did some extra qualifications alongside work, all supported by his company, later on). I’d tell the family he’s taking a gap year, and encourage him to try different things - perhaps he could do a course in something practical (electrician?) at the local adult learning centre?

I think you should really slow down, especially on the OU.

Your son is young. He has time to make decisions. He can take a year, resit some exams, get a job.

I feel like, and really no judgment I know it must hurt, but that’s possibly your stress as parents is leading the situation. Panic looking for new places, lying to family. You keep saying “we didn’t have long to make a decision” but what about his? I think he might need you guys to be the solid rocks for him and give him some stability and long view rather than lead the panic.

I didn’t get the grades I wanted, back in a different millennia now! I took a year out to work out what I wanted to do. It turned out I was able to get into my first place anyway but it was useful time to reflect. My ma was trying to push me into starting a local college course, in fact I did a week of it before my dad gently suggested I might actually be able to get into my dream of a degree and to slow down. So passing on his wisdom.

@LadySadMum As well as the OU, also look at the University of London online degrees: https://www.london.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate

I’m sure those situations apply too but also for students who are insecure in a particular area.
As above my son did this (although in the end he didn’t need to) but he had a huge head start on his cohorts; he knew the workings of the uni and the city (Manchester), he knew tutors and housing options etc.

He ended up doing a post grad degree at the same uni and now works for Cambridge uni.

@Sueandthegoldfish The DS here is insecure in 2 subjects and he’s not good enough for any degree. Foundations are not for dc like him.

Sorry - that sounded very mean - the best advice is to look for an apprenticeship at a less than degree level. Accept the A level route is a write off and look very carefully at careers where he might actually be successful. This will bring much better life satisfaction and he will flourish.

This.

Sorry for the disappointment.

Foundation courses can still require decent grades! They are not access courses.

Not necessarily. His C grade was in the subject that interested him. From the attitudes to education described in the OP, it's more than possible he was strongly encouraged into the other two subjects by his family without any real interest or aptitude.

A foundation in a subject he cares about could be a good choice. Often at lower ranked universities the lecturers are more focused on teaching quality than their research, and really support their students. It's at the higher ranked unis that a high level of self motivation is required.

If I were the OP I'd get in touch with Gloucestershire today, and try and book a chat with the course leader.

I think people are confused.

Also the suggestions for college access course they usually want you over 19 and here they also want you three years away from education courses. So not really for straight after a-levels.

The apprenticeship idea while not bad idea -though doesn't fit in with Op culture expectations- but where we are at every level they are very competitive.

My DN different area spent 12 months trying for FT work and to move out and only finding more p/t on zero hours and in end decided to get on univeristy was going to be needed though being even slighty older I do think will be of benefit.

Has your son not watched Derry Girls? He can just fall back on his trust fund, use it to start a business or go travelling.
In all seriousness, I'm currently renovating a house in London and practically every plumber/electrician,etc is on six figures, Uni isn't for everyone.

Best of luck

Not quite the same situation lol

I’m currently on a science course and first year does not count

You did perhaps notice my use of the word "many" rather than "all"?

"...but in many maths and science courses"

@Putneydad7 Depends if they make pension contributions and pay tax at the highest rates. They miss out on child benefit and all sorts of things if this is their income. Hourly rates don’t translate into a “wage” if you are self employed and you have no employer pension contributions. Plus in London, where do they live? Probably not Putney.

Hi - I work in HE. Genuinely my honest advice to you is OU is a bad idea for a kid his age. The market he is competing in for a job, unless he’s in the elite tier which it doesn’t appear has ever been under consideration, they are going to want to see a lad his age having done societies, gotten involved in group activities, show he can use his social skills from uni. OU is a brilliant experience for what it is but it’s not designed for him.

I absolutely promise you firstly that hardly anyone in your family will be able to accurately assess the actual calibre of a uni for cybersecurity. I have seen parents insist their kid go to the “Uni of” and send them off to an awfully regarded course compared to the Met/former Poly in the city because Johns cousins mate said it has to be a Russell Group. He’s not trying to do PPE or law, he’s not likely to be trying to get into a top 4 accounting firm. This isn’t your lens to base it on. Here’s what to look for:

• is he going to get good academic support from staff who can help students who aren’t high level academic - is it a modern with a great teaching ethos?
• Are there technical and vocational opportunities that mean he can put his skills to the test on his course and potentially impress an employer?
• is the atmosphere good on campus? Is he likely to make friends and build community

I promise you for his future prospects these are your top 3 considerations for him based on what you have said so far. OU, studying at home, no mates to make, self directed learning - it’s not the path for an 18/19 year old who didn’t excel in the very formal A Level path.

good luck!!!

Cybersecurity is not as competitive as that - there are elite and non-elite roles and everything in between. People with cybersecurity knowledge are needed by almost every company with an IT department.

@LadySadMum If I've read the requirements properly, I think he will only need 3 GCSEs and two A levels to do this online Computer Science degree through the University of London. Academic direction is provided by Goldsmiths: https://www.london.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/bsc-computer-science

He can also get a taster of this style of online learning by doing this cyber security MOOC, which I believe is free (it certainly used to be): https://www.london.ac.uk/study/courses/moocs/cyber-security-fundamentals

I would seriously question whether an 18 year old who has struggled to focus on work would manage any online course. Online courses require a much higher level self motivation and lack the social aspect he is probably hoping for.

He needs to see what local FE colleges offer, including possible 2+2 routes to university degrees. He needs to do this quickly at colleges will be filling their courses too.

They do, but they can also be studied on a modular basis, with no upfront commitment, and flexibility around working.

Not sure if it still a thing. Could he do a HND in computing then bridging degree. If it is still the same you do HND. These units count towards degree.

A friend's daughter did a degree at Nottingham (Politics/Sociology?) without taking any formal exams.