Year 'out' to retake GCSEs?

[Echobelly]

DS is in Y9 and as the expectations ramp up it's clear his ADHD, even though he is bright, is making it hard for him to keep up and GCSEs could be a massive hurdle. He catches up a little more with peers each year but he's also August born and I fear that he just won't be ready to get strong enough GCSE results when he's still 15 to make it to A-level. But given a bit more time to catch up and retake some of them (without the pressure of all 9 subjects) he could be able to do better and be ready for A-levels.

I gather it is possible to take a 'year out' this way and there are costs attached, which we could bear - I'd be interested if anyone has experience of doing this. Like, where do they do the retakes private insitutions, public? Is it always in-person teaching or can it be done online? And so on.

Obviously there are many variables as to whether this would be the right solution for him, it might not even come to this, but I'm trying to get as clear an idea as possible what the options are.

I would say that whatever the route, your DS has to feel that it's what he wants and he has had a (significant) part in the decision making process.
As a parent I know that you want what's best for your DCs, but if you put too much pressure on them to go a certain way, that they're not fully on-board with, it can go horribly wrong.

I'm sure he'll be fine. There are plenty of options out there. He sounds very young. I'd honestly be more concerned that you don't know where his strengths are. Also, having the fallback of being 'privileged' is not OK. Encourage him as if you aren't privileged and that he will need to earn some money one day - that doesn't mean a top lawyers salary of course, but might keep your mind on real life options.

Oh yeah, as I said, I don't want the messaging to be 'You'll be fine because you have a lot to fall back on'.

I was reading something about motivating teens with ADHD and it suggested using their interests. I think his current interest in working with animals might be a good one to work with and I might be inclined to say 'Yes, you can work with animals but you'll need to work towards qualifications if you want to do the kinds of jobs you can make a living off'. I'm not asking any of my kids to have to make megabucks, but I think for anything working with animals that might allow you to move out of your parents' you'll need some academic type qualifications.

ADHD/dyslexic DD in Y11. DH and I both very academic, so I understand a lot of what you are saying.

First of all, kids with ADHD seem to be a couple of years behind peers in many ways. DD's exec function has always been way behind chronological age. Definitely check the dosage on the Equasym, we've just increased dose and it's making a difference. You can also get 10mg instant top ups for the evening if they are flagging.

DD has very high CAT scores, but the combination of SEN and very specific interests means academic achievement has always been a bit of a challenge.

For GCSE, we dropped languages, did one early and she's also doing a BTEC in Creative Media Production in place of one GCSE. That way there is a much more manageable exam load.

She's now on track for a fairly decent set of results. We have prioritised Maths, English and Music.

As long as they get 5 good GCSEs including English and Maths, that is all you actually need to go on to university.

Would agree A levels may not be the right path after GCSE, have a look at L3 extended BTECs - they are equivalent of 3 A levels and many universities will take those instead. It's a different path not a lesser path.

Yeah what is up with gcse English ?

I find working backwards helps, order the print prospectus for the local colleges and a couple of universities. Obviously that might not be his destiny but he can look at the options and entry requirements and have a goal in mind.
If he wants to work with animals and be outdoorsy it might be useful to get prospectuses for rural colleges too many of which are residential for example Easton college in Norfolk focuses on agricultural / equine / floristry / animal care courses at FE and HE.

It would be worth asking in the home ed forum rather than secondary ed. It's really not unusual to do a three year ks4 in home ed and the sixth form colleges I've spoken are completely happy for people to enter a year later than usual.

Working with animals - I have some input on that.
If you want to be a vet then you will need top notch A levels and years at uni.
Then there are jobs at various levels down to minimum wage.

There are animal care qualifications you can jump into at whatever level suits and work up.
My DD started at level 1 as no gcses, and is now on a level 2 course (gcse equivalent).
But someone else could do a T-level and then eg go on to do vet nursing at uni. (Or do level 2 for a year then T level for 2 years)

You certainly don't need to be ruling out A levels, but I think you would be wise to talk up other options so they can be taken without feeling like a failure.

One step at a time.
Focus on creative or practical.

Don't think straight path gcse a leve uni

Think practical gcses . Review. Maybe btecs. Maybe uni later on practical apprenticeship. Maybe not.

He needs five gcses not 9 or 10.
Don't cram him. Let him lead his path.
His well being and good mental health is uppermost.

It was the one worry for oldest DC at GCSE - the school had everyone's March mocks independently remarked and DC was downgraded to a 4. Turns out that was BS, as they got a 7 in the end.

But it's so weirdly specific and not actually indicative of writing or comprehension ability considering it can affect student's ability to take essay subjects at A-level.

OTOH the specific-ness might be better for DS than a more open-ended approach to English, but only if he can get his head around what they are asking for, which I honestly found very hard to fathom.

Eng lit is much much easier to cram for the exams.

My DS struggled with English and we got him a tutor for English lit who had a laser focus on the books and plays he was doing. It really helped.

A 4 is a pass?

My son is an August child so almost a year younger than some of his peers, if I could have held him back a year I would have but it wasn’t an option.
Anyway, during his GCSEs he chose to mentally drop two subjects that he didn’t need. He was so stressed his hair was falling out. He just told me one day… these are the grades I need, and these are the subjects I need for A levels so that’s what I’m focusing on, I supported him and found him a tutor for two subjects he definitely needed to gain a place to study at sixth form. It worked out for him he is in year 13 now and will be applying for uni.

Yeah, we're totally prepared if he can't drop number of GCSEs to have some lower priority ones. I had thought he had to do French, but they do offer Travel &Tourism instead, which I think might be a better bet, but does mean you don't get the International Baccalaureate, FWIW (which is not all that much to my mind). DS isn't terrible at French but I'm not sure it's the best use of his time and mental energy and I can't see him taking it beyond GCSE or remembering any of it as soon as he's done!

International Baccalaureate is an alternative 6th form qualification - a tough one!

You mean Ebacc right? That's a measure for schools not individual DCs.

Just wanted to post this in case it's in your area.

www.capel.ac.uk/

You probably mean the English Bacc not the International one. The Ebacc is meaningless, it is a concept not a qualification.

Have you spoken to school about reasonable adjustments?
What do they think he's able for and what can they do to ensure he does his best/ copes

Oh god I really wish dd hadn't done French. I was under the impression she had to do a language and she did pass but just,.with a 4. She wanted to do Drama instead and I dissuaded her and that was really stupid of me!

Firstly, don't worry about what's happening in a few years. Focus on now, and how you can help him do his work to the best of his ability.

Secondly, if he struggles so much, does he even WANT to do A Levels and a degree? There are excellent apprenticeships that can lead to brilliant careers. It doesn't sound like the academic route would be the best fit for him, and would probably just be difficult, stressful, and perhaps embarrassing - nobody wants to have to be with the year below.

My stepson's mum pushed and pushed for him to do academics, despite him not performing well at any point in his education, and as a result he ended up wasting a load of money, resitting first year of uni and ultimately dropping out anyway. He now has a shit job. It wasn't fair to push him in that direction when it wasn't what he wanted, nor would it be fair on your son.

There are excellent apprenticeships that can lead to brilliant careers

Are there? This is always trotted out on here. The ones that lead to 'brilliant careers' are more competitive than Oxbridge.

It's just such a shame GCSEs are so exam led and so fixed - if he could do a subject that involved an assessed project on something that piqued his interest, like Japan, I think he could do a good job of it and it would help him in other areas too, but I can't see there's anything that gives that kind of leeway.

It sounds like the Btec pathway will be ideal for him. (which is why scrapping them was an awful idea) As long as he gets the minimum GCSE's he could do a Level 3 extended Btec in one subject or 2-3 smaller Btecs in multiple subjects. He won't get into Oxbridge with Btecs but many, many good universities do accept them.

If he doesn't get enough Btecs he can do a Level 2 Btec at college for a year alongside maths/English retakes then progress to Level 3.

Just one word about BTECS - they are fabulous BUT you need to hit the ground running as you are marked on your coursework pretty much straight away and that coursework counts towards your overall grade. You absolutely can go to good unis with A level equivalent BTECS to study related courses but the better unis will require a Distinction or even Distinction Star, so you need to keep on top of it. Arguably they can be even more difficult for teens with ADD unless they have a huge amount of organisational support.

You're right I meant EBacc! 😳

At the moment, outside core subjects it looks likely that if he does 9 subjects he will do drama (he is very good at performing, remains to be seen at other parts of it), history (his teacher said he's one of the great contributors in the class verbally, though extended writing is challenging), I'd be up for him doing Travel and Tourism Btech and fourth remains to be seen. He's only just started Computer Studies as a more regular subject and that might work as he seems to be quite interested in it.

I'd be very happy for him to drop a couple of subjects if that's an option and would give him a better run at Maths and English.

I'd stick with 8 (dd did 8, got a 4 in French, got 5 offers from RG unis so don't listen to anyone who tells you different about the number of gcses)

@Thommasina any news on what’s happening with Btecs next year?