Is it too late to start cramming for GCSES in May?

[BonnesVacances]

DD (16) has been off school for 2 years with ME/CFS, since Y9. She's not been able to do any schoolwork in that time and still isn't at this stage so this may be moot anyway.

She's currently still being entered for all her GCSES but we're just wondering which ones we should scratch off the list and which ones she still has a chance at if she is able to start studying at home.

The school says the teachers can't give us any guidance as they've not seen her for 2 years but surely the teachers know the exam spec and how big a task it would be?

DD's SATS were L6 and she had a CAT score of 124 on entering Y7 so is capable of a lot when not ill. In Y9 before she went off after just one term she had a NC achievement level of 7H in her core subjects and 6H in the others. She'd have been targeting grades 7-9 if she'd been at school. All her reports mention that she was hard-working, conscientious and gave her the top level effort grade.

So are there any subjects you think she could still manage to scrape a pass in if she were able to spend the next 4-5 months cramming?

We think that it is most likely too late to start studying for Maths now as she has missed so much content but maybe a Maths teacher could confirm that? If so, we'd rather spend the time focussing on another subject that she could get a pass in.

We also figure Computer Science is out of the running as she won't have done any of the project work. She's also supposed to be doing Spanish, Geography and RS. We asked her Spanish teacher directly who said there's a lot for DD to cover but it's not too late for her to do the foundation paper and get a 4 or 5. Not sure about Geography and RS.

Any ideas about English? She's read 2 of the set books already but still needs to look at a Shakespeare and the poetry. And she definitely won't make the speaking component test so that would be unclassified.

Just to be clear, we're only looking for bare passes, not grades 7-9. And we're only looking at the practical side of things at this stage. We know we have to juggle this with her health etc.

Thanks.

Oh & EOTAS provide home tutoring for Science, Maths & English, I'm really cross for you that hasn't been done yet. DDs school set it up after 6 months away from school

I would definitely focus on (in order) maths, English, science. It depends on her health though, and she would need tutoring. Also bare in mind (if you aren't bothered about grades) that maths and science still have foundation tiers that she could sit.

The alternative though, is that as she is doing 3 years at college she may be better off just starting the studying now then taking GCSEs next year and getting good grades. It takes the pressure off a bit and allows her time to get back in to the swing of studying.

I'd love to think the school weren't ignoring their obligations in the hope she wouldn't sit any exams, but given how some terrified HTs are of poor results I wouldn't be surprised.

Thanks. I really thought the Maths boat had sailed so I'll put that back in the running and focus on Maths and English and then Science. DH teaches Science and isn't sure there's enough time left, especially as DD wants/ needs to do Biology A Level,. But he's not used to teaching "just to pass" and at least we have a home tutor for it!

Apart from the core subjects, I had wondered if there was another easier one she could get so she had something at the end of school. And she can only do English and Maths at college, but it does seem to make sense to focus on those anyway.

The school has offered home tuition over the last 2 years. We just haven't taken them up on it as DD hasn't been able to study. It's an academy so no LEA involved. They have let us down in a number of ways, but not that.

Thanks also for the B12 info. DD has ME, not chronic fatigue, and over the last 2 years of constant searching for answers, B12 deficiency, along with many other conditions, has been ruled out. But it's always worth mentioning, so thanks.

Thanks also for the B12 info. DD has ME, not chronic fatigue, and over the last 2 years of constant searching for answers, B12 deficiency, along with many other conditions, has been ruled out. But it's always worth mentioning, so thanks.

Do look at the website I linked to. I was also diagnosed with M.E. amongst other things. B12 deficiency/PA was supposedly ruled out many times over, same with my daughter. Only it wasn't because they were too fixated on figures, without fully understanding test results. Out B12 injections make a huge difference. I'm not saying my daughter is better, but after 2 years of no school, she went from unable to sit up most days, to up, walking & mostly able to cope with full time school within a few weeks & doing well with lessons. It's been life changing.

I wish you all the best,