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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

Really bad GCSE results - really lost as where to go from here

29 replies

canitgetanyworse · 26/08/2013 16:32

I really don't know what to do for the best.

Son has come out with 6 'D' grades at GCSE. We knew Maths and English were going to be hopeful as lots of problems with teachers over the year, but really did expect some C's out of all he took.

I thought I had all options covered but now I struggling to keep myself together. We had lined up a 6th form place at a new school opening if he did really well and a level 3 college place if not so well.

However as he had gained nothing recognizable I don't know what to do as nether will accept him now.

The college has offered a level 2 place but the course is only worth 1 GCSE as far as i can make out (extended certificate), he can do this then go on to the level 3 but only if he passes with high marks.

I've emailed the headmaster of the school we were to be honest very glad to see the back of to ask what options if he is allowed to stay on might be available.

If I let him do the level 2 they don't do GCSE retakes so even if he passes and can go on he has no GCSEs. The course is very specific so if he decides down the line its not for him I feel he has totally limited his options.

What the heck do I do? I've spent the last 5 days in floods of tears, feeling a terrible mother to have let this happen. He is not stupid, lazy yes. Almost 100% attendance and would attend any help classes offered as not much learning happened during class as sadly found himself in classes with kids that just wanted to mess around. I tried all I could at home to help but obviously my help did not help.

Do I let him go to college and hope to god he passes the level 2 to get on, or hope school let him go back and pray to god he passes something?

I'm asking for a couple of remarks I think. ICT is just 1 UMS away from a C
English is looking like just 5 away. Maths cant find out till the teachers go back to school as no marks just a grade on the sheet.

OP posts:

hellsbells99 · 26/08/2013 16:59

If he did the college course could he also retake his maths and english in November?
What does your DS want to do?

filee777 · 26/08/2013 17:00

I would just find a college where he can do maths, science and English gsces.

creamteas · 26/08/2013 17:04

What level 2 course is it? Is it in an area that he wants to study?

If it leads onto what he wants to do next, then it is worth doing. He should also be offered Maths and English qualifications alongside this (they might not be GCSEs be should be equivalent).

But the choice of school or college is one that he is going to make for himself.

Tigerstripes · 26/08/2013 17:29

I would definitely get the re-mark for English and ICT. What were the entrance requirements for the new school and for the college level 3?
It sounds like he shouldn't stay on at his current school, purely because it doesn't sound like it's working for him.

olivevoir58 · 26/08/2013 17:43

The FE colleges around here do gcse programmes - usually 5 including maths and English. Entry requirements are 4 a* - d grades. This seems like the best option as your son appears to be just the sort of student it caters for...

Original poster

canitgetanyworse · 27/08/2013 08:35

Thank you everyone for replies.

The local college to us does not offer the gcse resist year sadly. The nearest one that does is 30 miles away.

He had a maths tutor that I will see if I can get going again and see if I can get the November resist, even if its as a private candidate.

He's not a scallywag at all and does not fit the crudentials of a failing child. we have a stable home, parents with good jobs. he is not stupid either. I'm not a mum who could not give a monkeys but sadly school was and I stupidly trusted them to pull him through.

Getting any help or info from teachers was like pulling teath this year, now on reflection they knew he was not going to achieve and I was being a neusence trying to find out how I could help him at home.

They did not understand exam entries and he lost a June resist because of this for a subject. He went to all the improve your grade classes with the head who gave him praise and suggested he could do higher papers, only to have subject teachers laugh in his face and tell him he was going to fail, so do what ever paper you like.

My fear is if I don't peruse getting the gcses now whilst he is young, it's going to really cause issues down the line. If he starts the lower couse in motorsport offered and decides its not for him after a year all doors are closed due to no gcses.

OP posts:

waikikamookau · 27/08/2013 08:40

will the school sixth form be a better environment?
plenty of dc retake gcses.
have you looked at your current school sixth form?

waikikamookau · 27/08/2013 08:41

or are there apprenticeships?

PotteringAlong · 27/08/2013 08:42

You need to stop doing it for him.

You clearly have his best interests at heart but there is no bottom line. Despite you saying he doesn't fit the criteria of a failing child he DOES - by your own admission he's capable but cannot be arsed. And what happens when he can't be bothered? Mum comes along and sorts out lots of options and gives you a choice to pick again.

No GCSE's is, ultimately, his problem. If he narrows his options, so be it. But he needs to learn that there are actions and consequences, otherwise I fear you will be having this conversation with him again and again.

JohnnyUtah · 27/08/2013 08:43

I'm not a teacher, only a parent, but I woukd be looking at resitting the gCSEs, what travel time is the 30 miles?

nancerama · 27/08/2013 08:47

BIL was in a similar situation to your DS a few years back. MIL and FIL tried to encourage him to do retakes, but he wasn't interested.

He registered on a college access course and then studied a practical, rather than academic subject.

At 19 he got himself an apprenticeship with a building company. He's now 21, self employed and doing brilliantly.

Speak to your DS. Try and be calm and not angry (hard, I know). See if you can get to the bottom of what he wants (for himself, not what he thinks he should do to please others) and support him in his choices.

FannyMcNally · 27/08/2013 09:02

Would he redo year 11 if the school let him? You have to find out what he would be prepared to do before you have a conversation with the school. Also if you don't like the school that much then unless he really pulls his socks up nothing is going to change. If a child is lazy I don't know what teachers can do. They can be really inspirational for 29 children but try all manner of things for the 30th but nothing works!

Are there no vocational college courses that he's interested in? I know some were taken as equivalent GCSEs a few years ago, I don't know whether that's still an option.

Firstly though he needs to change his attitude to work. Does he have vision, hearing, stress related problems etc? I would find out all the options available but let him decide what he feels would be best for him at the moment. And try not to fret too much because it's never too late to go back and try again. The wake up call might happen in the future, just be supportive when it does. Good luck!

lljkk · 27/08/2013 09:20

Sorry, painful as this is, I agree with PotteringAlong.

"if I don't pursue getting the gcses now whilst he is young,"
"I tried all I could at home to help but obviously my help did not help."

Not clear where your son is in all of this, what does he want, what is he trying to do. All your statements are about your plans to redress this, not what he plans to do. What has he done before that HE (not You, He) will do different next?

waikikamookau · 27/08/2013 09:28

I disagree I think op should lead him in the right direction to the gcse grades that he needs.
or some form of qualification.
he needs Qualifications

waikikamookau · 27/08/2013 09:30

can he go on further with the level 2?
can he get work, an apprenticeship, with the level 2?
if it is equivalent to a gcse, then at least it is a gcse

englishteacher78 · 27/08/2013 09:46

If needs be, look into the possibility of resitting as a private candidate. It really will improve his options if he has Cs in English and Maths.

secretscwirrels · 27/08/2013 09:52

Is there any chance he could travel to the college 30 miles away? A one year course to re do those basic subjects sounds by far the best option?
Lots of DCs around here do long journeys. DS1 has a 70 minute trip each way to 6th form and does reading or revision on the bus.

TarkaTheOtter · 27/08/2013 09:59

I think you need to let him take more responsibility for this. It can't always be someone else's fault (teachers, other disruptive students, yours). What does he want to do next?

LaVolcan · 27/08/2013 17:44

Come on people, have a heart - the poor lad is only 16! Yes, they do need to begin to take responsibility for themselves but still need a lot of guidance.

I would push him towards the local FE college - they can be excellent at turning people like him round.

PotteringAlong · 27/08/2013 19:29

Guidance, yes. Spoon fed the next phase of their life, no. There's a fine line in my experience to the trod between the two!

PotteringAlong · 27/08/2013 19:29

To the trod?! To be trod, that should be!

ggirl · 27/08/2013 19:51

I think OP is right to be concerned that her ds will have no qualifications at all if she doesn't help him , he may be 16 and others were building empires and bringing up children by then yadda yadda but as a parent I would feel exactly the same as OP. 16 is still a kid in my eyes.
If you can help him to get to the retake course or do an apprenticeship so he has something to show on a cv that will atleast be something .

TarkaTheOtter · 27/08/2013 21:02

Of course the OP needs to provide guidance and support her son in getting the best qualifications possible.

But I do think the OP is making excuses for him as to why his grades were so bad (school issues, teacher issues, other pupils distracting) when the truth is if he isn't stupid (as she herself says) then it really isn't that hard to get 5 A-Cs and he needs to own that.

Otherwise the same will happen at college ime.

LaVolcan · 27/08/2013 21:07

I don't necessarily agree that the same would happen at college - a different environment, and a little extra maturity can make all the difference.

mumeeee · 27/08/2013 22:21

DD3 didn't do well in her GCSEs, She did a couple of courses at college before finding the one that suited her, She did BTECH First Diploma in IT which is GCSE equivalent got a merit in that she then did the subsidory Diploma passed with a Merit and went on to do the extended Diploma and got Distinction merit merit and is off to do a. computer degree at uni in a couple of weeks. She didn't retake any GCSES
but did an equivalent qualification in Math and English. She is 21 and has taken awhile to get to this stage but has Dyspraxia and another learning difficulty and has proved that
all is not lost if you have bad GCSE grades,

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