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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Poor AS results - am i giving dd the right advice?

36 replies

Mosschops30 · 18/08/2013 19:58

Dd wants to do a history degree, she knows everything there is to know about history and really enjoys studying it.

She has spent most of the AS year fannying about on FB and twitter, talking about sherlock or dr who and enjoying life with her friends. So despite getting As and Bs at GCSE she got 2 Us 1E and 1D at AS level

I was furious, having just done a degree and a pgdip i know about how hard you have to work and for a year i spent one day of my weekend in the library on top of lectures and day study or i would never have got through it, but she just cant seem to grasp it. Weve had lots of tears but i know the same will happen this time next year. Also she had to change school for Alevel and i dont think theyre that supportive.

So i think she should leave and do 3 fastrack A levels at college at work her arse off for the year so she can get into Uni. Shes picked 2 different subjects to do at college but obviously wants to do history and says their course looks great.
Is this a good idea or not? I cant see any point in her staying in the school and wasting time

OP posts:

Mabelface · 18/08/2013 20:02

Can't she resit? It's not unusual for kids to piss about in the AS year, getting a huge shock when they get their results.

Spottypurse · 18/08/2013 20:04

My results in LVI were rubbish. I'm very glad we didn't have AS levels. Can she resit?

curlew · 18/08/2013 20:08

No winter resists any more. The only way is to resit alongside a2s next summer. Which is a very, very big ask.

Could she repeat the year? A couple of kids at dd's school are planning to do this- not sure how it works, though.

Caitycat · 18/08/2013 20:09

Yes I think that's a very good idea. It will give her a fresh start and new staff who won't have pre-conceived ideas about her. There is no point in resorting something you get a u in and many schools would not allow her to return with those results. This seems like a positive and sensible decision but she must go into it with a determination to succeed if she doesn't want a repeat of this year's results.

Original poster

Mosschops30 · 18/08/2013 20:33

The school wont let her resit her Us.
I also think that she wont get the support she needs there.

She hates her history teacher which is sad because its her favourite subject.

OP posts:

gillviola · 18/08/2013 20:52

My Ds is in the same boat regarding grades but his college have been really supportive. He is going to begin his AS year again, taking only 3 subjects at AS rather than 4 (one of which will be a new subject for him). He is really keen to do this and thinks that the change of subject will suit him. We thought about resits but as the whole point of resits is to improve the grades, we didn't think that resitting AS at the same time as A2 was the best way to do this. We are trying to stress that the extra year will give him the opportunities to do things such as Dof E gold and taking his Grade 8 - both of which he is really keen to do - so hopefully he will be able to see the positives. He has 'taken it on the chin' and is really positive about next year. I hope it lasts.

cricketballs · 18/08/2013 22:38

why are you pushing for fast track? She can have another 2 years at college to resit at the normal pace, if she struggled this year, then trying to fast track will only cause more stress.

My DS had a disastrous Y12, went from A/B at GCSE to UUUE at AS as he wasn't mature enough to cope with college. He has since enrolled in a BTEC National course and the difference a year makes, plus the different teaching/assessment method has suited him far better and he is going into his 2nd year with distinctions.
We know from research despite MN that the vast majority of universities accept BTECs so whilst he will be 12 months behind his school peers, he is now on track with what suits him

Unexpected · 18/08/2013 22:58

But if she didn't work this year and you already think she won't work next year, what is the point of moving and doing fast track A levels? Why will she suddenly start to "work her arse off"? Do you think she is capable of fast track?

noblegiraffe · 18/08/2013 23:01

I don't think that someone who only got As and Bs at GCSE and who failed her first year of A-levels dismally would get very good grades out of trying to do a two year course in one year. She doesn't have the ability, and she doesn't seem to have the work ethic.

Bin this year, change college by all means, but take two years to do a two year course.

Original poster

Mosschops30 · 18/08/2013 23:03

I'm pushing because she wants to go to Uni at the same time as all her peers, I worry she'll be left behind.

I did my a levels in a year at college, it was ok and I'm no academic genius

OP posts:

cricketballs · 18/08/2013 23:09

I also did my A levels in one year and unless you are committed its not ideal; but just because she wants to go uni the same time as her peers doesn't mean that its the most suitable path for her

littlemisswise · 18/08/2013 23:14

I don't think she'll do it tbh, I'm not being harsh I am just being honest.

DS1 has just done his A2's. He did History, English Lang/Lit and Psychology. He got AAB. Last year he was on BBC. He had to work his arse off this past year. He has always had the right attitude, but there was no lazing around, a night out was seldom, his head was always in his books. He loves History, he got 100% in his GCSE and he still found it a lot of work.

I think that the best thing would be to completely restart the 2 year course.

CrazySexyCool123 · 18/08/2013 23:14

What does she hope to get from a history degree? What's the career plan?

Original poster

Mosschops30 · 18/08/2013 23:17

I don't know crazy but it's her passion and what she wants to do.

OP posts:

Rummikub · 18/08/2013 23:25

Is the college course a 2 year course in 1 year? Or the a2 year your dd will be joining?

I think that opting for the full 2 year course at college might be the more sensible option, esp as she has picked 2 new subjects. Doing the course over 2 years will hopefully give her the better chance of getting good grades. Going to uni at the same time as her peers shouldn't inform her decision. I do realise that for your dd this is a big thing, however, her aim must be to give herself the best chance to get to uni.

CrazySexyCool123 · 18/08/2013 23:31

I only ask as the majority of people I knew at uni did history. None of them have good jobs. It might be worth a conversation about careers. I wish I had been more focused towards a career than just a subject I enjoyed at the time.

I agree with others saying start the 2 years again.

tiggytape · 18/08/2013 23:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

celticclan · 19/08/2013 14:47

Can she carry on with the subjects she obtained Ds and Es in and do one A level by distance learning?

Not ideal by any means but she if pulls her socks up she could get good grades and apply for uni after her results. She could have a gap year and include some voluntary work at museums etc and some travelling.

secretscwirrels · 19/08/2013 15:47

Can you persuade her that she is going to move apart from her friends when everyone goes to uni anyway? It's inevitable.

Not sure what you mean by "college"? Is it a 6th form college or a private one?
DS is at a 6th form college and several of his friends fell into the trap of having fun at the expense of work. At least three of them are starting again and repeating year 12 after getting dismal AS results. One wants to be a vet and she got A*s galore at GCSE but Cs and Ds at AS.

tallulah · 19/08/2013 16:21

My DC did A levels a long time ago now but all had a shock with the A2s. Like you say, going from As at GCSE to D/E/U at A2. My DN did the same, and actually redid Y12, which with hindsight is what 2 of mine should have done.

I agree with the other posters though that trying to do them fast-track would be a disaster, and that she needs to start again and redo Y12.

It probably seems a really big deal to her now to go to uni with her year group, but actually she will find if/when she gets there that her year group won't just be students her age. There will be lots who have had a year out for whatever reason, those who've repeated a year at 6th form, as well as mature students. Once you've left school being with people only your own school year ceases to be relevant. (But I'm sure you know that anyway )

primroseyellow · 20/08/2013 11:12

Agree with others that fast track very unlikely to be successful. She's in danger of another set of disastrous results next year.

MrsHowardRoark · 20/08/2013 11:17

Remember too that lots of students take a year out before starting university so she won't be left behind and will still be with many of her peers.

I went as a mature student and was included by everyone 10 years younger than me. University is very different to school.

creamteas · 20/08/2013 13:12

Moving institution and having a fresh start is probably a good idea. But there really is no need to do the fast-track route, and this could end up as another disaster. As others have pointed out, lots of students need to retake Y12 or 13, other take a gap year. She won't be behind by doing the two years, and has a much better chance of good results that way.

Original poster

Mosschops30 · 20/08/2013 17:34

Thanks all, I agree you're right with the repeating of year 12 but dd does not agree
I am hoping the college will make her see sense

OP posts:

creamteas · 20/08/2013 18:18

It is not up to the college to get her to change her mind, it is pointless trying to make her repeat the year if she is against it.

What alternatives has she come up with? At this age, it has to be her decision. It is hard standing back especially if you think they are making a mistake but you are going to have to.

In your position I would be making it clear that she had a choice of carrying on with A levels, switching to something different at college or getting an apprenticeship or other work (with prospects). You will support her in whatever she chooses, but doing nothing is not an option.

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