Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Options when English GCSE unobtainable

33 replies

WatermelonPink · 19/05/2023 19:34

DS (Y10) has been took off English GCSE because he’s not coping and is finding it too challenging. He’s feeling very depressed about his future as English GCSE is a pre-requisite for pretty much everything.

I’m not sure exactly what he’s doing instead but school said it was still a qualification just a lower level than GCSE. DS doesn’t want to do it because he thinks it’s pointless as it’s not a GCSE

Just wondering if anyone has experience on what options and progression routes are available for kids who don’t get their English GCSE?

OP posts:
CatsOnTheChair · 19/05/2023 19:58

If it's functional skills he's been offered, it meets the requirements of an equivalent to a grade 4 GCSE, and I'd snap their hand off for it to be taken age 16, rather than failing a GCSE and having to retake it with whatever he does 16-18.

Rummikub · 19/05/2023 20:04

Is English lit being continued? This can be considered in lieu of English language.

If it’s functional skills level 2 then this can be accepted instead of grade 4 English.

What does he want to do?

Bobbybobbins · 19/05/2023 20:30

Level 2 functional skills can be accepted in place of gcse English for some eg college courses. I am surprised that his school has taken him off English language as it is so fundamental.

clary · 19/05/2023 20:49

Op my DS1 really struggled with English and got E-E in Yr 11 then retook at college and got E again. Luckily he had also taken,and passed Functional Skills L2 which is an equivalent level (tho not breadth) to a C grade (old money) GCSE.

He has had no issue with interviews and jobs on that basis. Not A levels or uni but these would not suit him anyway.

Wish he could have been offered FS level 2 at school as @CatsOnTheChair says. I agree, snap their hands off.

clary · 19/05/2023 20:51

That's assuming it is FS 2 that is being offered. Or it might be level 1, then progress to L 2 in year 11?

BunnySneezes · 19/05/2023 20:54

Has he definitely been taken off English Language, not literature?

If so, functional skills is a very decent alternative and often more accessible.

OutDamnedSpot · 19/05/2023 21:19

Is he definitely being taken off English? Not taken off something else to spend more time on English? It would be very unusual for a school to decide to pull a child out of English: it’s unlikely to be in the best interests of the child, or the school’s results.

longstayer · 19/05/2023 21:44

Try to reassure him. Often there are equivalent qualifications that can be take. Alternatively, persevering means students can get there eventually.

A young person I know felt similar as the idea of GCSE's including maths and English seemed absolutely impossible.

By taking courses that were judged to be equivalent to a GCSE over a couple of years, and admittedly resitting Maths 6 times, they eventually got there.

They are now flying in a job they never imagined they could get.

RampantIvy · 19/05/2023 22:12

Has he been assessed for dyslexia?

WouldYouLikeYourMuffinButtered · 19/05/2023 22:29

My daughter had a similar issue with Maths. She got into college to do the BTEC she wanted to do, but they included Maths GCSE in the 1st year.
The different teaching styles and small group settings really helped, and she passed, even though it took her a bit longer than most.
Maybe research your area to see what alternative routes are available for him.

Original poster
WatermelonPink · 19/05/2023 23:01

Functional Skills looks like it would be better for him. I don’t think it can be level two though because they said it was below GCSE level - maybe level one?

It’s really frustrating because he can read and spell without difficulty. But he has ASD and he can’t just infer meaning from anything. Very poor communication skills.

He’s down to just maths GCSE now. He’s not a maths whizz or anything but he thinks he can pass.

I’ve no idea what he will do next. He’s very good at drawing.

OP posts:
Rummikub · 19/05/2023 23:19

Try not to worry too much. If it is FS level 1 this year then will
it be FS level 2 next year?

There will be options available to him post 16. FE colleges offer courses starting at level 1 in many areas. It could be a good idea to have an open day visit and check out the options.

Apprenticeships are also possible even without maths and English.

Are the school offering vocational qualifications to boost his timetable? Or is he going to college one or two days a week?

Original poster
WatermelonPink · 20/05/2023 11:20

Yes, he’s doing some other subjects such as gardening but they are all at entry level 3. Then he also does DoE (during school time) and there’s time spent on employability/independent living skills

OP posts:
Rummikub · 20/05/2023 11:24

That’s all good. There’ll be options for him at college or apprenticeship level. Or I’ve also seen personal de elopement options post 16.

Toomanyminifigs · 20/05/2023 12:15

Have you thought about applying for an EHCP for your DC? An EHCP can go up to 25 and a good one will provide additional support/funding and better options going forward.
With an EHCP, he would be able to take his GCSEs (or other qualifications) right up to 25. It can also include life skills.

I would look into this asap. The legal test for a needs assessment is really pretty low and it sounds like your DS would meet the threshold.

Has he ever been seen by an educational psychologist? As part of the needs assessment process he will be seen by several experts and they should generate reports about what your DS's barriers to learning are and what additional support he requires.

Is your DS getting extra time/reasonable adjustments for his exams? If he's only doing maths GCSE and now functional skills English, what is he doing for the rest of the school day?

Have you spoken to the school's Senco about support they're putting in place for him?

There's some good info about EHCPs here. If the school aren't supportive, you can apply for one yourself, that's what I did.

https://www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Category/get-support

Toomanyminifigs · 20/05/2023 12:18

Apologies, just seen your reply. It sounds like the school are putting some things in place then in terms of DoE and independent living skills which is good. I would still recommend applying for an EHCP for him though. If he does get one, it will give him more options post16 and it will identify what his barriers to learning are and how best to support him.
There are programmes now for post 16s with EHCPs to encourage them into the workplace and apprenticeships etc.

Handpickled · 20/05/2023 12:27

kids Who are poor at inference to better with Eduqas not aqa. That’s something else you can check?

He will probably be offered Step Up silver or gold award. I can’t imagine he has been taken off Eng Lang - that would be very unusual especially when there is a year to go. The Step up quakes can be done in a very short period of time.

QuintanaRoo · 20/05/2023 12:30

Friend of mine her son failed maths and English and got into the local FE college, I think his first year was at level 2 and he either did gcse resit or functional skills at the same time, then the next year he moved up to level 3. Think it was some sort of electrical engineering course. Then he got an apprenticeship and is doing really well. I’d certainly talk to the fe college about what’s available.

Original poster
WatermelonPink · 20/05/2023 12:37

Thanks - he does have an EHCP but I’m not sure how it really works post-16? So he can go to college until 25?

It’s definitely Language and Literature he’s not doing.

OP posts:
Dontfuckingsaycheese · 20/05/2023 12:38

I teach Functional Skills English at an FE college. I too would advise biting their hand off if this is what is being offered. You say its below GCSE Level but it could be Level 2. It’s just that Level 2 achievement is capped to a Grade 4 whereas GCSE has the potential of achieving a 9. You say he has autism. FS is so much more suited as it’s practical useful English rather than the airy fairiness of a literary leaning GCSE English language. DS smashed it after struggling to achieve GCSE after 2 goes at it. As do our students.

Rummikub · 20/05/2023 12:43

EHCP will be valid in college. It gives more time to achieve. Support is usually better in college too.

And yes agree with pp make sure school is doing adjustments for exams and lessons. These can continue in college.

Original poster
WatermelonPink · 20/05/2023 12:55

That’s good to know. He can read quite well and his writing in terms of spelling, punctuation, and grammar is really good too. When he saw an educational psychologist in Y7 for his EHCP his reading and spelling age came out at 16/17. He actually got greater depth on his Y6 SATS (with extra time and a biscuit/sweet offered between each question).

He’s always struggled with writing longer pieces though. I’ve never known him to write more than a short paragraph.

OP posts:
Rummikub · 20/05/2023 12:59

Some students do better with a scribe. Look into different options with the school.

Rockbird · 20/05/2023 13:07

This is really encouraging as I have a year 10 who doesn't attend school at all. She is still on the books as doing all her GCSEs but she has only done minimal work on maths and English, other teachers haven't made any contact at all with her in 18 months (school are aware of this and don't seem to care). So she may sit maths and English but is very unlikely she'll pass. She is awaiting ASD assessment and has a few other issues but school won't do an EHCP as they say it'll make no difference.

it looks like there is another route to getting qualifications, at the moment we're very downhearted about her whole education.

Swipe left for the next trending thread