Disappointing GCSE Product Design.. Advice please.

[Ingles2]

Hiya.. Am asking on behalf of my friend.. Her son got his results for a 2 year product design gcse today and was a disappointing D for both coursework and paper. He was predicted a B by the school and has worked hard. He doesn't really know what's gone wrong.. And I can't help thinking some of the blame must lie with the school as he's had 5 supply teachers in 2 years! Can anyone give us advice on what to do next please? Should she be asking for a remark, or and resit or what? Btw his friends got E's! Thanks

Bump

Sorry to be blunt but 5 supply teachers for the product design course? Or 5 supply teachers over all of the GCSEs? If it is the former which supply teacher could have accurately made any prediction?

Not sure what can happen now or if it's possible to resit GCSEs other than maths and eng lang. Would he want to? Presumably teaching at the school hasn't suddenly improved so what would be the point?

I sympathise - my ds3 took product design at the end of year 10 and got a D as well. Turned out that the teacher had been having personal problems, hadn't taught the course properly and was overly generous with some of the coursework to try and hide the lack of good teaching but it was all moderated down which didn't help.

Can he not just write it off or does he have a burning desire to pursue a career in DT?

5 supply teachers over the two year product design course! It sounds unbelievable but she's mentioned this a few times to me! As for the prediction I assume it came after the mock or in the last report. Any suggestions on what we should do now? He's just about to start yr 11, so we need to sort this out before next summers exams. The school is a comp where they start GCSEs in yr 9 and complete in yr 10 and 11

Sorry, cross posts stonecircle.. Sounds like a very similar situation. not a burning desire now, but he was interested and worked hard.. So seems like he's been let down by the school to me. I guess she'll have to go and see the head

Ingles2. I think your friend talking to the Head is a very good idea. I am a DT teacher and 2 different teachers over 2 years I know can be a nightmare. I have experienced it in my department over the last couple of years. I have had to try and minimise damage. If your friend wants to PM me I am more than happy. I hate to see students being dealt the rotten deal.

But for what purpose Ingles?

I would think Stonecircle If the school is still allowing the students to retake in Y11, although I know this is questionable, that getting a project from a grade D to a C is not impossible. Even if the exam board will not allow the same project to be submitted, the learning and knowledge will be in place to be 'tweaked' rather than taking on a new subject from scratch.

Thank you elephant.. I'll get her to pm you.. Well to see if there is any way to salvage 2 years of work I guess, to see if its possible to resit. And I agree with elephant, I hate to see him screwed over .. They very least that should happen is the dept pulls its socks up for the next cohort

Ingles2 I will help if I can, I am sure I can. However did your friend's son do the work as an e-portfolio or hard copy? Also can your friend let me know when she PMs me what the Board is and if it is definitely PD

Have messaged her now elephant, so will hopefully hear from her soon... And thank you

Only the first attempt at a GCSE will count in the league tables, so it's unlikely that they would let him resit product design to get his D to a C rather than sit another subject for the first time in an attempt to get a C that will actually count.

Yes, Noblegiraffe which is why I am thinking this could be put in as a Res Mat or Graphics GCSE next time. But please don't quote me.

without knowing the breakdown of the marks (or the exam board) it would be difficult to say what he could/should do.