GCSE French, should I push her more or let it go?

[chickensandbees]

DD is in Y10, generally doing well, works hard. She is doing 10 GCSEs and expected grades mainly 7s a couple of 8s possibly a couple of 6s. She's struggling in French though, doesn't enjoy it regrets taking it and at parents evening last night her teacher is happy with her work but thinks she is on target for a 5 and will probably do the foundation rather than higher paper.

I'm not sure if I should just accept this or push her to work harder, try and get on the higher paper, potentially get her a tutor (she would not want this though) or whether I should let it go, accept the 5 or less and let her focus her energy on the subjects she is doing better at and wants to do at A Level or are more "important" e.g. maths.

Any thoughts or advice welcome.

Honestly I'd let her drop it, if the school will allow. She's given it a very good try, as we're in summer term now. Some languages just aren't for everyone, although she might be doing well in a different one. What does the school say? My DC has no GCSE languages and it hasn't closed any doors for them.

I disagree with @Bartholomewphilipswasrobbed Why would you let her drop it? She's on target to pass, so I'd just ease the pressure on her and say a 4 or 5 is fine, do the best you can. If it's not an A level subject, she's clearly very bright in everything else, so I'd just go low pressure with it personally. Unless she is driving this, wants a tutor and to push herself to the higher paper?

We have a similar scenario with Spanish . I am just glad that he’s given the language a go. . So many kids don’t take a language now . In a world where our standing is falling I think that’s short sighted . If DS wants help I will sort out a tutor but otherwise I will let him concentrate on the subjects he’s good at and wants to take forward … he is probably on the 8/9 boundary so any extra time is probably better spent there

No need to drop it (in fact @chickensandbees doesn’t suggest that.

Just let her take foundation, it’s a lot easier and if she is pretty able she will find it a breeze. What odds will it make? None.

Ds took Spanish, was not keen, did little work and got a 6. With work he could have got a 7. He’s just finishing year three of a biology degree so all good, his Spanish grade is not important.

Remember a F 5 is just a 5 on your certificates.

Oh and if she would hate a tutor, please don’t get her one. Miserable for all and I speak as an MFL ex teacher and now tutor!

My son is the same with his German, he’s taking his GCSE this year and is on course for a 4 or 5 foundation. I’ve not pushed it, he’s not interested in it and has no plans to take it further. I’d rather he spent his time on the other subjects.

Agree with those that say let her take foundation. She’s on for a pass so she will be able to say she has a MFL qualification. No one checks the grades later on in life. GCSEs are basically a building block for the next stage of schooling now you can’t leave education fully at that age any more (slightly pointless now IMO but that’s another thread) Seems a shame to quit with that in mind but doesn’t seem worth pushing for more.

As pp have said, a 5 is perfectly acceptable grade. My children would be delighted with that. Just encourage her to continue but don’t push her too much

Thanks everyone, good advice. I'll encourage, support but won't push and if she does the foundation that is fine.

Don‘t push it, let her focus on the other subjects. This is exactly the advice my parents gave me when I was struggling with GCSE German, along with the comment that I would be unlikely to need it in the future. I got a D in the end.
I now live in a German speaking country 😂.

My DD was the same (with Spanish). She never really got on with the subject. It was better just to let her get a 5 and spend her time on her other subjects (particularly ones she wanted to continue later) rather than adding to her stress.

Having one "slightly less good" result has not made the remotest difference to her.

I got a very low grade in French and it didn’t matter at all long term. I was tempted to learn again later in life and was surprised how much was familiar and I picked it up to the level I can order in restaurants etc. no education is wasted and she has probably learned a nice useful amount that she can use if she travels there - focus on that with her

My daughter is like yours. She did very well at GCSE but got a 5 in Spanish, still a good pass, but it wasn't a subject she wanted to take forward. So we didn't put any more pressure on her because she was doing so well in everything else.