What to do if DD doesn't get the grades she needs?

[flexiblebenefit]

DD2 is getting her GCSE results on Thursday. For context she had a terrible lockdown- went into it right as we were trying to tackle her significant mental health problems (anorexia, self harm, depression). We eventually also got an ADHD diagnosis but it took a long time to stabilise the medication. Basically year 1 of GCSEs with online learning in the middle of this chaos were a disaster.

I'm incredibly proud oh her. She's now a healthy weight, and the adhd meds really assisted her in school which in turn helped her self esteem and improved the depression. She's a different person. However.... there was a mountain to climb with her GCSEs and I don't think she will have got there.

She sat IGCSE History so got the results early last Thurs. She hated history and her teacher was very dry and just provided vast chunks of text to learn which she struggled hugely with. She basically had to start the course from scratch about a month before the gcse once I realised how bad her history knowledge was. However she worked very hard (ADHD focus!) but only for about 6 days in total. She got a 5.

Her school want a min 6 grade 6 grades for 6th form. She is dreadful at maths (really a 5 would be the best we can hope for) and not great at Chem and biology so it's very touch and go if she'll manage this.

She has another offer for a different school of 8 grade 5 and above with 6s in the A level subjects. Again, very touch and go.

I while ago I suggested looking at other options (Betec/ apprenticeship) but she got very anxious. She's a lot better but really wants the security of her current school. She'll do ok at A level- she's good enough at the subjects she wants to take so that doesn't concern me once she's in.

My question is- if she doesn't get the grades for either school what's the process? Do we just phone round other schools and hope for the best?

Would resist be looked on poorly by HE/ employers in the future?

I'm absolutely terrified for her. I'm so worried this will cause a relapse/ cause her to spiral. I know we need a plan but have no idea what that plan should be and DD won't discuss it without getting anxious.

There is the right of appeal if she does not get the necessary grades. Is a formal process with an independent panel, similar to the one for children who did not get a place in Y7.
The school may be unaware and will need to act quickly so if you think this may be an option, do your research before the results come out.
It is para 3.17 of the appeals code that directly refers to such appeal assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/275897/school_admission_appeals_code_1_february_2012.pdf

Thank. Helpful. Both schools are very oversubscribed which isn't ideal....

Does she definitely have the potential to do better? My school has similar entry requirements and the kids that struggle to get there often really struggle with a level as it's such a big step up in terms of content, but also workload and independent learning. Obviously it depends on the subject and the student, but I'd check out alternatives too. Does she know what she wants to do?

I'd do some research online today.

Look online at entry requirements for other schools, and also see if there are any colleges within 1 hour that do A levels as they have more flexible requirements.

Then on the day you have a better idea as to who to contact first. (I'd start with the one with the lowest entry requirements for what she wants and work up, a bird in the hand and all that.)

With her history you may find some places may be more flexible as to grades.

Those are very high admissions requirements. Might she be better off in a school where there is less pressure?

Her projected grades for her A level subjects are 6-9. The school honestly felt they couldn't say as she was doing well at the end but had no real history to draw on.
She got an 8 in her mock for one and a 7 for the other and this was before lots of revision. The 3rd will be business studies which the school recommended.

Sorry I've reread your op and realised that my contribution isn't very helpful. It might be worth calling around other schools now so you can get an idea of their entry standards, as well as how many spaces they have. Would you be able to afford a small private sixth form with low entry criteria? it may make the day itself slightly less stressful if you have a plan B in mind. She doesn't necessarily have to know that right now.

Pressed sent too soon! I think her A level subjects will be fine. So does the school. However they are very oversubscribed and I I know via a friend that SLT are anxious they will have too many children getting the grades this year so not a lot of wiggle room

Not unhelpful! It did make me think. I wasn't aware these were high requirements.

We're in west london. Local private school wants 5 grade 7 and above. I could look into private colleges more centrally but it'll be a lot for her- travelling to central london, new school etc. I also have some doubts about a lot of these places- they tend to attract rich but troubled kids....

Honestly in many ways I'm kicking myself. I really thought an apprenticeship in something marketing/ sales/ PR related would have really suited her. She's very popular, very charismatic, very good at using her words, and now she has learned techniques to manage the adhd she's very organised. There's a list in a notebook for everything! However she just wasn't emotionally ready for it, and the school said she'd be fine and now here we are.

How supportive and understanding are the school with regards girls' presentation of ADHD and mental health in general?

Your daughter is diagnosed and medicated and predicted to get high enough gcse grades in the subjects she will do at A level. I would expect the school to make an allowance for your DD given the circumstances and her diagnosis. Have you contacted them to specifically ask the question?

I would suggest speaking frankly to your current school in the first instance. If they know she is capable and underperformed due to other factors, they may be inclined to be lenient in terms of entry criteria.

Op they do seem high, certainly compared to the local schools here, (SW England), many of which - state and private - have non-selective sixth forms. My dd has had MH issues over lock down and has totally taken her eye off the ball. She'll be lucky to get the five passes required for her leafy comp. 😫

I hope your dd is ok. If she's been assessed and diagnosed then can her school make allowances for her? She sounds really bright - history is hard and given the circumstances a 5 is brilliant!

If the classes have space they might well be flexible. If they are very popular full classes eg English then perhaps not.

local colleges can be amazing at a levels and pastoral support so do check them out for your own peace of mind.

Speak to someone in person at her current school too if that’s what she wants most - don’t just discount it on the basis of what a friend of a friend has told you.
They might have flexibility for a student that they know, especially if they saw the improvements and focus once her meds were sorted.

I haven't no.

They weren't brilliant- some teachers were but it was very touch and go. She also got quite a lot a demerits for not completing work etc during lockdown (when she was curled in a foetal position sobbing in her room) and they weren't great about it.

Basically she was managed and tolerated but won't have huge support from teachers saying "we must have mini-flexible benefit she's lovely". She wasn't lovely. She was sad, weepy, angry, disengaged and depressed. And weighed 6.5 stone at 5foot 7.
It worries me that they'll just take the opportunity to fill the space with a child who got the grades and has no struggles in their past.

I've put off emailing as I'm not sure what good it will do. Im doing a plan either way and if I get a firm "no exceptions" it'll just depress me more. I'm planning for them saying that anyway but will fight it especially if she's only a bit off which is likely.

Have you looked at a Buiness BTEC? (a level 3 Extended Diploma is 3 A levels equivalent and she could go on to do a related degree with this.)

The problem with where we are is that most schools are oversubscribed. A neighbours son failed to even find a place a few years ago. There aren't any colleges either. It's schools or nothing unless she wants to travel to Hammersmith!

I'm in Hants. It isn't unusual here for kids to travel 45-60mins to college, whether for A levels or BTECs. (We don't have school based 6th forms.) I'd have thought you could get quite far in an hour door to door in London.

Have you considered applying for an EHCP for her? She has a confirmed diagnosis that impacts her ability to learn and develop. This should be recognised formally with a documented plan including support strategies in order for her to achieve her full potential.

It will be too late to have one in place for September but it may be worthwhile starting the process.

I don't think those entry requirements are high. It's because as everyone says, A levels are significantly more intense.
Your daughter is a special case, though not unique and I'm surprised that the school, if they are confident she will succeed at Alevels (and has done very well in mocks for two of the subjects), that they don't treat students that have had issues like hers on a case by case basis. Have they not made any suggestions or have they said flat out if she doesn't get the grades she's out?
Alternatively, could she resit? I don't know how that works as an option, and it would put her a year out.
If the school rejects her then you must have a plan B. Even if she rejects the idea now, do some research about those alternatives you think may suit her, and look at any other schools/colleges that she may be able to go to.
I knew my son would not get the grades he needed to stay on for A levels, and there was a very obvious (to me) alternative. He had physically transformed himself from a chubby 13 year old to a sporty fitness fanatic, was great with people, and a fitness instructor/personal trainer seemed to fit his interests and personality. But it took a long time to get him around to the idea. Not sure what in his head was stopping him - he didn't want to stay at school, but maybe it was all he knew and couldn't picture what it would be like elsewhere.
Good luck. In the end all you can be is supportive, but having a few ideas already mapped out will help.

If she has no flexibility and neither does the school, then potentially you have a problem.

If she's as bright as you say, I hope the school will know that and let her in even if she doesn't meet all her grades (although potentially that leaves them in trouble with others they kick out ie. "@flexiblebenefit 's daughter was allowed to stay on with those grades; why isn't mine?".

If they don't show this understanding and kindness I would question whether it was the right environment for a teen recovering from mental health crisis.

One thing you should prepare for: at schools I know well currently, they'll often let kids with less good grades back into 6th form only by specifying the subjects they will offer them, so that is something you need to think about.

If it's a very academic school they might look at her best grades and offer her places on those subjects only, regardless of preference. Or they might let her in only for subjects where they want to fill up classes.

In a more inclusive school, they often try and steer low-achieving students away from sciences and traditional academic subjects and towards gentler ones - textiles, sociology, RS were favourites for these kids at DD's school.

Good luck on Thursday. Have some alternatives up your sleeve. There are a lot of positives about going to college vs staying at school - much more freedom and independence, fewer rules, being treated like an adult. It might suit her better and do her good to meet some new people.

"Laughs bitterly"
It is basically impossible to get one. We've tried until school said not to bother as the focus was all on people with more significant and presenting issues.

Being a sad panicked girl quietly breaking down gets you nowhere. The lad who assaulted a dinner lady and threw a desk at the gym teacher got one though as have most of the lads with Autism. Not her autistic female friend though who covers better but is quietly desperate.

It's a shit show. We sold DHs car to pay for her therapy as CAHMS got us nowhere. She's still on the waiting list 3 years after being put on it.

Huge sympathy for you and your daughter.

I would look at 6th form colleges seriously and see if the journey is viable. I traveled 80 minutes door to door for 6th form college. Often their timetables are freer or they start later so it's not comparable to school hours 5 days per week.

My DD went to a 6th form college and the pastoral support is amazing. She didn't need it but the teachers are free to teach and they employ separate pastoral staff who become experts in the 16-19 age group. There's drop in counseling and a tutor who has your back.

re EHCP. Does she still have SEN that school aren't managing? If so she should in theory qualify for an EHCP. Did you get as far as applying or were you blocked by the school? You can apply for a needs assessment yourself and you 'just' have to show SEN & school not managing. The SEN board were very helpful when we applied for DD (anxiety & other issues) a year ago. But she was, I think, possibly worse than your DD is now.

Those are both very high requirements. If you're in West London you should have lots of choice - get a list together today as others have suggested, schools and sixth form colleges within an hour. I'm not familiar with W London, but Richmond college, Esher, Hammersmith maybe feasible? I'd have four back up in my pocket for her. One very low that offers similar to her desired A levels but with perhaps a BTEC or two thrown in, up to five grade 5s to do the A levels she wants. It's very late to be finding back ups but hopefully websites will tell you if they are accepting applications.