Daughter has failed most of her GCSEs, what are her options now?

[Whatonearthwoman]

My daughter has just had her GCSE results back. She has failed the majority. I am really upset!!! What happens now??

Know how you feel, my DS got his results this morning from school got into my car and cried ..school is not for everyone, hes tried his hardest...I definitely think college is more suited to a lot of teens as theres not as much pressure put on them...his school is too busy getting photos done of the top achievers ignoring everyone else...there's definitely a lot more out there for them to do then they realise x 😊

She should be able to look at attending a local college - they will have a 1 year resit programme where you can do 5 GCSEs and then she can do 2 more years - BTECs, T levels or A Levels. Lots of options if she is otherwise capable.

Try not to panic - it’s a blip and she’s young enough to rebound from this - however, you do need to speak to her school to understand why this happened: was she predicted good passes, or had they already voiced concerns, did she freeze/panic in the exams (and if so, did she talk to you about it at the time?), does she have any learning issues (dyslexia etc) that should have been addressed years ago and accommodations awarded (extra time, quiet/small rooms etc).

Thanks everyone.

hoping to start college in sept. She has a place in one subject but what she wanted to do (waiting list grade dependant), she hasnt qualified for. A little bit devestated but know it isnt the end of the world.
really gutted for her.

If your daughter failed almost all of her exams, that indicates that she's not been doing well at school for a long time. Why haven't you prepared for the possibility that she'd fail months ago? Why wait until she HAS failed to look for options?

What had she applied to do for September? If you contact the college/sixth form she applied to they’ll likely be enrolling for the next week or so. If she didn’t get the grades for what she applied for they may be able to switch her to a lower level course in the same or a similar subject.

Ignore the people saying 'it doesn't matter how you feel' OP.

You are allowed to feel upset, most people who love their kids are invested in their education and dream about them having as many doors open as possible.
It's not the end of the world, but of course it is a set-back.

This should be a place to vent on the down-low (it's called MUMSNET after all), while you think about what to do practically to support your daughter in the best possible way. People just want to snark where possible.

Granted yes I'm 50 something and as of yesterday unemployed & not a parent, but 1 week before my gcses my boyfriend dumped me & i cried my eyes out through every gcse. Left with 4 x E, 3 x F & a G in typing
I went onto college and resat 1 at a time.
Got C in law, English & Maths & RSA 2 distinction in typing & an itq pass.
Not that they mean much today but go back to college & resit one at a time.

How extraordinarily unhelpful. Many kids are going to be disappointed today, as the pass rate at grade 4 (C in old money) is at a 7 year low.
Op my dd is in the same situation, she’s been incredibly tearful all morning. Her mock grades were all higher. I’m letting her wallow today and then tomorrow we’ll look at other options. It’s a shit system which discriminates against any child who has any type of language processing disorder. Even traditionally non academic creative subjects, have become stupidly academic where creativity isn’t recognised if the accompanying written work isn’t at the necessary level.
sorry no helpful advice, but you’re not alone. It’s so horrible seeing them so upset. I effing hate that at 15/16 their lives are dictated by secondary school exams.

What has she passed, English or maths?

If failed the above, she would need to resit them. I would speak with the college to
find out what options are open to her.

Usually college will offer resits in maths and English alongside the course she does,

most colleges offer courses for all levels of GCSEs. If she’s genuinely failed (got Us) then there are level 1 courses she can do, if she’s got grades 1 2 and 3 she’ll be able to do a level 2 course.

usually if you complete the level 1 course in whatever you can go onto the level 2 course in whatever, and if you complete the level 2 course you can go onto the level 3 course

so she can still progress in her chosen area

I didn't do well in my Gcse 's. due to being disinterested at the time and probably immature for my age .
I did resit and passed them then 3 A levels .

All you can do is support her and find out what she wants to do . Not all children are academic and it's not a huge disaster as it seems now .
There is so much pressure put on children to not disappoint their parents ! Speak to school to see what they suggest would be the way forward .
It seems mad that all children have to do these exams even when they are not academically capable which must make them feel like they have failed before their adult life has begun .

We were there 2 years ago, plus no college course as they were all full.

DD got functional skills English with a tutor and went on to a college course. Has just failed GCSE maths again.

The system sets up non academic kids to fail. DD has worked so hard, no matter how hard she works and how much support she has she just doesn't get maths. And she gets branded a failure.

I am sorry OP. It's crap.

This is no longer possible unfortunately. Resits are only maths and english these days. I really don’t agree with this. However, op’s dd will need to do a level 1 or 2 as has been advised.

November resits are only Maths and English. Other GCSEs can be retaken next June.

Yes, I misunderstood what the pp was saying. I was meaning you can’t study GCSEs at college any more. I appreciate you can resit the following year, including as an external candidate.