Can a pupil recover from a rubbish Y9 to get high GCSE grades?

[cingolimama]

DD has had a rugged year and a bit with serious health problems. She is, thankfully, slowly and steadily improving and she should be pretty fully recovered by the autumn. Of course, her health is the most important thing and I'm very grateful for her recovery ... but...

There were necessary absences (nothing too bad - she still managed 92%) and there were times she struggled to focus and was exhausted a lot. The school were fantastically supportive, allowed her to drop two subjects and let her go to the quiet room whenever she needed.
Any normal pressure/expectation from school or from her parents was eased off to a considerable degree. The idea was just to get her through the school year.

Nevertheless, her summer report came as a bit of a shock - mostly 4s and high 3s, with a 6 in Music. DD is smart and ambitious and wants to go to a top university to study history or music (this could change, I know). Before this year I thought it was a pretty realistic plan. But I worry how she will recover academically from this year and go on to get a high grade in GCSEs.

I've looked at various charts and "flight paths" and frankly I found them demoralising. So I'm turning to MN - any advice or guidance would be hugely appreciated.

A friend's DD who got grades 4 - 6 last summer has been predicted ABB this year and has decided to apply to university despite earlier qualms. The key for her seemed to be choosing A level subjects which she truly loves and is enthusiastic about. Her average grades at GCSE are still enough to tick the box for English & maths minimum required grades.

GCSE grades are only used as a basis of offers if you go straight to university from school (and so don't have your A level results when applying).
Anyone w poor GCSE results but strong A levels will be fine if they take a gap year after A levels and apply during that time.

Don't forget that the reference her school will put on her UCAS form can also explain any extenuating circumstances such as health problems.

My DD was "not really into school" and coasted completely through year 9 and most of year 10 and would have coasted through Yr11 until she suddenly realized she was very able BUT lazy and could turn things around. I can hand on heart state that if your DD's health situation improves she can turn it completely around- My DD turned a couple of E's into A's within 6 -9 months. GCSE's are mainly about memory and application of that memory with some good advice on exam technique.

Just work on installing confidence and nudging your DD along.

Titchy, I don't think that's true, as students don't sit AS exams anymore.

It is true - I've worked in the university sector for 30 odd years. Places are awarded to those who meet the A level offer. Most offers are made on the basis of predicted A level grades being within a grade, or even two, of the institution's standard offer for the course.

Oxbridge may be the exception, but largely their own entrance tests are important than GCSEs, plus a very small number of courses elsewhere which might use GCSE grades as a sift.

As an example ds's average GCSE grade was a B. Still got 5 offers, 3 from RG incl the MN fave Bristol- and that's off the back of not stellar A level predictions as well!

A few universities such as Nottingham have a points system. GCSE’s account for 20% of the consideration.

Some of them had done very little revision for the mocks. The new spec in my subject rewards effort more than ability so some very bright kids, who had assumed they could cram at the last minute or just wing it, got a real shock in December. They then knuckled down and learned the content. I also spent a lot of time drilling them in how to tailor their answers to the mark scheme.

If they can do it in a few months then your daughter should have no trouble closing the gap over two years.

My dd2 missed half of Yr 9 due to illness and did pt school until Easter in Yr 10 and got A and A* and one B
It can be done, she wanted the results as heart set on medicine.
We had always believed she would sail through but after she became ill we didn't care.. I took all pressure off, but she drove herself.
It can be done but it's a careful balance particularly if you have a child with mh issues.. You want them to fulfill their potential but are terrified of sending them into a relapse.

It can be done but it's a careful balance particularly if you have a child with mh issues.. You want them to fulfill their potential but are terrified of sending them into a relapse.

^^
this

Thank you everyone who took the time to respond. I really appreciate hearing about your experience, especially the positive ones.

I definitely think your DD could turn it around OP. I did it myself. My school was not the best and during year 9 and most of year 10 I was too influenced by other kids wanting to mess about. Kids who did well were seen as 'geeks/swots.' Anyway something just clicked in me I realised I wanted to go a good college and university. I had already done some of my GCSEs exams and come out with mainly C grades with a couple of D's. I worked really hard and in the end and came out with mainly B's and afew A's.
I realised if I had started this at the beginning of year 10 these grades would have been higher as they were pulled down by my early exams. I then went on to A-levels receiving all A grades and then a red brick Uni

I have taught dozens of kids who arsed about for the first three years of secondary school and then suddenly realised that actually, their teachers weren't talking nonsense and this stuff was important. They started to work hard, took things seriously and the vast majority achieved excellent grades. It is absolutely doable.

Your daughter actually has a head start because the desire to succeed was there all along, and it was only circumstances beyond her control that were limiting her.

I would also second letting her have a real rest over the summer: starting the new school year refreshed and relaxed will be the best start.

OP you've not answered the question about whether it's a 2 or 3 year GCSE course. If 2, there is no problem at all (admittedly DS started the science GCSE in the summer term of year 9). If 3, she's still got 2/3 of the course left.

I’ve known a few bright kids who haven’t really put the work in till year 11 or even after mocks and then do well. If there is a problem lasting through GCSEs but you get into A level then doing well at A level and only applying to uni after the A level results is a good plan. I do not have much faith in the idea of unis deciding things based on GCSEs and predicted A level grades.

WhyamI, I did answer previously at 11:37 - it's a 2 year course.

Only applying to uni after A level results means a gap year, which I'm not sure she'll want to do. I completely agree about not having much faith in deciding things based on GCSEs and predicted grades, but that's realistically what's happening, isn't it?

So sorry Why, the answer is meant for probstime