Should DD forget A levels? Latest GCSE mocks 4’s and 3’s

[Michiamo]

DD latest mocks results aren’t great.

She was planning to do A levels in sociology ( predicted 3- so out of the question)
geography (predicted 4)
Psychology (doesn’t do GCSE).

Do people just wait and see how the real results are before deciding?

Shes predicted a 3+ for English language so presumably that will be a resit?!

It’s all a bit depressing. Not sure if she has a learning blockage or just can’t be arsed. She is revising sometimes but she’s not exactly a grafter.

We’re in London where it seems you have to get 5’s to even get a 6th form place (she’s planning to stay at her school).
Perhaps vocational courses may be best for her.

Advice welcome!

Those grades do not predict success at A level. Are they a surprise? What vocational courses have you looked at?
You may find that even T-levels have higher entrance requirements and she may need to start with a Level 2 course for a year first.

I would look into other options and there are lots of paths to a successful and fulfilling life. A-levels are very academic and it sounds like they are not the best fit for her. Look into all the options, including apprenticeships and take it from there. I'm wishing her all the best.

A student with a profile of 3s and 4s at gcse would normally not succeed at A level and so if she gets those results many A level settings - colleges or school sixth forms - will not admit her.

If she can manage to get a 4 in English and maths she at least will not need to resit.

Psychology level requires statistics which is quite complicated. If she's struggling to pass maths it might not be a good choice anyway.

Students with these profiles are usually going on to do BTECs or vocational courses.

I'd suggest if you haven't already looking into a plan B,

Thankyou everyone.

We haven’t even looked at any vocational courses,but I think we should.
it’s difficult as she doesn’t know what she would like to do as a career.

Even if somehow she does get enough in the way of GCSE grades for A level I think it’s clear that it’s not the right pathway for her.
I remember the huge jump from GCSE to A level,you’re not spoon fed any more.

There are hardly any places locally that do T levels (and also they’re being phased out aren’t they?).

Her previous mocks were also low ish so this is not a huge surprise but with some harder work I know she could do better.

There aren't many places that do T levels but if you are in London you may find one.

They are very work oriented and have compulsory placements so wouldn't be my first choice for someone who didn't know what they wanted to do.

BTEC is probably the better option. Lots if people get in with the coursework and ongoing assessment in BTECs and they can lead to going to uni,

At my DC's school the minimum GCSEs required to be able to do A levels are 5s for maths and English Language (regardless of subjects studied) and a 6 or 7 in some subjects, for the actual A levels - unless there's some unusual mitigating circumstances as to why a pupil did much less well than expected at GCSE. They don't say that because they are mean, but because they know that pupils who haven't been able to achieve higher grades at GCSE are very unlikely to do well at A level and would be better taking a different direction. There are exceptions of course, but generally that's the case and it doesn't do the pupil any good to spend 2 years studying courses they will probably find a struggle to sit exams they are unlikely to pass. To put it into context, my DS is about to do A levels in subjects he got 7,8 and 9 at GCSE in and he found the transition really hard, especially in the subject he "only" got a 7 in. He's worked incredibly hard at school,and with a private tutor and he's hoping for a B but knows a C is quite likely.
There are lots of other good, valid options that a less academic young person may well excel at. School - Alevels - University is not the only way to make a success of life so I would encourage your DD to think about her strengths and how she can best develop those.

She needs a minimum of 4 at English and Maths to progress to level 3 (A level or vocational) and often at least three other gcse passes. Otherwise she will need to resit them alongside a level 2 course. Psychology contains a lot of maths, is it really a wise choice to pursue?

I think that will be hard. Maybe chave a look around at some options. The problem with vocational courses is that not many are generic enough, but maybe something not so narrowly career focused like business studies btec. If she fails English or maths I presume she'll have to go to college to resit if they don't do it at the school. It's btecs that are being phased out, not T Levels, but they are still a valid qualification if she finds one she likes. She may need to take the long way round if she wants to do A Levels. It's hard

T levels are the replacement for the level 3 extended diploma BTECs. Many of yhe latter are being refunded.

Have a look around what the local offers are, anything up yo say 1hr away.
Think what her interests are.
Go from there.
You have left it a bit late, but far better to be thinking now or by end June, than only end August.
There may well be open days for colleges before they break for the summer, we went to one last night.

She has never wanted to go to Uni,so at least that’s something going by her grades!

It’s frustrating as I know she could do better. Not 8/9’s but she is capable of passing everything.

I agree psychology will be way too much for her.

Her grades were higher back in year 10 which is why we all assumed A-levels would be on the cards and then didn’t pursue looking at colleges or vocational courses.
I’m not making excuses,just being honest!

Thats interesting that it’s the Btecs not the T levels being phased out. They really need to up the T level provision then,pretty scarce here.

my DS is predicted similar grades - 3/4/5s. He is hoping to do a Level 2 course in Animal Management, a complete curveball from the earlier plan of History and Sociology A levels. After the Level 2 year, who knows! But I am much more relaxed now, I've had a word with myself that he'll find his thing eventually. Is there a one year Level 2 course she can do to step back and have a think for a year?

B-TECs certainly seem like the best option. I’m glad you’re actively acknowledging that A-Levels are not the route for your child. I’ve seen far to many parents shell out big money on tutors at GCSE so their DC can get the grades for Sixth Form just to watch in horror as their DC spends 2 years struggling for poor grades when they would have been far more successful going the vocational route. I’d have a look at Health and Social Care B-Tec if it’s available near you, based of what she wanted to pick for A-Level it might be a good choice for your DD.

If she was predicted better in Y10, and wants to do something (not A levels) that requires 4s and above, maybe some resits in GCSEs would get her the grades she's capable of.

The government is currently in something of a stand off with the further education colleges and Pearson.

They developed T levels and very few colleges are offering them because they are expensive to run and a pain in the arse to find placements for.

So the government have responded by threatening to defund BTECs.

Currently it is a game of chicken.

@yawnanotherone that’s great your ds has a plan,hopefully my dd can have one too.

@abignael I totally agree! A friend’s son is struggling through year 13 at the moment,it just wasn’t the right thing for him.

@Octavia64 That is very frustrating and not good for many young people at the moment.

Your local colleges will have prospectuses online so why not have a look together? There must be interesting courses related to her interests.

Have you ever had her assessed for any additional needs? If it turns out she does have some she could have support put in for College and have a more successful time. It will also give her a bit of validation and self esteem boost rather than think she just can't 'do' studying. There are a larger number of additional needs than just dyslexia or the other more well known ones that can impact studying particularly those that affect Executive Function

As others have said A levels for a grade 1-4 student is just setting them up to fail. Spent some time this evening looking at options at local colleges but also apprenticeships offered by employers.

This article has a link to which BTECs are being defunded

feweek.co.uk/confirmed-dfe-will-chop-all-courses-that-compete-with-wave-3-t-levels/#:~:text=In%20May%2C%20the%20government%20published,and%20engineering%20and%20manufacturing%20qualifications.

Any idea why she's not worked as hard as you think she could? Whatever she goes on to do, she'll need some motivation and work ethic. Anything else going on in her life that might have impacted on her performance/capacity for studying? Would definitely address her willingness to work and consider any possible cognitive issues before deciding anything. Does she read ok?

Just want to offer a bit of support. I started a post earlier in the year when my daughter failed her mocks. Her latest results came in at Grade 4/5's across the board but she has worked so hard. She does have dyspraxia and ADHD.

We found a BTEC course she really hopes to get onto which is now driving the hard work. But the back up plan is she can start at level 2 if it all goes wrong. Not without frustrations as many of her friends seem to be sailing through with 6/7's and are out at the weekend while she revises but she is doing it. Even if she came out with 6's now I wouldn't want her to do A levels. She isn't academic enough. Her grades were brilliant in year 10 - not sure what has gone wrong this year.

It's a crying shame the btecs are being replaced. T Levels have not been popular and are a poor alternative imo. Not suiting anyone.

I would suggest she looks at vocational courses (are NVQs available at this age?).

I have three female friends who either didn't go to school or got bad grades. One is now a mechanic, one a carpenter and one a plumber. All very successful. There are many women who would prefer to engage a female tradesperson so all three are hugely in demand. Is this something your DD might consider? I know at least one of the friends I mentioned went to a further ed college to study carpentry but I'm not sure at what age.

Maybe make an appointment with.your local college advisory team?

I don’t think she has additional needs as far as I can see.