Solidarity corner for parents of Y11 "Triers"!

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz]

Just that really ... 5 weeks to go and lord working her socks off, enjoys most subjects but I'm being realistic here (no SEN,just always found most subjects an uphill struggle ) - results may not reflect effort. I'm still so bloody proud of her.

It breaks your heart a bit doesn't it?

My DD2 does not have a GCSE pass to her name.
So much effort on English and maths.
Breaks my heart sometimes.

The effort they put in doesn’t come out in a simplistic exam grade measure. But that effort and attitude and determination that they have will see them bloom in other tasks later, in other environments. Not everyone has the “failed my GCSEs now I’m a millionaire” story, but I see young adults in my family doing well and being happy in their jobs, where they’re successful and are valued in the role they have. Good luck to all Y11s in this position (and crossing my fingers my niece gets a pass in English and Maths, or at least one of those!)

She does! Level 1 passes...such a shitty system that labels them failures.

The trouble is, you’re used to seeing that everyone on MN has a child who is academically able.

The law of averages dictates that this can’t be true. There is a range of ability and if someone is below the average, it doesn’t make them a failure. Working hard and making an effort is good training for future life anyway.

My son’s science teacher made me cry when she told me he was a pleasure to have in the class ( bottom set) because he worked hard and didn’t participate in nonsense. You should see him now.

Oh I know. I couldn't be bothered to put in the disclaimers.
DD should have done part of functional skills English yesterday but we pulled her out, as my 87yo Mum is in hospital and I am away. She seems destined for exam disruption.

But is doing well with career direction of animal care. Dogs don't mind if you can spell or not.

Bless them, but pointless having exams everyone could pass they are there to distinguish students according to there ability on the day they were taken.
Lots do very well at vocational skills where GCSES play no relevance.

Try not to over think it, hope hope college is kinder to them.

I wanted to post in support as this was me 2 years ago. My son has severe dyslexia and a very flaky academic profile, but always tried. His mock test results (particular English and Maths) were not great. But he got a solid set of grade 4's which were enough to get him onto the college course he wanted. He is now Y2 and flying. He got a part-time job in his industry and his employer is really pleased with him. I really agree with the poster above who mentioned effort, attitude and determination. It didnt come easy at all and the amount of support that I needed to give to encourage and motivate was tiring. But the day he got his results - I was hysterical in the true meaning of the word. The relief was overwhelming - so many years of struggle, friend issues, different schools but he is now on his path and thriving.

@Skybluepinky but it is possible to have exams everyone can pass - if you have a system that values vocational education and funds it properly, so that young people whose talents lie in that direction can choose that path, do well in the functional skills that they need to support their skills training, start working towards a trade that suits their skill set. It's our one size fits only a few system that is the problem here.

As noble pointed out grades 1-3 are passes, just level 1 passes.
It isn't so much an issue of having standards, as it is unfair to keep putting kids in for exams that are beyond them.
DD has got do disheartened re English that the other day she said 'when I fail this ...', it has blown her confidence sitting long exams and not getting to the 4.
Better imo to put less able in for functional skills which is relevant and useful than resitting gcse ad infinitum (or until leaving college at least).

Awww thanks everyone. Some kind, sensible and reassuring words here, I'm grateful.

❤️

That's so brilliant! I think I know what you mean about the relief!

Better imo to put less able in for functional skills which is relevant and useful than resitting gcse ad infinitum (or until leaving college at least).

Yes this. So much this. Student in my form who was so lovely but was in tears in year 11 at the prospect of Eng Lit "I just don't get it miss" - spoke to the Eng lit teacher who said "they won't get a 1" Me "wtaf is the point of them doing the exam then?" [I didn't actually say that obvs]

Thankfully student in question went on to a great apprenticeship working with animals where their lack of knowledge and understanding of Macbeth is not so much an issue.

Makes me so angry, WHY don't we allow a small %age of DC who will not come close to a 4 n Eng lit just drop it and do FS instead? My DS2 has three Es in English. What was the point? He got a pass in L2 FS tho.

Yes agree too Teen - think I know you from the other thread? > waves < -

DH and I had an honest chat tonight just us that whilst her recent mocks all either showed grades maintained or slightly improved (maths she has got from a 2 to a 3 - god she's working so hard on this) realistically she isn't likely to get what she needs for 6th firm but cozied get them for college, plan B.

We're not going to share this with her at this stage as I think it would do more harm than good but support like mad, celebrate or commiserate as appropriate then help her from there.

And like so many of you have said, regardless of the outcome, she has the attitude and grit for it to probably not really matter in 10 years!

Right - it's been an emotional day and I've had wine so I'm off to bed. Thanks everyone again a and night night!

Dogs don't mind if you can spell or not.

//

Meant to say - I bloody love this!

I am going to say something I wouldn't have said at the start of y10, but with insight of being post y13.

I don't think it works in some kids favour to just scrape a 3 in maths/eng lang unless needed for course entrance criteria.

Getting the 3 means they have to resit the gcse, but in maths at least grade 3 has quite a wide band and getting a scraped 3 up to a 4 is a mammoth task.

However it depends on what the college's policy is. Is it level 1 fs followed by gcse, or level 1 fs followed by level 2 fs.

Also grade 3s may well be the requirement for level 2 vocational courses.

I was a teacher and i used to say to my school kids that there are far more options open to them nowadays if they don’t get the grades they want than years ago. The pressure some other subject teachers would put on them was wrong, making out they would really mess their lives up by not getting good grades.

If one door closes, just bang another one down, was one of my favourite sayings. Theres the chance to resit, Theres apprenticeships, theres functional skills courses… there is something for everyone.

Please remind your kids that these are just exams and in the grand scheme of things, if they mess them up, it wont stop them being successful in other areas.
A kid going into an exam relaxed and confident is going to do better than one in a state of anxiety about it.

Re @clary comment above re Macbeth.

I agree, however it makes me happy that my DD has a competent knowledge of the Scottish play, despite not being at school for y11 and not being taught it. I love the play and had taken her to see it in y10 both live and the rsc live cinema screening. She can quote bits. I feel that despite only doing teacher assessed gcse in 4 subjects, she does have knowledge gained at secondary, even without the certificates.

(That said it is ironic she has some kind of level1 certificate for French which she dropped end of y9, despite never properly getting past bonjour je m'appelle xxx)

It seems so unfair doesn't it for kids who struggle, to make a 4 so hard to get? I was feeling really positive about what she's achieved since November and now I feel like , nope, probably still screwed

We are where we are now. I've had to let go of the anger I feel towards her school who I think have left her to flounder for years despite me pretty much begging for help. It's not healthy to hold on to feeling like that!

I guess now all we can do is support and keep pushing her and if it's t's a disaster we'll get her through it in some shape or form !

It won’t be a disaster, because trying hard and working hard shows resilience and determination and you’ll be proud of her because she made an effort.

You are right Blue. I guess I meant disaster more in her eyes?
But yes - I'm already so proud of her ... she is in the kitchen doing Corbett maths with her dad as I type! Going to look at a pre loved prom dress shop after lunch as a reward

Yes agree with @Bluevelvetsofa deffo doesn't sound like a disaster to me. Yes it can be dispiriting to put in the work and still not get what others achieve - but the work has certainly lifted her grade, and taught her resilience and a good ethic around effort. Best of luck to her.

Cheers Clary

The 6th form at my son’s school wouldn’t have him because his predicted grades weren’t good enough (and neither were the real ones). He went to college, did a foundation year, then a more extensive qualification. He learned to drive, worked hard in a supermarket, who wanted to put him on their management programme and after a couple of years and more qualifications at college, got a place at university. Not a Russell Group one, but with a good reputation for subsequent employment.

I don't think it works in some kids favour to just scrape a 3 in maths/eng lang

We've talked about resits a lot, and I think you're right in that it forces them on to the GCSE resit instead of functional skills which they probably have a better chance of achieving. Perhaps schools should be able to make a professional judgement? Or something like they have to resit the GCSE in November to give them another chance at a 4 and then schools can make a professional judgement based on the outcome?

The problem is obviously that the GCSE is such a valuable qualification.

That's absolutely amazing, you must be massively proud of him and so good to hear stories like this, thanks x