My child not allowed to stay for A Levels

[adadwithquestions]

To sit A Levels at her private school, my daughter needed to achieve 57 points (points awarded for GCSE grades). She achieved a couple of A grades and several B's but only achieved 55 points overall. Despite having been a model student since junior school, she was unceremoniously dismissed from the school. No discussion was permitted and no recourse offered. What kind of lesson is that teaching a child!? Why am I still angry?

I'm looking at independent secondaries at the moment for DD2
Many of the schools require a certain number of points / A/A* at GCSE for A levels.
It is something I'm taking into consideration.

FWIW i think it's outrageous that they selected your DD at 11. She has worked hard, behaved well, missed the criteria narrowly and yet they haven't allowed her to attend the 6th Form. I hope she is happy and settled elsewhere.

argh need an edit button. it's not outrageous they selected her at 11. It's outrageous they selected her and then didn't let her into the 6th form despite working hard, beavhing etc.

It's not like she was lazy and difficult and didn't work hard.

I do feel for you, especially as you have invested so much into her education at the school. However, as said all schools have criteria. One of our local grammars insists on at least five A grade GCSEs, another grammar has the 57 point system, my DD's state school wants mainly Bs but insists on As for a language or maths.

As regards what its teaching your DD, she has done really well in her GCSEs, but unfortunately competition is tough and she didn't get the points required by the school and that organisations which stick to their requirements.

I agree it's mad to pay all that money on fees and still end up with a child who doesn't make the entry criteria!

Fwiw my dd moved from private to state 6th form and has never been happier.

I agree it's mad to pay all that money on fees and still end up with a child who doesn't make the entry criteria! not really, it all boils down the the child's ability

Is it that there's an assumption that if you pay, you can call the shots?

That's not how it works, especially in private schools. They make the criteria, if you don't meet the criteria, that's it.

I suppose the OP feels disappointed. Honestly there is life outside the private system

Are the points for her mock GCSEs?

IME, the schools give unconditional 6th form places to students acheiving the school's set criteria and above in the mocks and conditional places to those who are near "misses" - so, conditional on acheiving certain grades in the actual GCSEs. Students who fall well below the entry criteria are told they are unlikely to be offered a place. This also applies to children who are close to the criteria, but who have been disruptive or difficult in any way.

As PPs have said, there are many excellent states schools and sometimes students benefit from a fresh start and/or a different style of teaching.

Ds is at a selective state sixth form, they don't publish the entry grades for internal students as they select based on interview as well as grades. Some students are given unconditional places, others are given specified grades - some of which seem unattainable but it does encourage them to work harder.

I didn't think that sort of thing was allowed at state schools - interviews, different entry requirements?

Yes, plus academies have more freedom ?

The school my daughter goes to had something similar, she was 1 point away but they made an exception as she was so close, you said no discussion but have you tried contacting higher members of staff? Good luck!

Ds2's grammar has the same thing (as do other local 6th forms - but not as rigid as the grammar). It's why I take A level league tables with an even larger pinch of salt than GCSE ones.

I did much better in my A levels than I did in my GCSEs so it seems a bit short-sighted for a school to do this.

I can understand why you are upset op - a dc Betty close to the cut off, has friends, all settled and then forced out when she would have liked to stay.

I'm hoping that she is now settled somewhere else and that you and she can let go of this upset

Betty? I meant very

My son's school makes it very clear up front and well in advance that a certain number of A and B grades are expected, with As in the subjects for which A level is being attempted. If you do not make the grade you do not get in to 6th form.

This is not a state-private division. Round here there are privates that are less selective than the comps, as well as some that are more so.

My kids are at a state comp which has minimum requirements for Sixth Form. The selective nature of the Sixth Form is the reason why the Leavers end up at excellent universities.

There has to be a cut off.

My sons are at a state school but it has very strict requirements regarding eligibility for staying on for A levels.