GCSE Mock results. What to do now!

[decisionsdecisions123]

Hello

I'm just here for a bit of a ramble/any ideas. My son just received his mock gcse results. I'm not sure what to think. It would have been too much to hope for A and B grades but I'm still disappointed though not surprised. He does the bare minimum when it comes to school work/revision.

Grades are ranging from the odd high C to middle D grades plus an F and a G though he insists the F must be wrong and will ask about it on Monday. School states that they want 5 A to C grades to enter Sixth form and pref B grades for the subjects you want to study in sixth form. I'm not sure how flexible schools are when it comes to letting people in if they don't quite make the grades. I think I am just feeling unsure as to what happens next. Closing ate for applying to sixth form is the end of January so very little time to think about what to do. All the schools seem to be asking for A to C grades. The colleges worry me as they are so huge and I am not sure if they are the best environment for my son. I did a course in a local one a few years ago and it just didn't seem like a nice learning environment for young people.

Is there much hope of him pulling his grades up to B and C grades between now and the real exams? At the end of year 10 he was on an F for Maths and now managed to get a D grade, only 4% away from a C. He is on a middle C for English and Science. I am very upset that he chooses to do the absolute bare minimum when I have offered so many times to help him with work/revision. I am trying hard not to shout and get cross, he says he is quite happy with his grades as he has improved in all of them but of course they were low to begin with ( spent a lot of time messing around in year 9 and most of year 10).

I'm not sure what I'm asking and I am aware this probably doesn't make total sense! Can I still apply to his school for sixth form even though he doesn't have high grades or is it a waste of a choice? I don't feel the school have given us any information at all regarding next steps. there seemed to be a lot more help going from primary to secondary, now it seems like you're on your own.

Many thanks for reading.

[decisionsdecisions123]

homebythesea I know he should be worrying more than me (just had that conversation now actually!) but its only really through life experience that you really understand what life is all about, isn't it?!

[GasLIghtShining]

There are two Level 3 qualifications. The one you have mentioned which he would need to do an A level along side it. Not sure if he would do 2 AS in the first year or not. At the end of the 2 years he would come out with the equivalent of 3 A levels

The other is an Level 3 extended diploma (this is what my DS is studying) and this is the equivalent to 3 A levels.

[LIZS]

You'd normally take just one but if he needs English and/or Maths he'd do those in addition. He may yet be able to do an A or AS as well depending on entry requirements and timetabling. Those are probably only worthwhile if he needs UCAS points in addition to the level 3 to get onto a uni course.

[noblegiraffe]

My sixth form closes its application process early but that's so that we've got time to work on the timetable - the subject combinations that students have applied for are put into option blocks to maximise the number of students able to take all their choices.

We would certainly accept applications after the deadline (and indeed have students join a couple of weeks into September term) but these late applicants will have to choose from the option blocks as they are set - their choices won't be taken into account in the timetabling.

Sixth forms are usually desperate for students as funding has been cut so dramatically. It would be worth contacting schools even if applications have technically closed to see what they say.

[IguanaTail]

Exactly as noble says. We are sorting the option blocks now and ensuring the staffing is sorted.

[nagsandovalballs]

Would your finances stretch to a tutor? I am called in for two main reasons: for girls, to stop them having a nervous breakdown and fearing failure; for boys, to make them work where their parents have failed to make an impression (usually apathy is actually a deep-seated fear of failure). Having an external figure defuses the situation - kids listen to outsiders more and they also tend not to dare to backchat (especially as I am DR nagsandovalballs) and we also can digress into chat about sport etc which makes the relationship more one of camaraderie.

You could look at getting a gap year student or undergrad, which is when I started tutoring, as they are cheaper and very relatable to GCSE students as they are young, living the dream of uni, but also successful.

[LynetteScavo]

usually apathy is actually a deep-seated fear of failure

Thank you for this! So obvious, but it had never occurred to me before!

[FozzieMK]

My eldest DD got a range of C's and D's in her GCSE's. Thinking this was a clue that she wouldn't be able to cope with further education, she decided to go to work for a year which she hated. In desperation, we managed to get her onto a BTEC level 2 Computing course at our local College along with a retake of GCSE English. She passed the BTEC with top grades and also the GCSE. She went on to take the Extended BTEC Grade 3 in Computing and a retake of GCSE maths. She is predicted DDD* and now has 4 uni offer, 2 of which are unconditional! Nobody is more surprised than us and we think that either she is a late developer, has found the subject she loves or the shock of a year at work is the answer.

[decisionsdecisions123]

GasLightShining, can you explain a bit more about what you mean when you say there are 2 level 3 qualifications? Do you mean in Business Studies or in general? Is your son taking the L3 extended diploma in Business Studies? If he is would you be able to tell me a little about how its going?

FozzieMK that's good news, I think some children do take longer to get going. When you say she is predicted DD*D does that stand for Distinction or do you mean she is predicted D grades?

As for tutoring yes I think it can be a good idea. Last year we had a tutor for maths but he wasn't really very good to be honest and my son didn't enjoy the sessions or get anything out of them (and it was costing me £30 a hour!) so we gave up after a couple of months.

I also a couple of years ago tried out a Uni student but he didn't really know what he was doing and suddenly deserted us when a better offer came along though I would have cancelled him anyway as I could see it was pointless after a couple of weeks.

Luckily I decided to give it another go and searched for a maths tutor to start again this year. We found a really good one around October time so I think he had had around 8 sessions with him and his 'current assessment grade' jumped from a shocking G in October to a middle D following the exams. His mock exam was only 4% away from getting a C so I think he has done quite well there, I just really hope he manages to somehow get it up to a B or at least a high C grade. His maths tutor thinks he is capable of getting a B if he puts enough practice in. If only I could afford a tutor for more subjects!

[TeenAndTween]

OP. This is how I understand it.

A Diploma is a '2 A level equivalent' course. So you could do another A level alongside it (or retake Maths/English).

An Extended Diploma is '3 A level Equivalent'

For DD's course the Extended Diploma is what it says on the tin. An extended version of the Diploma. So all the same units, and then some more as extra. e.g. Her Diploma doesn't include a Marketing unit, but the Extended Diploma does. For her diploma she will do 12 units over 2 years. the Extended has 18 units.

With the 'A level equivalent' stuff it is to do with teaching hours, but also UCAS points. So on a Diploma you can earn up to the same number of points as 2 A at A level. A 'Pass Pass' grade gives the same as EE for A level, moving up to 'Distinction Distinction' giving the same as 2A.

Getting Distinction for a unit seems to require strong analysis skills. Fozzies DD is doing extremely well.

Note however that most 'top' universities give offers based on actual A levels, not on UCAS points.

Depending on demand, colleges may not offer both Diploma and Extended Diploma in the same subject.

[naffedoff]

Love reading this thread. We're in exactly the same position with DS. His mock results are due on Friday but we're not hopeful of good news. Meanwhile he seems to think that he'll be able to get his predicted As/Bs in May/June with no problem, despite having put in minimal work since Year 7.
I'm not looking forward to Parents' Evening which will be the usual Groundhog Day scenario of concerned teachers, sulky DS and furious us!
I'm not sure A levels at his school's 6th Form are the best route for him considering his laziness but I'm not sure he can be trusted to be motivated enough to go to the local college. He's like a work-based apprenticeship but I think these may be too scarce and hard to come by.

[GasLIghtShining]

Thanks Teen - you are saving me all the typing!

OP - sorry but my DS is doing Sport Development and Coaching. But from from being Mr Average he is now on target for DDD* so it can work out.

[bojorojo]

Just to say that local estate agents will be less choosy than Savilles. A lot of the top estate agents (Knight Frank, Lane Fox, Humberts etc) recruit people from top universities. They can be choosy and often their recruits have decent land holdings themselves! Nothing wrong with going to visit a few locally and see what they want, but I can guarantee it will be someone personable who works very hard!

[homebythesea]

On the estate agency would it be possible for you/him to organise some work experience? This might focus his mind and give him something to work towards? Ditto in local surveyors firms

[GasLIghtShining]

Things that interest him seem to be buying and selling and estate agency type work

Does he really find this interesting or does he think it's a bit of doss? Estate Agency is not just swanning around showing people houses. There are targets as in any sales job and you are expected to meet them.

[decisionsdecisions123]

I'm not sure why he would think it was a bit of a doss? He actually can work very hard on something that interests him. He did really well in his work experience (law firm) and got a glowing report. He enjoyed it a lot and was happy to stay till half 5 if needed each night. He went back in the half term holidays for a day and will do so in the next holidays. I think it would be a great idea to arrange some more work experience in an estate agency/surveyors if I could find someone to take him. I don't think its the swanning around houses that interest him, more the deals. He has always been into buying and selling for a profit (think buying sweets/drinks and selling them on to school friends for a profit type thing) and is forever on Gumtree getting prices for things.

He is lazy with some school work as it just doesn't seem to interest him but 'real' work is different. Lots of people have commented on how personable he is, he is quite confident and doesn't get shy speaking to people. He can go all around the city we live in without getting stressed and carries out tasks for me and other people I dont think I would have been confident to do at his age!

I am trying very hard to speak to someone about his options at school but its proving to be quite difficult!

[GasLIghtShining]

I didn't mean to horrible OP just wanted to be sure his expectations are realistic.

Are you finding it hard to find estate agents who will let him do work experience? Where I live apprenticeships have been offered in estate agents

My local tech gives careers advice to people even if they aren't students. Maybe worth ringing a few colleges where you are to see if they do something similar.

[decisionsdecisions123]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. I have spoken to the Head of the year who was going to meet him on Friday to discuss his options (but didn't, due to time/forgetting I imagine). I emailed the Deputy Head who also happens to teach him a subject. She emailed back to say that it is still entirely possible for him to turn things around and improve his mock exam results and is happy to meet him next week for more feedback and ideas. So, mixed messages regarding what is and isn't possible for him but not all doom and gloom it seems.

I will of course contact the large colleges and see what they would be able to offer him. I think it is important to get a second opinion from other teachers in the school. The first one I spoke to a few months ago over the phone told me that their Sixth Form would not be suitable for him and I should look else where.

[GasLIghtShining]

Hope he does improve on the grades but it is certainly worth having a plan B.

I would be asking a few more teachers for their thoughts. I still remember one of my teachers telling my parents they were making a huge (and costly since it was private school) mistake making me stop on for sixth form. My parents wouldn't listen. Won't go into too much detail but it didn't end well.

[homebythesea]

Red work experience - why doesn't he ask the law firm if they have contacts with surveyors or estate agents? A personal recommendation from them may be more influential. Also worth considering local auction houses if it's the wheeling/dealing aspect he enjoys.

[homebythesea]

Red = re obvs

[swingofthings]

So clearly he is capable of getting the grades if he studied? Also he is showing signs of ambition for the future? So what it comes down is a reality check that as he stands, he might not be able to get to 6th form and therefore might not be able to do A levels and therefore might possibly not be able to do what he wants to do.

It's not a case of telling him that his dreams are already over, but that by choosing not to work harder, he is seriously limiting his options. It might not seem worth bothering now, but just a little effort now is likely to make things much easier later where to get to the same place, he will have to give twice as much effort.

I don't think incentivising with money is the way to go at all. He needs to want to do it for his future and ambitions, otherwise all it is teaching him is that only money is worth the effort.