School want to withdraw DS from Creative Media

[Scaredofet]

Hi all

I've just had a call from school saying they want to withdraw DS (not the only kid which makes me feel slightly better) from creative media btec because, well, basically he has no chance of passing it 😔

He can't stand it so has disengaged completely, which I knew about tbf. What I didn't know is he didn't bother to redo his coursework 😔

They are going to be putting on extra classes for the kids who are withdrawn so they can focus on the core subjects - maths, English etc.

I think this is a good idea as he isn't on track right now to get great grades in those either but I guess I just want to know if this is a good idea from anyone else who has had a DC in this position, is there an ulterior motive that isn't in his interests type thing etc?

He has got time to redo his coursework and the teacher said if he gives it 100% he'll get his pass. But I'm wondering if it would be better to get the extra classes given he has no interest in media as a career. Or is it better to get a pass in CM given there's no guarantee the extra classes will bump his other grades up.

Obviously I feel it should be mostly his decision but like I say I'm just wondering what others think if anyone has any experience?

Thank you!!

In your shoes, I'd be worried my DC wouldn't get maths/english, sounds like both will be much harder, so I would probably insist the missing coursework completed, not that its a particularly valuable qualification, but I'd expect it to be an easy pass as you have said. Sounds like a tutor for maths and english would be ideal and then maybe do the media studies together...

He needs to focus on maths - he’ll definitely need it if he wants to go into the trades. He’ll need to be able to calculate quotes, supply orders etc not to mention accurate measurement. He doesn’t need creative media if he wants a trade.

Definitely let him drop it (wish my son’s school would let him drop 1 he hates & unlikely to pass!) but ask for a plan on what he’ll be doing in those lessons as twiddling his thumbs in the library is next to useless - study time won’t cut it for child that’s isn’t motivated enough to study!
he sounds a lovely boy and I’m sure once he’s left school, he’ll find his place in the world.

He got an interest in trades when he saw our bathroom and garden etc being done up a bit. And probably lost any desire for office type corporate work seeing me "always on" and glued to a screen that doesn't have a game on it 🙄

He has an idea to do all the trades, find one that he really enjoys and pursue that, but keep the others as a side hustle, and apparently he'll offer handyman services for free to the elderly.

So kind hearted but not a huge amount of commercial sense!!

Oh and i can do his books and advertising because "you love spreadsheets and facebook" 🤣🤣

Cheers son.

Hi @Scaredofet

I have twins currently in a similar sitch - both very dyslexic, try hard but will scrape a 4 if they're lucky. At their last parents evening (I hate talking about them as a pair, but it is the same in this case) after speaking with a colleague, it was agreed with teachers that they'll focus on Eng Lang and kind of step back on Eng Lit, as this was a big struggle and Eng Lang is the one needed for college (both also going into trades).

So I would say, this will benefit him rather than hinder him. Give him some breathing space to focus on the subjects that matter.

Good luck. It's hard isn't it.

Mmm this is odd. he's saying he had redone his coursework and submitted it weeks ago, I've just seen it on his online portal, and all they've been doing in CM lessons is being told to revise for the other exams anyway.

Can't get hold of the teacher now so will have to wait til Tuesday 😣

If he’s disinterested it’s not going to be a subject he needs for college choices because it’s not something per-sue.

extra help in core subjects can only be a good thing.

and if he regrets it’s down the line - lesson learnt. The grass is t always greener if you can’t be arsed to do what’s already there for you!!!

win win really

I would chase that up - perhaps the submitted work was no better.

However I still think he's better off dropping - though I'm also wondering if this decision is a done deal and they made it few weeks ago and are just now informing you.

I'm really puzzled now.

There isn't an exam it's all coursework, id assumed they were still finishing off bits of coursework but DS says for the past few weeks they've just been revising so basically the course was effectively over.

He's actually a bit gutted even though he hates it because he re-did the project/coursework that needed redoing. he says the teacher hadn't said a word about not getting it or it still being crap, the teacher I spoke to before said he could still resubmit it and meet their marking deadline when i asked...so if it was still crap why not raise it before now when he had even more time?

But he is in year 11 which means his exams start as early as next week. Eng lit paper 1 which he must be taking is on Monday 12 May.

There is no time to do two years of missing CW. Not that Btec CM is “not valuable” tbh.

If it 100% course work and he's resubmitted the coursework I'd get in touch with the head of year and ask wtf is going on - politely obviously.

Is it possible the re-submitted course work has been resubmitted and not noticed ? - it's a question I'd be asking if it was one of my kids.

Sorry @Scaredofet missed yr update. Hmmm odd then but ask the school Monday. Tbh he needs to focus now on exams in 10 days’ time.

He hasn't missed 2 years of coursework it was one piece they are saying he didn't resubmit which is why they want to withdraw him, but I can see he has.

It's just so odd, if the course has finished and all they have been doing is revising for other exams, why suggest withdrawing him anyway?

A parent has posted on FB that they think the school want to reduce the number of low grades on their stats, surely not??

I know he's not bothered about a career in media but a pass is a pass and he is a bit deflated that he did the work again and literally the first he has heard about it now is me saying oh they have suggested they withdraw you ☹️

Bit of a mess and now hanging over us until Tuesday ffs 😩

Let him do what he wants to, seems to be sensible and good choices.

Ok sorry - it wasn’t clear or I misread. I would just put it to one side if you can. If he has done everything then happy days, it can be submitted, he will get a grade. If it wasn’t done correctly, or isn’t of the standard needed, at this stage I would leave it and move on.

He literally has an Eng lit exam in 10 days’ time and maths the same week so I would focus on that tbh. Best of luck to him.

He needs to focus on the maths and English.
If he goes into trades he'll need to have the maths skills to be able manage his invoicing and finances of his business, and he'll need a reasonable standard of written English to be able to communicate professionally with customers and clients.
I'd focus on those and potentially skills like D&T subjects which are more likely to be useful in trade.

Sorry i think you have misread and maybe I'm not clear 🤣

School said he hadn't resubmitted his final piece of coursework so they suggested withdrawing him from the course and he can use the lesson time to study for maths etc

He has submitted it and the course has already finished, he said they haven't done CM lessons for weeks, so they have all been using the time to study for maths etc anyway.

So my q moved on to I guess why would they suggest withdrawing him so he can focus on maths etc when the course is finished and he has been doing that anyway. What difference does it make to them or him?

Then I saw that FB post from a parent and now I'm moving back and forth from puzzled "maybe its a mistake" to mildly fuming "something smells a bit off" 😩

Honestly I'd write/e-mail to some level of management at the school.

Along lines of :

DS submitted last peice of course work x date for Creative Media- which I can see on system but teacher now says this hasn't been done - can you explain what is going on.

We've also had it suggested that he withdraw from this GCSE - this GCSE is 100% course work and all the course work has been submitted last peice on x date. Can you please explain why at such a late date this is being suggested.

We've been told he can use the lesson time if he withdraws as time as extra study time - but as this course is 100% coursework which has been all done and this is already happening - so can you explain why this is being suggested as a benefit to withdrawing at this late stage.

I'd do it in writing as CC as many relevant people as possible.

I'd tell your son you are on it and will try and sort it - but he needs to focus on English and maths revision - and get him to do that.

I'd try and avoid social media posts for now - and get answers directly from the school.

It's not great timing but you do need to get him focused. DS school pulled some stunts just before his GCSEs exams - and that what we had to do with him.

My advice be very factual stay calm and polite and get them to explain - preferably in writing - you can always take a phone call then e-mail back the contents of the phone call or meeting to them.

Don't get drawn into other parents views or greviances.

We had a very angry upset son who wanted not to bother doing well - we had many firm talks - and in end he got some of the best GCSE in his entire year.

It's odd for sure @Scaredofet. If it is all about one piece of CW, what proportion of the Btec is that (if you know)?

Here are some things that might have happened:

• He has submitted all CW and the teacher has muddled him with another student (who has failed to submit)
• The message about not submitting CW is an old message that has only just been passed on by the office and has been superseded by events
• He has submitted it but it's still not up to the standard of a pass grade
• The teacher has done some elements of the wrong work with the class (I have known this happen) and now only those with the best CW will pass

Most of those scenarios see the school or teacher being very sloppy but that can happen.

There's nothing you can do about it for the next three days. So I would put it to one side and support your lad to do his best revision for upcoming exams.

I know it's hard, believe me, and you want him to get a grade for the work he has done on the course; but I promise (speaking as someone whose DC did GCSEs several years ago) it won't be important going forward. One of my DC was offered a support session instead of one GCSE which I was really against at first, but thankfully sense prevailed and I saw that a) it would help and b) they would not need to take 9 GCSEs, taking fewer would actually be better.

Contact the school on Tuesday but in the meantime I hope your boy can have a productive weekend.

The school have just decided, the week before GCSEs, for kids to be de-entered for a BTEC? How are they going to cram in the extra English and Maths? We had this a couple of years ago with another btec, it was a case of the teacher basically not sticking to deadlines so they had no choice, the kids who were way off passing were removed and the ones who had done the work themselves had the lead teacher from the trust doing intensive mop up sessions. It’s often a case of schools covering their arses results wise to”disappear” failing students. Has he any chance of passing without the extra work impacting his other exams?

I teach similar BTEC courses. CM is not 100% coursework but I believe the exam is different to the other BTEC's in that it is done on the computer. As the coursework for these courses is also done on Computer in Controlled Assessment conditions I assume the students are struggling to understand the difference between the coursework and the exam, as it really can come down to when tasks are completed as the school can schedule the CA time themselves. I'm not sure when the exam for CM is but it is likely to be very soon as the exams for these courses started last Thursday. Coursework marks for these courses need to be uploaded to the exam board by mid May but they need to be marked and moderated before then. A huge issue with resitting the coursework units is managing to timetable the Controlled Assessment time in the timetable. It means finding at least 6 hours teacher monitored time in a computer room. The coursework scenarios change in every assessment window. By now the teachers will have a good idea of the grades he has got for the two coursework units. I suspect he has had to do two coursework units this assessment window, the planned one and a resit of his previous unit. I'm guessing that he has not got enough marks to gain a grade, even if he passes the exam, so they would rather withdraw him from the course rather than have him come out with a U on his results certificate.

DD does this exact BTEC. It is not easy at all - but there are no exams which can work better for some children.

However, the coursework Assignments are really hard and can't be done fast.

There is a long essay for Component 1 that analyses a series of media products, audience analysis etc.

Component 2 involves creating a media product (short film/music video/computer game/magazine etc) and producing a portfolio to show your inspiration, planning, production cycle, Gant charts etc and a review post production of what went well/badly.

Component 3 is under exam conditions and had invigilated planning session, weeks of preparation and then 5 hours of invigilated sessions to produce the final piece and your production portfolio/review.

It is a LOT of work and research to get good grades.

Unfortunately a lot of kids think Creative Media, and it being a BTEC means that they can just doss about and watch videos. And then wonder why they fail modules.

In terms of education and life skills, it's definitely one of the best subjects DD picked. But if anyone's child is thinking of taking it in the future, there is a huge amount of additional work needed outside school (think Art GCSE type amounts).

On the other hand, if you have a bright kid who struggles with working memory and finds exams requiring huge amounts of rote memorisation tough then this is a really good option for them to get a high grade.

To the OP, if your DC has not done the work for the projects at this stage, I cannot see how they could possibly catch it up in time. You would need about 6 weeks with very little else to do in order to cover those components.

Apart from your Ds telling you he has resubmitted the work, do you have any other proof that he has? Also, I’d take what he is telling you about what goes on in lessons with a little pinch of salt until you’ve spoken to school.

Yes as earlier post I saw it submitted on his school portal.

Teacher told me at parents evening it's mostly self-driven and they do watch YouTube videos relating to the course as yes i do take what any kid not just mine says with a pinch of salt so I wanted to check. Like I said I'd have loved that personally but he's struggled with it and that's why his initial enthusiasm has vanished 😔

They are a History teacher normally. I remember there was a bit of fuss about that at the time on FB (again!) but I didn't think it was an issue tbf. I think a lot of teachers do different subjects?

I will get to the bottom of it! There's a fair bit of confusion on FB still going on so I'm glad it's not just me that needs a lot more info about it if nothing else