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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

DD's mocks results are a disaster - what can I do now?

238 replies

Earningsthread · 18/12/2013 23:44

Art target grade A* - mock grade - A/B
Biology target grade A* - mock grade - C
Chemistry target grade A* - mock grade - C
English Language target grade A* - mock grade - A
English Literature target grade A* - mock grade - A
French target grade A* - mock grade - D
History target grade A - mock grade - A
ICT target grade A - mock grade - A
Mathematics target grade A* - mock grade - A
Music target grade A* - mock grade - B
Physics target grade A* - mock grade - D

This girl is talented. So talented that her English teachers in every year have told me that she is the most gifted student they have ever seen. But just look at those mock results. They are APPALLING. She is underachieving in every subject bar 2. What should I do? What can I do? There are only six months between now and the exams. The school thought she was an Oxbridge banker. I know my rebellious DD and knew she would not work. But there is not working and not working. THose mock GCSE results are appalling.

What if anything, can I do to help at this late stage?

OP posts:

mrscog · 19/12/2013 20:20

I think you're panicing over nothing - I got straight D's in mocks then a mix of As and Bs for the real thing with no revision. It's up to her ultimately but I reckon the school are trying to push her a bit. Plus, it's good not to peak too soon!

GoByTrain · 19/12/2013 20:20

Yep!

curlew · 19/12/2013 20:28

Everyone is going on about " a*s aren't everything " and all that sort of thing. Of course they aren't. But if you have the very specific goal of going to Oxford or Cambridge, then they are. And it would be a real bugger if, for whatever reason, this girl shuts that door for herself. She doesn't have to go through that door but it should be a choice - not a decision forced upon her because she didn't do the minimal extra work a bright student has to do to push up her grades.

wordfactory · 19/12/2013 20:49

absolutely curlew!

It's a shame, but the UK at the moment offers few jobs for those without good academics. And those few jobs offer terrible pay. And frankly, I'd be shocked if tax credits last the next parliament.

A good set of academics are becoming imperative if one is to have a life of meaningful independence.

What can any of us do?

monet3 · 19/12/2013 21:02

A good set of academics are becoming imperative if one is to have a life of meaningful independence.

I have to disagree, drive, determination and hard work get you further in life that Oxbridge degrees.

wordfactory · 19/12/2013 21:17

I think it takes drive and determination to get a degree from a good university, actually.

And looking at the economy as it is now there are fewer and fewer opportunities for people to make the sort of money to provide meaningful choice that don't require good academics.

Them's the facts. Sadly.

NigellasDealer · 19/12/2013 21:17

A good set of academics are becoming imperative if one is to have a life of meaningful independence
to be honest i would be delighted if my boy and girl trained up for a good trade, electrician for him, farrier for her. so they will need GCSEs of course, but at least they will not bankrupt me or go into massive debt.
And those few jobs offer terrible pay
open up your mind, a good apprenticeship will prepare them for a far more lucrative career than some random degree course.

wordfactory · 19/12/2013 21:23

Sadly there are just too many young people attempting to become elcetricians and plumbers etc now that there is no manual labouring jobs.

Plus of course we have lots of tradesmen from the EU. Highly skilled and reasonably priced.

So many have gone out of business.

I would still say that abright young person stands a far better chance getting a decent education.

noddyholder · 19/12/2013 21:25

I know 4 graduates at the moment all with 1sts working in bar jobs etc for at least the last 18 months Worrying.

NigellasDealer · 19/12/2013 21:27

well my son's friend is doing fine with his apprenticeship and day release, earning £100 a week at the age of 16 and learning a trade. i would be delighted if son could find a place like this next year, and we know that these opportunities do exist. and daughter has already applied for an access to farriery course. btw they are all 'bright' .

wordfactory · 19/12/2013 21:31

Well of course noddy. There's been a horrible recession and these young people have had the shit end of the stick.

But at the other end there are thousands of unemployed school/college leavers all desperate for an apprenticship/ a chance. Their situation is much worse.

Unfortunately the demise of public sector jobs means a huge gap in the middle (and consequent effect on anyone offering services to the middle).

There are jobs at both ends now. I know which end I'd rather my DC be in.

NigellasDealer · 19/12/2013 21:32

yeh me too quite honestly i have met 'brighter' people flogging lighters down Brixton market than in any university

wordfactory · 19/12/2013 21:37

I think a farrier might be specialist enough to offer a good living actually.

But some of the other mainstream trades are just too overcrowded IMVHO. And set to get much much worse. The world and his wife are trying to make a living there.

NigellasDealer · 19/12/2013 21:41

so true though about the 'mainstream' trades word,and things ^are going to get worse.
but the farriers round here can pick and choose their work, and if anyone upsets them.........it's byeeeee!! and things.
tbh it the expense of uni that puts me off more than anything, imagine shelling all that out and then see your child do bar work for years.

wordfactory · 19/12/2013 21:48

I think being a farrier might be a great job for the right person. And yes, I suspect good hard luchre could be made.

And I do see what you're saying about university. It's bloody dreadful that these young people are sadled with debt.

My view is if you'r gonna go down that route them aim for the very best university you can. The very best course. Get ythe most bang for your buck (given all courses cost the same),.. which takes us back to the OP, I guess.

NigellasDealer · 19/12/2013 21:49

nicely done word...
OP honestly try not to worry too much

noddyholder · 19/12/2013 21:52

I dont think they are any worse off tbh. The grads have debt are still living at home and can't find work. Whats the difference?

wordfactory · 19/12/2013 21:57

Well noddy in the sort term that debt can sit there.

And in the long term...things are moving. Slowly, but certainly moving.

For those with good degrees from good universities, I hope it's not too late.

lottieandmia · 19/12/2013 21:57

You may have had higher hopes for her, but that is different from saying her results are a disaster - they don't look like a disaster to me.

I had a school friend who did very well at school and got A*s and As in her GCSEs but I also remember her crying into my shoulder when she got to school in the morning because her mum had been shouting at her that she wasn't working hard enough. I do agree with those who say academia is not everything.

princessalbert · 19/12/2013 22:01

DS did similar.

He has always sailed through school getting top marks, without putting in much effort.

In his mocks, he did generally quite well --except for English - D! and Spanish C!

I think he now realises that he will have to try a little harder for the real GCSEs in May.

We have parents' evenings and meetings with 6th form coming upin January - so will get chance to discuss any strategies necessary to improve on these grades.

Try not to get too worked up over these results - it is likely that DD will have had chats at school with the teachers about these grades. School want her to do well, just as you and she do.

noddyholder · 19/12/2013 22:22

I don't believe things are improving The stats on examination are full of people on zero contracts and p/time. People are still struggling food banks opening weekly and no full time decent jobs. I will eat my hat if the govt don't move the debt goal posts in teh next 5 years

Original poster

Earningsthread · 19/12/2013 23:25

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and input. I really appreciate it because I am frankly panicking.

I have asked DD what she thought about her mock results. She laughed. She told me that mocks were ridiculous, she hadn't revised for any of them because she thought they were a waste of time.

My DD is not a people-pleaser (if only:)) She is her own person and I am very proud of the person that she is. I adore her, let's be clear. I am just very worried that she is closing off doors. I'm not just worried that she is closing off doors in general. I'm worried that she is closing off doors that she professes to want to go through.

OP posts:

Original poster

Earningsthread · 19/12/2013 23:28

Then she told me breezily that she wasn't proposing to do any work at all until next term.

OP posts:

bountyicecream · 19/12/2013 23:31

At least she's proposing to do some work eventually

curlew · 19/12/2013 23:34

Are you sure she's not being breezy to cover panic?

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