Year 11 - 2024/2025: The Results Day Thread

[QueenMabby]

New thread for results day. Deep breaths. We can do this!

@stickygotstuck could see try it and see. DD is moving and I checked with her old school and they would have her back in the first 3-4 weeks (but not necessarily on the courses she wants her as biology is v popular). She won’t she is definitely leaving and likes the new place. One of her best friends is doing the same trialling it for two weeks and if she likes it staying if not going back

We are an anomaly with English as DD did far better than she thought she would (she is science and maths subjects)

it is the hardest to mark though it is why it is the GCSEs that finish before half term always so there is the longest time there can be

Until someone has looked at the paper, they won't know what went wrong - and retaking without knowing that would also be daft, in my view.

If the marks are unreasonable, review will fix that... but the first step is always to get the paper back.

Thanks everyone for script requesting advice

Ratty has just sent a beautiful worded email request to exam officer and x2 English staff asking if it would be possible to look over his scripts. Lovely Eng Lang in email motion. Which is part of the point.

Will update on any progress!

My son got a 7 and he was predicted a 9 all the way through yr 10 and 11. His teacher was very confident on this. Obviously it’s still a good result. I remember my son said it was really easy so maybe a lot of kids thought it was and it affected the grade boundaries. I’m grateful for us it’s not an a level subject so we can easily put it behind us - it would bug me if it was an a level choice.

Thank you!

My son was predicted about a 7/8+ in English Language and Lit and got 5s for both! (AQA). I did warn him to "expect the unexpected" with the British exam system. He pretty much got 5s across the board, so I'm not going for re-marks. He got eight "strong passes", well done him. First choice school (small) offered him BTECs -- we were fine with that, but two out of three weren't really in subjects he was anticipating studying. So we then went home and tried one of his backups (a larger and actually top ranked/outstanding and highly sought-after school) and he got in for his first choice subjects for 3 A levels, by virtue of the school being enormous and having more capacity! London - we are spoilt for choice. Hopefully he's just a late bloomer and can keep up.
I found yesterday emotionally draining. Hugs to all of you!

Thank you @Tiswa , worth checking with school.

Wondering now if it may be best to just enrol in both. DD would already have to give up her favourite subject to stay, so giving up another one would defeat the point of even doing A levels.

DS’ English teacher emailed him directly yesterday asking for permission to view his Lang scripts. She has replied this morning saying she thinks the marking is really unfair so we’re starting with sending that one off first. One mark needed to get a 4 and I am praying it goes up (though told him not to get his hopes up). So stressful, my heart feels so heavy.

@swampwitch0 , can I ask an ignorant question about BTECs?
What exactly are they? Which ones is your DD doing?

DD has no idea what she wants to do later in life, so going for something vocational feels counter intuitive.

My DC got 8s and 9s in everything but a 6 in English Language. Predicted a 9 and thought the paper went well. Has won English prizes etc etc. One mark off a 7 and teacher said definitely get it looked at. School gets very good results so knows what the examiners are looking for. They may have gone rogue on the day (!) but will get it looked at.

BTECs are more vocational qualifications. They are mainly assessed by assignments throughout the 2 years but with some exam component too. They have practical element s built in.

You can do them in different sizes equivalent to 1, 2 or 3 A levels.

They cover things like Sport, Music, Computing, Business, Engineering, Animal Care, Hospitality, Childcare, Hair&Beauty, Construction, Travel&Tourism.

They are graded from Pass, Merit, Distinction, Distinction-star. For a 3 A level size you can get up to D-star-D-star-D-star. Roughly Merit is a C at A level.

You can go to university but, as with A levels, the courses may be limited by what you have studied.

Suits a more practical steady worker than one with ability to memorise loads and sit high pressure exams.

The 3-Alevel equivalent is an Extended Diploma, then there is Dimploma and Certificate. T-Levels are like an Extended Diploma but with tougher requirement for work experience and possibly a bit more academic.

Some kids who don't suit exams can really fly with BTECs.

You are also more 'work ready' at 18 if you choose not to go to uni.

My ds did well overall - considering ASD and being bright but liking to do things his own way and hating writing (or revising). He got the 8 he needed to take further maths, but only a 4 in English language, so right now hasn’t got a sixth form place.

His English teacher has looked at his scripts as he was 1 mark off a 5. He thinks a couple of questions were marked a bit harshly, particularly (AQQ) paper 2… so I’ve asked for them both to be reviewed, but am now panicking and wondering if I should get paper 2 reviewed first. We risk losing the sixth form place completely if we don’t hear back soon though.

Wordle is ominous (for us) today!

I’m taking it as a sign 😂

This seems to really vary by college.

DD's is completely the other way and actively want parents involved - parent portal, parents evenings, instant notification if they don't show up or aren't handing work in etc

DD is ADHD and dyslexic and first thing she did was ensure they have every box ticked that allows them to share/contact me... I was basically introduced as her PA 😂

One way round things is to have a joint email address in their name, and to make sure you can access their college one. That way you can help them learn to take over gradually without balls being dropped.

They don't take long at this time, in my experience. But I would do one at a time.

@MrsHamlet - Thanks so much for the incredibly timely input! I’ve just re contacted the exams officer and asked that they re mark paper 2 first. 😬🤞

Btecs are several levels - 1 to 5 (I think)
They can be over 1/2/3 years
Dd is doing a 2 year extended btec diploma in an arts subject - she can do a 1 year foundation too as its funded up to 19.

Ah yes.

In my explanation above I was talking about Level 3 BTECs (A level equiv).
At college you can also do them at Level 2 (GCSE equiv, 1 year course) or Level 1 (pre-GCSE, 1 year course). I don't know about them above Level 3.

So the AAQ Engineering course my son is taking at 6th form (along side 2 A levels) will be level 3? Would that be the default? The 6th form website doesn't specify.

Yes. If it is offered along side 2 A levels it will be a Level 3 Certificate I think.

This is good to know! Sixth form place is hanging in the balance for us until we get the review back (not holding our breath)

Thanks. That saves me emailing the staff.

Yes L3 is the same as A level.

L3 Extended is a single subject course that is the equivalent to 3 A levels.

The thing to watch with BTECs is the way the grades add up, especially for the L3 Extended.

Top grade is Triple Distinction Star, but the star is added at the end. Grade for any individual component is either Distinction, Merit or Pass. There is then a calculator that determines final grade depending on the mix of D, M and P grades across the course.

For the Triple Distinction Star - equivalent to 3 A stars at A level, or 168 UCAS points - you basically need to have hit the Distinction in every module throughout the course.

So there's no down time to ease in if you are after top grades.

Oh, I really feel for you! First of all, I echo what @swampwitch0said earlier….. you have done amazingly to get to GCSE day in the first place… I think my 🤯would have happened, too, if my DS had chucked that curveball out last thing at night! ( or whatever the saying is!)..

I feel for your DD, too. My DS has had similar experience at school. He is AuDHD, has been bullied throughout, hated every second. Only a couple of friends. Despite this, I think if he had wanted to do A Levels, Stockholm syndrome would have given serious weight to him considering staying there. Luckily, he decided on a BTec at a new college in a different town. Your DD must obviously, despite her experiences, be distracted by the “ better the devil you know”, when faced with the comparative new, big, unknown college…. But, as pp too have said ( and, I hope for with DS) she could just flourish in the new college…. whole new way of learning.. fresh environment ….and, all those “ strangers are just friends you haven’t met, yet”…….

As @swampwitch0said, ( I have no idea 🤷‍♀️🙄😹, sorry!), if she can enrol at both, whilst she takes pause to decide, I would definitely recommend that, if it were my DS.

I really hope she decides soon, so that you can enjoy the “phew!! It really is over” of GCSE hell…🤞🤞🤞….

ps- I say that not from a smug position, by any stretch, but even here there is a distinct “ It is what it is, and at least we know and time to crack on”….

I wish you all huge 🍀!!! 😺

DD2 registered at college yesterday - which seemed very quick but she started feeling ill last night temp and shivering and this morning is being sick - so lucky she did it all yesterday really.