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Original poster

GCSE Results thread and starting 6th form

1000 replies

WitchofScots · 16/08/2015 11:04

Follow on thread from the GCSE exams and proms thread. For hand holding and recommendations of wine/chocolate/biscuits to get through the post results stuff.

OP posts:
HSMMaCM · 21/08/2015 10:15

Antique - that's really rubbish. No wonder you're stressing about making the best choices for your DC. DD didn't get her predicted grades either, so she's struggling too.

She's having to re-choose A levels and is considering maths. She only got a B and I can see from other comments on here that maths may not be a good choice.

SugarPlumTree · 21/08/2015 10:19

Antiquesinger I'm so sorry to hear that FlowersFlowersFlowers After something like that I think it entirely natural to want another area of your life to be going well and under control, I fully get your reaction to his results in the circumstances.

I think there has been some playing around with the exams so there isn't a huge outcry when the new ones come into effect abd it has caught teachers a bit short.

You've got a lot to be dealing with, would stating a thread in relationships help maybe to get advice from people who have been where you are and come out the other side ?

SugarPlumTree · 21/08/2015 10:22

What other possibilities has she got HSM - How's she bearing up with it ?

ErrolTheDragon · 21/08/2015 10:24

Antique - I'm so sorry, that's completely shitty. Feel free to unload here. Re the results - it's very easy to lose perspective. My DH seems to think DD is really upset about some of the grades which were lower than expected whereas as far as I can tell she's mainly delighted with her FM and the subjects she's done well in.

hippy - yes - those were the subjects I did many moons ago and for me they were the easy ones. Same with DD (though she's going to do CS not chemistry, I suspect she'll find the CS more work). From our POV its the people doing history, eng lit or languages who are doing the hard subjects!

ErrolTheDragon · 21/08/2015 10:34

HSM - what subjects are under consideration? And do you think there were specific reasons for not getting her predicted grades (eg teaching problems) which may not apply at A-level?
Can she start 4 subjects and see how they go?

I sort of feel that if they're doing 4, then there may be a case for 'if a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing badly'. I think sometimes we're so focussed on the grades that we can forget that the point of studying is to learn useful stuff, and that is particularly the case with maths. If you're doing subjects where maths is particularly relevant (or parts of the maths syllabus eg mechanics for physics, statistics for various others) then even if the overall final grade isn't stellar, it may well be a very useful thing to have done.

Auntpetunia2015 · 21/08/2015 11:03

Oh antique that's beyond shirty of your DH, timed no doubt to coincide with the stress of the results. I agree a thread on here in relationships will give you a "battle plan" and support. Your dc's results are fine and they will be able to do their a levels no problem.

Ds is today at school for the 6th form meeting and final agreement on subjects he's still only got 3, biology, English and psychology, A in English B in biology (the only b in his entire exam taking for biology so teacher more than happy with him doing it) psychology is a new one but he likes the sound of it, but what to do for number 4? I have no idea what he'll agree to or what school will suggest, and obviously I'm not allowed to go with him and discuss it.

I tried to put forward that he just does 3 well with his dyslexia and dyspraxia English is going to need a lot of support and hard work but he's naturally fab at it, strangely enough. Don't know if that'll be acceptable but have emailed head of 6th form and senco with the suggestion as I doubt DS will mention it. Oh well .......

AntiqueSinger · 21/08/2015 11:09

Thank you for your lovely comments. Mumsnet really can be great. Perhaps I should start a thread in relationships, but I didn't really intend to off-load I'm finding my emotions a bit over-powering and lost control a bit. Only thing other than myself I care about right now was DS and whether he will be alright for the future. Thank you all for reasurring me about that. That stress has gone at least. Although everything else just feels crap. Truth is I'm a bit numb.

Well done to your DD HSM I hope it works out. I'm sure it will!

adelecoup · 21/08/2015 11:22

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LynetteScavo · 21/08/2015 11:29

AntiqueSinger - your DH is a shit!

Your DS on the other hand, has done very well. Flowers

ErrolTheDragon · 21/08/2015 11:41

I'd guess you're not quite ready to start a thread in relationships, Antique. Flowers

LynetteScavo · 21/08/2015 12:20

DS has sensed we are pleased with his results and has asked for his passport so he can go and get his ears pierced with a view to having them stretched.

Over. My. Dead. Body.

cleanmachine · 21/08/2015 12:30

tbt, Erroll and everyone else who advised -thank you so much. the advice has been really amazing. Ds is going to study science based subjects at uni (dentistry, optometry, maybe medicine) but does tend to have complete lack of self confidence moments.

he had been reassured by school that getting A* in these subjects means he should be ok at a level although the jump from gcse to a level is challenging for all students.

HSMMaCM · 21/08/2015 12:55

Her other subjects are not as 'rigorous' as maths. She wanted to do dance, drama, biology and psychology or maybe classical covilsation. Biology clashes with dance and drama. Despite my best efforts, she has prioritised dance and drama over biology.

She wants to do a core subject (biology, English lit or maths). English lit also clashes with dance, so she is only left with maths. She did have a completely crap maths teacher in yr 10 and he was sacked at the end of the year for basically teaching the class nothing (or wrong stuff). The head of maths has been trying to sort out the mess during year 11.

noblegiraffe · 21/08/2015 13:06

The problem with poor teaching in maths leading to a lower result at GCSE is that A-level maths builds directly on the higher grade topics at GCSE. If these weren't taught, or taught badly then no matter what the natural ability of the DC, they will still struggle. They would need to do a lot of independent work to catch up with the GCSE work missed before the A-level course starts in order to be in a good position to cope.

It's not like in other subjects where e.g. crap teaching of Romeo and Juliet might lead to a poor grade at GCSE, but not affect the ability to analyse Hamlet effectively later on (if you see what I mean).

HSMMaCM · 21/08/2015 14:40

Noble giraffe that's what's worrying me. I'm really struggling to know how to advise her best, other than to ask her to drop a subject she loves in exchange for biology or English :(. If she goes ahead with maths, I will support her in any way I can to catch up on the basics ASAP.

Fairenuff · 21/08/2015 15:34

I agree that maths will be a very hard A level if the basics are not secure, which is why a B grade might not be secure enough. However, it can be taken just for the AS which will be a qualification next year, and then can be dropped.

The subjects continued to A2 level will just be a full A level. So most of them will end up with 3 A levels and 1 AS level if you see what I mean. An AS in maths is higher than a gcse and will be recognised by employers, etc. even if not actually used to get on to a uni course.

HSM what a shame all those subject clash. If she doesn't take maths, is there anything else she is interested in, history, media studies, business studies, etc?

AntiqueSinger so sorry to hear what's happened but great results for your ds and he can definitely go on to do the A levels of his choice Smile

If you want to offload, relationships can be a very supportive and helpful place to do it. Name change if you want to keep it separate from your other posts. Take care x

ErrolTheDragon · 21/08/2015 15:39

HSM - there's another thread here mainly discussing maths with a B at gcse, there's a recommendation for a book 'head start in AS maths' which might be worth a look (though there's not much of the hols left now).

HSMMaCM · 21/08/2015 15:56

Thanks errol I've had a read of that one now. If she doesn't do maths, it will be dance, drama, psychology and classical studies ...

IrianofWay · 21/08/2015 20:37

DS1 got a B in his third attempt at English! He was hoping for a C so very very pleased Grin

bigTillyMint · 21/08/2015 21:09

Well done Irons DS!

HSM is she really confident with maths/loves it/prepared to practise a lot? If so, then maybe it's a go-er?

HSMMaCM · 21/08/2015 22:00

BTM that's all we've talked about this evening. Whether she really really wants it.

mummytime · 22/08/2015 09:57

Antique - is he going to the same school for Sixth form? Because some colleges have a really good ability to "boost" grades.
Has he considered any "non GCSE" subjects?
And those sound quite reasonable grades to me.

Your DH... well have you been to Hobbits Bar in relationships?

My DD has come around to her "very good" but not "good enough for her" grades. Is probably swapping to Geography, and will have to persuade college that 3 A'levels is enough (and an EPQ).

QOD · 22/08/2015 10:28

Argh ... ré marking is in our future!
2 .A grades are 1.measly mark from an A*
1 .A grade is 2 away ....

Naturally it's the 2 points away one she'd really like re done but hey ho, in for a penny, in for a pound (£33.60 a Paper)

Auntpetunia2015 · 22/08/2015 11:41

DS along with school have decided on biology, English, psychology and media studies. Which was something I'd looked into for him as he's v interested in films and markting and v up on the news etc so 4 with the chance of dumping 1 if he wants at any point. Last week of holidays here before back to it and the madness that is September so I'm going to get the dc organised. And get me some new clothes. Grin enjoy the end of the holidays. See you all in 6th form chatter

HSMMaCM · 23/08/2015 09:43

Any tips on getting DD motivated to do her sixth form prep homework?

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