DD Maths GCSE Grade 3 - yet again.

[chocolateface]

DD has just competed a BTEC with Triple Distinction Star and is about to start a degree in an arts subject. She's also retaken Maths GCSE and got another Grade 3 (she was one of the years that didn't take GCSE, was awarded a 3, took the exam on the Autumn of 2021, then again in the summer of 2022 and 2023. She's had three hours of maths a week at college, but I don't think a lot of learning went on and she's had a weekly tutor (who seemed very good) for an hour a week since January 2021.

I'm not sure what the best advice to give her now. Should she go to evening classes as the college local to her Uni -if so this year, or next year? Part of me thinks she should just crack on, but it could be too much on top of moving away, having a part time job (shes already secured it) starting a degree course and maybe she should wait a year. Is functional skills Maths respected in the real world, or is it a tick box qualification for employers to say all their employees are competent to a certain level?

Do I just leave it and think if she really wants a Maths qualification she'll do when she's ready.

Yesterday there were tears because she doesn't think she'll ever be employable. DH said in his line of work nobody cares about Maths GCSE, once you have a degree and a bit of experience. I'm not sure how true that is. All I could come up with yesterday is that not having Maths GCSE will save her from going into teaching.

If she's really struggling with maths it might be worth seeing if you can get her assessed for Dyscalculia. I have it and really struggle with maths. I also took my maths g.c.s.e multiple times and couldn't get a C. She'll likely have great strength in other areas and can still be successful if she puts the work in.

I sympathise with your DD. My DD failed 3 times but has managed to achieve a first in her degree and is now doing a masters. She may do functional maths if needed.

Does she get extra time to for exam's.
Have you ever had her asssed by a Senco as for why she struggled in maths what support hss.
You said she has dyslexia?
What support does she have with that?

The maths tutor... Are they sen trained, sen experience?

When someone is struggling liked this you need a complete different approach and unfortunately I don't think school or college can do it unless teacher has sen experience.

@MrsAnon6.. Does having dyscalcula excuse you from having passed it

One of my relatives is a teacher and doesn't have maths GCSE. She got functional skills in the end - after her degree and before her PGCE - after repeated failed attempts at GCSE. (She doesn't teach a subject where there is any need for maths. And has an excellent degree in an arts subject).

Sorry to ask, but can you go to uni without maths GCSE?

It depends on the uni and the course but yes you can.

It will only be a barrier if she wants to go into nursing, teaching, social work etc. I have a first in health and social care and no maths but I want to be a teacher. Back to evening classes I go. It’s so depressing when I don’t even want to teach maths.

I would strongly suggest she looks at functional skills level 2. I work with a lots of adults who achieve this in the 30s and 40s and take many attempts to do so, but it is much easier than a GCSE and just as widely recognised.

I manage a team who deliver this to students 1-1, feel free to PM me for more information (absolutely not a sales pitch but easier to explain the different in content between the two quals)

@Bacardibreezeblock

No idea how she’s managed to do that. Every provider near me wants a GCSE in maths. They don’t allow functional skills.

@boysmuminherts - yes some courses in the arts do accept students onto degree courses without Maths GCSE. I was surprised to discover this. Courses that require an audition or portfolio can offer an unconditional place, so theoretically someone could achieve a degree with not brilliant level 2 and 3 qualifications, if they can practically demonstrate they have talent and potential.

The government are considering only offering student finance to those with certain qualifications though - I think Maths and English GCSE is included in that, which is why DD refused to take a year out. She was scared if she left it too long and didn't pass Maths she wouldn't get a student loan. I don't think DD was correct though; I think if she had a certain number of UCAS points she'd still receive a loan under the governments proposals.

I don't think a dyscalculia diagnosis would be worth the money, and tbh I don't think she has dyscalculia. I do think she has ADD, and is on the NHS waiting list, so if I was going to spend money on something it would be a private assessment for that.

A friend of mine wanted to do a PGCE in PrimaryTeaching, but was struggling to pass a Science GCSE. The university she applied to allowed her to take an internal test and she passed, and they've accepted her into the course. I'm guessing some could be the same with Maths.

@chocolateface thanks for that info and good luck to your DD

Another one saying functional skills is the route to go down. I failed maths 4 times at school - unclassified. Did degree. Same job for 20 years then made redundant. Needed maths even though I had a degree. Did functional maths (two levels) and then did GCSE ( for myself really) and got a level 5!!!!! Something I thought I'd never achieve!

I think it's criminal that the government are pushing so hard for all teenagers to gain a pass at GCSE level, when the reality is your daughter will never need it: particularly if she's following an Arts route.

My 16 year old has been accepted onto an Art course at college without needing maths and although she'll have to take it alongside the course, the reality is she won't need it so it's extra stress.

I had to retake my Maths 20 years ago in order to get onto a teaching degree, but none of my friends in other careers have ever been asked if they have their Maths GCSE which says it all!

I hope your daughter goes on enjoy her next steps without the worry of maths looming over her.

@chocolateface

They are equivalency tests and you pay around 150 pounds for them. They’re basically the same as a maths GCSE in terms of content and knowledge. I’ve worked as an unqualified teacher, teaching health and social care, PSHE and sociology. I have dyscalculia which makes a maths test very hard. I’ve never used maths at work in the subjects I’ve taught so it’s disheartening. A big barrier.

I think it was different when they had the skills tests instead (pre about 2019)- then there were routes in without doing GCSE Maths, which helped people who hadn't been educated in the UK get into teaching. However, they got rid of the skills tests because they were off-putting for too many people and some people couldn't pass them because of the style.

Now (from the experience of friends) it seems like GCSEs are pretty much required even if you have equivalents from outside the UK, so people are still shut out. Not sure it has really helped.

I have a degree and 2 postgrads without a C grade maths GCSE

That might have been it. This was about 2012.