Options for children who may not pass GCSEs

[lovelymama]

My DD is in year 8 at an independent school. She is severely dyslexic and finds maths really difficult as well. We support her with her work and we chose a school to give her the best chance of reaching her potential. GCSEs are still a few years away but bcsude se is working at such a low level Im trying to plan ahead - what if she just doesn't get to the level to pass her GCSEs? Are there other options for children in this situation? I know she won't be the only child who faces this possibility.

She works hard, is loved by her teachers, no behaviour issues. So it's not for lack of trying or that she's lazy. She just finds so many things hard 😢

Folowing as potentially similar situation with ADHD DS.

There are foundation certificates for very weak students as an alternative to GCSE maths and English- but she may end up just trying the GCSEs anyway. Until GCSE she will probably just do similar stuff to other students- and I think that's a good idea.

Post-16, things get very different. There are loads of alternative courses for students- mainly in colleges. They will often continue resitting English and maths until 18, but will do another apprenticeship style course alongside. Popular ones at the colleges near us are childcare, mechanics, hospitality, animal care. The courses are available at a range of levels. I know there are about 200 'English gcse resits' each year from one college. Yes, some students never pass.

There are courses in both English and Maths called functional skills - there are different levels going up to GCSE equivalent. DS is severely dyslexic and doing this along side his GCSES.
Post 16 - colleges will offer retakes in English and Maths if needed. There will also be courses available at level 1 which is pre GCSE, level 2 which is GCSE level and level 3 which is A level equivalent. There are options available.

My DD passed zero GCSEs, due to missing y11 with MH issues in lockdown, she did however get 4 x grade 3 from assessments sat at home. The world didn't end. She ended up on a Level 1 course at college, she qualified for the Level 2 course but wasn't well enough to cope.

Level 2 is 'GCSE level'. They tend to be 1 year courses and from there a student can progress to a 2 year Level 3 (A level standard) course but there may be English & maths requirements.

Level 1 is below GCSE level. In fact DD did a Level 1 'portfolio based' course last year, resat English (3 again) and this year is doing a slightly harder Level 1 'assessment based' course in the same subject and will sit Eng & Maths. If she gets a Merit this year she can if she wants progress to the Level 2 course next year if well enough.

Below Level 1 there are entry level courses.

wrt English & Maths GCSEs there are Functional skills courses for those who didnt get a 3 at GCSE.

OP - you need to look at what your local FE colleges offer, and at their entry requirements. DD is at agricultural college, which is where she would have gone even if she hadn't been ill.

I would be great if you could get the school to teach/offer functional skills alongside GCSE. Most of the pupils I know who needed this have had to wait until after GCSEs to try them, which then delays their entry into whatever course they want to do that needs that level. I think there is a requirement that they have to be offered GCSE, so most schools will focus on that, but I'm not sure there is anything that says that they can't also do functional skills in Year 11.

Have you spoken to the school about what access arrangements will be put in place to help her - some have to have been used by the pupil in the run up to the exams but might not be discussed until around Yr 10. For example using a computer to type rather than write, having a scribe, having a spell checker (they don't tend to use this in English though as it automatically takes away so many marks) having a reader (either human or using technology - but cannot be used in the reading section of the English paper), having extra time, having coloured sheets (or maybe she already has coloured glasses). If she is severely dyslexic she could get as much as 25% extra time.

having a reader (either human or using technology - but cannot be used in the reading section of the English paper),

You can use a computer reader for the English Language paper extracts, just not a human one.

Does DD have an EHCP?

Entry Level qualifications come in 3 levels. Entry 1 being the easiest and Entry 3 the most difficult. These come in a range of qualifications such as functional skills, AQA units, diplomas, skills for life.

Level 1 qualifications are equivalent to GCSEs grade 1-3.

Definitely look at all the access arrangements available to your daughter. It's often possible for students with real difficulties to achieve Grade 4s with the right support and exam arrangements.

In terms of Post-16, look at your local colleges. They will likely offer a range of level 2 subjects as well as level 3 vocational courses. Some colleges will allow students to start level 3 courses whilst retaking English or maths if they have Grade 4s/5s in other subjects (or equivalents).

Most colleges of this kind will offer BTECs currently (as well as other similar qualifications)- at level 3, a full time course is equivalent to three A-levels, but assessed via coursework and exams, taken at a slower pace and with a lot more support than at A-level. These courses can lead to uni, or apprenticeships or work.

There are also apprenticeships out there which young people can start at 16, and this is the right option for some of them- but they do need to be ready to cope with a working environment, and may get a bit less support. These often suit students who are good practically, even if they struggle with exams.

Anyway, there are loads of options out there and your local post-16 college will be able to advise on possible routes, even if they don't offer the right course for your daughter. Does she have any specific interests e.g. Sport, Art, etc?

I would have her accessed for extra help eg scribe, extra time (depending on her assessment results this could eg be 50% extra time.)

DD is in Year 10 at a mainstream school. She's doing GCSEs but is unlikely to pass them. Like yours, she works uber hard but everything is just so difficult. We chose this school for their SEN provision and they've been brilliant. She is currently doing Entry Level 3 in Maths and English alongside everyone else in learning support in her year. That will finish in Jan and will give her a cushion if she fails to get a 4 at GCSE. They do GCSEs as normal, this lesson is when everyone else is in MFL.
We've just been to the open evening to the college she wants to go to and we know the path she can take if things go really badly, if things go ok and if things go super well. I am much less worried now, as is she.
I would suggest you go to your local college now, when they're running the open evenings. I wish I went when she was younger as I was so worried needlessly. Some areas have better provision. We're in London so spoilt for choice but it's a good idea to get your head around the offering as they will be talking to you about this once she's in year 9.

I wondered how things worked out for your DD OP. My DS is in a similar position.

Our large state school offers a whole range of more vocational options.