AIBU to be upset with school re:sixth form?

[Bustarold]

My DC is in y11 and in the middle of GCSEs. She wants to stay in her school for A levels. Recently her school has decided that students need 6 6s and above to be eligible to stay, including Maths and English. This is a comprehensive academy, not a grammar. DC has some SEN but is doing well, although she finds some subjects quite hard, and in line for a couple of 9s, and the rest 6s, 7s and maybe 8s. Science not great but not needed for humanities A levels. Maths probably a 5. What I am upset about is that DC asked head of year if they think she will be able to stay for 6th form, the reply was "will you get 6 6s and above?, lots of people will get 9s, you know?". No consideration for the fact that there is SEN (dyslexia and ADHD), and she's predicted 9s and 8s in the subjects she wants to do. No mention of the fact that DD is a model student and has never been in any kind of trouble. She might fall a bit short in maths, but I would expect a "well done for trying so hard, we know you find it difficult". I am quite disgusted that they put their own reputation and league table position before what should be duty of care. The pressure is enormous to get those high marks, lots of kids have given up. Many are going elsewhere for sixth form, but DD wants to stay as one of the subjects she wants to do is great there, and she loves the department. Are comprehensive schools allowed to select like this? All other 6th forms I know ask for 5s, and 6s in the subjects they want to do, which is so much more inclusive. The system is becoming increasingly heartless, I am not surprised that so many teenagers are stressed and depressed. Rant over.

It is a ridiculous system. Our school says you need a 6 preferably 7 to take a particular A level or IB, but the reality is they’d be more lenient. As for all those 9 predictions - as it’s supposed to be the top 3% in the country you must be very good indeed!
I thought SEN students got priority? Be that as it may, I come from the US system and there are no major exams at all. You continue with a wide range of subjects until you graduate. There are SATs in math and English but the scores are not deal breakers but a part of a more holistic picture (extracurricular activities weigh in quite heavily in uni applications). Seems a much better system especially if the child does not know what direction they want to go in.

it worth talking to her teacher's of the subjects she wants to do for A level? Get them in to bat for her I have spoken to the head of the subject she wants to do as a career, one of her 9 grades. I was told they will do everything they can to keep her as she is, in their words "exceptional and a wonderful student". This department is fantastic and very sought after, it is the only reason DD wants to stay there. Despite this praise this DD is still anxious due to the attitude of the HoY

pipandmum that's a much better system, and many countries have similar flexibility. In the UK everybody seems to accept this is the way things are, even if it's destroying children's health. I speak as an educator and a parent. I have seen three suicidal teenagers in the last 2 years, as result of academic pressure which when combined with unavoidable personal of family issues become an emergency situation. Before it was once in a while, how it's everywhere. But people seem to just accept this toxic system because "it's the way it is".

Talk to head of Sixth Form not HOY. You may get a very different answer if you have a quiet meeting to discuss options. Ask for the department head of the subject she wants to take to attend.

Is it possible she asked when he was busy, in public, or similar and he merely recited the published set criteria without either thinking or knowing of your DD's spld? He may not have even appreciated that she is now stressing about this. Also if she is known as a model pupil and clearly very able in some areas it might nit have occurred to him that she may be on for a 5 in Maths.

As you say the 6th Form is a popular and oversubscribed one. They therefore can and do set higher criteria than some.other schools. In her favour is that they do know her and were she to only get a 5 in maths she will have her A level subject teachers to fight her corner whereas a child applying from a different school would not have this advantage.

I would probably just have a quick chat with head of 6th form and tell him that it has caused DD unnecessary stress duribg her exams and is there anything he could do to reassure her.

Excuse my typos!

It is unkind though. My SN DS got 9 A*s and 2As and was made to feel like pond life because he didn't get a clean sweep.

Well for a start no school shoudl be predicting lots of 9's unless they ar absolutely sure they have a child who is a genius at a particular subject as a 9 is statistical according to others grades.

But apart from that I think asking for 6 Grade 6 and above is quite reasonable. We don't have grammar schools here, most schools ask for eight GCSE's at Grade 5 and above with at least 5 of those being a Grade 6 or above and a Grade 7 in the subject you wish to take at A level.

Those without those grades are directed towards courses more suitable for them such as Btec.

I have a son with SEN who is likely to struggle with those requirements. He is likely to not get the English grades. He wants to take music and is currently working at a very dvanced level in that subject, but A levels won't be for him so he will likely go the Btec route.

On saying that however you say it is maths that your child might struggle to get the grade in. Pretty much all the schools I know would accept a child with otherwise good GCSE's without maths as long as they were not planning on taking a related subject such a science. (and they'd do a re-sit)

My DS has a spiky GCSE profile due to a SpLD. He got a 9 and came top of the school in the subject he is doing at A level. His college have said they will support him with an Oxbridge application. If the SEN causes the spiky GCSE profile I would point the school in the direction of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Moominmamacat that's terrible and shows the insanity of the she thing. I know students who are in tears for that exact reason, the possibility of not getting highest marks in everything! But schools should be reassuring them and putting things in perspective and they don't.

I have to say I find this attitude that if you don't get a string of As at GCSE you aren't bright enough to do A levels. I think you are absolutely right OP and there is no reason to write people off.

In the days before A* grades, I got 4 A 3 B and a C in my GCSEs. There were lots of people (around 25% by memory) in my school who did a lot better than I did, getting from 8 x As to mainly As and a couple of Bs.

But I got 3 As at A level and only 3 other people in my sixth form did, and all had done better than I had at GCSE.

The reason? I worked for my A levels, I decided to wing it for my GCSEs. And when you do A levels you generally choose your best subjects and the ones you are most interested in so you're not having to do the core subjects that you may be less interested in/talented at.

You do not need a 9 to be successful at A level.

DS has been offered two sixth form places on the basis of 6 GCSES at grade 5 and above including English and Maths and a 6 in the language he wants to take. That seems reasonable to me.

Is it possible she asked when he was busy, in public, or similar and he merely recited the published set criteria without either thinking or knowing of your DD's spld? This. He probably can't talk to your daughter directly about any special measures as its probably not up to him!
From one spur of the moment conversation you got - 'No mention of the fact that DD is a model student and has never been in any kind of trouble.... but I would expect a "well done for trying so hard, we know you find it difficult"

Give the guy a break!

Nesssie, it is a constant threat used against y11s, not a one off comment, always comparing and creating competition for the privilege of staying in 6th form. She was obviously anxious and he did not reassure her, never has.

I must admit that it came as a shock to me that school sixth forms are selective.

Of the 3 we applied to two set a then grade A as minimum requirement for STEM subjects, and one a bit lower. I think that is fair enough for A levels in those subjects, tbh, as the bar is high. My Dc got a 9 in maths and A in two science subjects at GCSE, has worked very hard in 6th form and is predicted A, A, B.

Presumably your Dd has applied and they have given her her offer?

The HoY was really tactless and insensitive - I bet the comment was based on 'better keep them on their toes to get their results up' , which is hardly needed or appropriate for your Dd.

I would bet quite a bit that they will snap her up and there will be no issue with her staying.

They cannot go against what they say in the admissions criteria / prospectus / offer and change it once she has her results.

in public, or similar and he merely recited the published set criteria without either thinking or knowing of your DD's spld?
No, she went to his office to ask him about this.

I just phoned to school and spoke to head of Sixth Form. They are aware she's anxious and are going to intervene after my phone call. They assured me that she can stay for 6th form as she's doing well in chosen subjects.
It's a bit sad that nobody has reassured her before.

"RilkeanHeart

Some depressing responses here. Yes, A levels are hard, but suggesting that a child who gets one or two 5s (high Cs in old money) in subjects they don’t intend to take any further shouldn’t then be able to pursue subjects in which they might excel is incredibly short-sighted."
Completely agree.
Amazed at some of the initial comments

X post, oh brilliant

bet the comment was based on 'better keep them on their toes to get their results up'
Exactly

I would be in touch with the HofY for clarification if I were you. I would be amazed if they didn’t let her in. With those grades. Sounds as if he was just being an arse.

Incidentally this “ In other European countries they are allowed to grow and develop and there are no exams until they are 18” is certainly not true of France or Spain, the only two countries I can speak with certainty about.

Oops, sorry. Should have read first.

BertrandRussell i come from of of those and know the other quite well. Students have end of term exams on the content of that term, with the possibility of retaking that module at the beginning of the next term. As long as they pass they move up. National exams don't happen until 18.

Frankly I would rather have GCSEs at 15 than the positively brutal French system.The constant my god daughter is under is awful.

Excellent update.

Hopefully in sixth form she'll be surrounded by the adults who believe in her and she will be just fine.

Well done for calling them OP, I am glad they are going to re-assure her, and that her place is confirmed.

My Dc changed schools for sixth form - when they went to collect the results the teachers were there mopping up many who didn't quite make a grade and keeping them if they were already pupils at the school.

Thanks bally. BertrandR is your god daughter doing her baccalaureate?