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Original poster

Advice please new GCSE result to A level

30 replies

onionsndsage · 09/02/2021 06:19

My son received the GCSE grades given out last summer. He got a 5 in Biology. He then started A levels in September one of them being Biology. After several weeks he was told there had been a mistake and he could no longer study A level Biology because he needed a 6. I knew it was a requirement at his school but thought they must of been more lenient this year due to Covid. I argued his case and he was allowed to 'resit' the exam whilst continuing the A level. The result is due this Thursday, we are terrified in case he hasn't got a 6. He's doing well in his A levels, Biology is his weakest subject but he was predicted a D based on very early observations and that has now gone up to a C. It's hard to see how they come to this after a relatively short time into the 2 year course. So what I'm asking is, is it reasonable to ask them to allow him to continue the A level if he doesn't get the desired GCSE grade? We are all living in unusual times and I'd like to think the school would take this into account. To be predicted at them moment a C at A level (whilst schooling from home) must count for something? I'm trying to prepare myself for the worst case scenario. Communication to the school isn't as easy as pre Covid. Advice please.

OP posts:
AppleKatie · 09/02/2021 06:42

This is the schools fault not his. They shouldn’t have allowed him to start a subject they didn’t want him to complete. Now he is working at a C level that gives you even more ammunition. Of course he will need to continue to work hard (consider revision guides, extra work etc...) but I would fight the school if they thought he should drop now 6 months in. What would they propose he do instead at this point?

Original poster
onionsndsage · 09/02/2021 06:54

Thanks for your reply. I think school have been so busy with everything going on it just passed them by. There has been no communication from the school as to what they expect him to do if he doesn't achieve a 6 other than that he won't be allowed to continue the course. Initially his Biology teacher point blank told him at the end of his lesson he had to leave the course, i really had to fight for them to allow him to sit the exam. It's all unprecedented.

OP posts:
PracticingPerson · 09/02/2021 06:59

I would challenge this very hard and put the n a formal complaint as making this change now will seriously disadvantage your child.

Is he doing four or three subjects?

Have you escalated to the head? I would request they do not remove him from the course immediately but ask for urgent zoom meeting with the head.

I once saw an education solicitor, I got 15 mins free consultation and paid £200 for a letter that resolved my problem.

If they'd prevented him doing the course I would say tough, if you'd lied I'd say tough - if they let him on and now want to kick him off- not ok at all.

Plus the way it was done is dreadful.

clary · 09/02/2021 07:22

Yes I agree with PPs, they can't stop him doing it now bc of something that happened before he started the course.

If he was doing really badly all round then that's a matter for discussion, but if he is working at a C then that's certainly fine and worth doing. It's not one of those MN schools where everyone gets A/A* is it? not real IMO

I would ask the school what they propose and argue strongly that he has proved he deserves to stay.

Friend of ds2's got 5 in one of his A level subjects (2019 so took the exam) and after some discussion on results day was allowed to take it. He's now predicted a C or maybe a D, yes it's his weakest subject but still grade worth having.

AppleKatie · 09/02/2021 07:38

You need to cite their duty of care towards him. To kick him off now when he is passing is detrimental to his future.

I speak as an A level teacher btw. Currently teaching several years 12 ‘non qualifiers’. They wouldn’t be in my class if it wasn’t for the pandemic but the school I work for decided it was unreasonable to stop supporting ‘our’ year 11s in the middle of a pandemic. I have to say I agree, it’s the kindest approach.

Shimy · 09/02/2021 10:05

The whole point of asking for a minimum grade at GCSE as a prerequisite for an A’Level, is to avoid failure but they’re about to be proven wrong. If he is on track for a ‘C’ at A’level at this point, whether he gets a 5 or a 6 in his retake is rather a moot point.

CuckooCuckooClock · 09/02/2021 10:18

Is he doing A levels at the same school he did his GCSEs?
It would be highly unusual for someone who couldn’t manage a 6 at gcse biology to be able to pass A level biology. Biology is really hard.
I sympathise because my school has misadvised some students and now I feel like we are setting them up to fail.
It is interesting that they have predicted him a C and are at the same time telling him he can’t continue on the course. There seems to be a contradiction there. What are they basing the C prediction on?

PracticingPerson · 09/02/2021 10:24

It would be highly unusual for someone who couldn’t manage a 6 at gcse biology to be able to pass A level biology.

This is dependent on whether they didn't get a 6 or couldn't get a 6.

The two things are not the same thing.

CuckooCuckooClock · 09/02/2021 10:33

Yes that’s why I said couldn’t.
The student has now taken the exam in order to remain on the course. If he was not able to achieve a 6 then he probably won’t pass the A level. I know that sounds harsh but I don’t believe in setting people up to fail or giving false hope. I believe in managing expectations. In these circumstances I might advise transferring to applied science btec instead.

PracticingPerson · 09/02/2021 10:37

But he's being graded a C now by his A level teacher.

CuckooCuckooClock · 09/02/2021 10:44

That’s not what OP said. She said he’s being predicted a C now and I asked what they are basing this prediction on.

GravityFalls · 09/02/2021 10:49

I teach A level and if he's already on the course and doing fine I see no reason why he should be kicked off - you can't just "transfer" to a BTEC in February - BTECs do work too and he's missed half the first year! If a student has been in my class since Sept and is doing fine I couldn't give two hoots about their previous grades. GCSE grades are useful and a strong predictor of A level success, so it's reasonable at enrolment to ask for certain grades, but they're not the be all and end all and students certainly can do better than their precious grades suggest.

RedskyBynight · 09/02/2021 10:53

It would be highly unusual for someone who couldn’t manage a 6 at gcse biology to be able to pass A level biology.

Last year's results were not exactly - er - "normal". His school (who know his ability) were clearly happy enough for him to take the A Level. If he's working at a C level now, that seems like a reasonable decision.

CuckooCuckooClock · 09/02/2021 11:01

What subject do you teach gravity?
I teach science A levels and I agree, if his previous science teachers think he’s capable then he may well be but I know at my school, because of how results day was managed, science teachers were not there to give advice on results day. This means that we have some students who have started science A levels who should have been advised not to.
Obviously I can’t say what happened in this case and if he has been properly assessed and predicted a C now then that’s great and he should continue but like I said before, I don’t like to see people set up to fail.

CuckooCuckooClock · 09/02/2021 11:10

Yes he would most probably have to start a btec in September but for a student who enjoys science but isn’t academic enough for science Alevels it can be a good alternative.
No need to be arsey. I was just trying to help.

sashh · 09/02/2021 11:16

I'm not a legal expert but isn't there an implied contract? They took him on to do a course and he is progressing well so what is the reason to kick him off the course?

As already mentioned they also have a duty of care.

RedGoldAndGreene · 09/02/2021 11:36

I think your school is being outrageous saying this in February. They made the mistake so need to suck it up imo.

Going from a 5 to predicted a C is great. C is good enough to use for University purposes so I wouldn't stop the course for that reason too.
My dd is studying A-level biology so I know it's hard but it sounds like your Ds is keeping up.

lanthanum · 09/02/2021 13:35

If he were failing to keep up with the A-level course, then kicking him off now would be fairer than just letting him continue and fail. I think you would have a justifiable grievance against the school for accepting him on a course that he wasn't suitable for.

However if he's managing to keep up fine, then they've not really got any good reason to kick him off. If they did, not only are they diddling him out of the A-level, but they've wasted half a year when he could have been studying a different subject, so again, legitimate grievance. He's going to be in a rather better position to pass biology than another subject in which he has to catch up 4.5 months work.

I think some parents took a private school to court when they kicked their kids off a course halfway through because they weren't doing well enough. Schools should not be allowed to kick kids off a course if they are going to pass (just to protect the school's average grades); only if they really aren't going to pass and would therefore be better having more time to put into their other subjects.

CuckooCuckooClock · 09/02/2021 13:51

But why do you think the reason they want to kick him off is to protect their grades?
If a student gets a 5 at gcse then a C in A level biology that looks fucking amazing for the schools data. I doubt that is the reason.

Original poster
onionsndsage · 09/02/2021 14:19

The school is well known for its pupils achieving high grades at A level. It does feel like they only take pupils who have high GCSE results though. We were on holiday when DS received his GCSE results so maybe that helped him slip through.

OP posts:
RedGoldAndGreene · 09/02/2021 16:07

That makes sense. They screwed up by not mentioning this in September. I'd be insisting that it's too late to change and that he should be allowed to continue.

5 at GCSE to C at A-level would look great for the school's progress score if that holds sway at the school?

Haskell · 09/02/2021 16:33

I'm a little confused as to how he doesn't have his re-sit grade yet, given that they came back in January. Or how they let him join biology with a 5!
But what's done is done, and it certainly isn't fair to boot him off at this point. If he's a D or above, it's definitely worth him continuing.
Schools make mistakes, but we have a duty of care to those on roll, and I know because we've messed up in the past in a similar manner that my establishment would put in extra support around this pupil, not terminate his study.

Original poster
onionsndsage · 09/02/2021 16:41

Haskell The result of the re sit is on Thursday. I'm trying to prepare myself for battle just in case.

OP posts:
Ginfordinner · 09/02/2021 16:48

If he is in year 12 and currently working at a C I think it is very unfair of the school to kick him off the course. DD was working at a C in chemistry at this time of year in year 12. She achieved a B at AS level and an A at A level.

Good luck for the results.

Haskell · 09/02/2021 21:52

Had to look it up, because I was certain we'd had our resit results back; it's iGCSE on Thursday. Sorry, it's been rather a trying year.
Well- here's hoping he gets his 6 and there's no need to even speak to school Star

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