I just need to vent - GCSE results lower than expected

[historiccastles]

I feel like I've let my daughter down.

She got her GCSE results on Thursday and while they were objectively good results, they were lower than she had been predicted. She still got into her sixth form of choice to do 3 A levels but she had to change one of her options as she didn't get the grades for it. Based on the grades, I'm not sure her preferred universities are going to be an option as they mostly wants 3 As at A Level and this is feeling less likely.

She seems fine with the results. She's a very level headed young lady. I know she'll find her path. I know it's more important she's happy and healthy than what grades she gets. But I still feel responsible because I was completely taken aback and now I am second guessing all my parenting decisions. If I'd done x or y differently, would she have been better supported and have met her predictions?

Everyone was telling me she'd be fine, she'd sail through with mostly 7-9s and the odd 6, but she didn't. I just don't know what happened. I feel like I dropped the ball and my daughter is the one who is affected.

Perspective is needed here OP!

Everyone was telling me she'd be fine, she'd sail through with mostly 7-9s and the odd 6, but she didn't. who has been telling you this and why?

It's ok to feel a bit sad and wonder if you could have somehow supported her better @historiccastles, and it's ok that you've come here to get it off your chest.
It sounds like your dd is mature enough to find her own way forward though, and that in itself is almost as important as good grades.

I know it seems like everyone is getting loads of 7-9s at GCSE and 3 As at A level. But this is far from the truth. Many people get lower grades than this and still do very well. Just remember mumsnet is not the real world. It’s some weird twilight universe where all dc are in the top 3% of the country academically.

I bet she got brilliant grades. She will be fine.

Too many people go to university now and it's not worth the stress and massive debt.

If pyschology is the A level your dd has to drop that isn't the end of the world as she could study it at degree level without having done the A level if she really wanted to.

I am sure that the money you spent on your dd's education will still have been worthwhile. Education is about far more than exam results. Your dd has also done well enough to move on to the next stage, in her case A levels, and that is all she needed to do.