Thread for those whose DC's didn't do well in their GCSEs

[Anxiousthoughts]

Delighted for those whose kids have done well, but a shocking set of results for ds. Way worse than any mocks he's ever done.

He's going to have to resit maths, can't do two of the 'A' levels he wanted to (Btechs will suit him better anyway). He gets extra time and can use a laptop, neither of which he made use of in the exams.

He's ended up with a Distinction, 1 x 5, 4 x 4, 3 x 3 and a 2. I think he should do a year of resits while he matured a bit, but that seems to be less of a thing than in my day.

Sixty form have accepted him to do 2 x Btechs and an A level, plus maths resit.

Helping to read this thread. DS got his place - was not initially his first choice but was the one where he could do all the subjects he wanted to and actually think it is a better school for him.

He was down about 6 grades on predictions/ mocks across all 10 subjects. Just feel a bit gutted for him although I know objectively important he has his place so I feel like I should just move on.

Like PPs thinking a lot of ‘should I have tutored/ better school etc’. Benefit of hindsight. It’s not helped by pictures everywhere of very happy children thrilled with amazing results. Very happy for them but it gives a distorted picture and you feel like your DC is only one.

He was 1-2 marks off in 4 subjects so school will send for a remark. Not getting too hooked on that.

I think when school starts we’ll all hopefully feel better.

Thanks for letting me vent!

Thought I would share round music. My ds is doing music tech A level at sixth form. This is his choice as loves digital music making etc. Also, plays instruments. His school didn't do gcse music this year but a type of btec. Betec doesn't suit him as very tick boxy.
Is Music Tech A level an option?

This is almost identical to my situation so just wanted to say I feel for you. My dd missed by 0 25 on her average due to one really bad mark. One more in any grade and would have been into college she wanted and all her friends going to. Am so gutted for her

Sorry for anyone facing tough choices. Following with interest as we are 2 years off GCSEs but it's very unpredictable how DS will do. He's bright but has ADHD and is not that mature for his age and we don't know how much 'growing up' he'll do in the next few years. DH and I both come from families where everyone did very well academically and went to uni, so we're less familiar with other paths. I know a little more about it as I worked in education publishing for long time, but it makes DH frantic with worry, so I'm interested to know about the paths people take otherwise.

Reading this thread recalling doing the drive around with ds in tears. He had missed his school A levels by 1.5 marks. It was a gruesome day.
He ended up doing A levels in the school his sister attended and he had an amazing time and made close friendships. Looking back he says he feels it was the right path for him. Yet on that GCSE result day it was not at all a part of the plan he would even apply there.

He graduated last year with a honours degree and GCSE are in the past. But I dont think I will ever forget his stricken look. Or him standing with a friend at the achool he did end up who literally sobbed on his shoulder as she had done so badly.

Due to that I read this thread every year remmebering and my heart is with you all. However please also remember plan B can be an amazing route for your child. Even if it was not the first choice.

*@alwayswantchocolate

We looked at private schools when he was approaching high school age but instead moved into a better school catchment with higher house prices and I can’t help but reflect on that.*

There are 2 posters up the thread who paid for private school and are not happy. Feel it was a waste of money. There are no guarantees.

Solidarity to everyone else going through this, especially those who have also had to face being rejected by a school/college. It's so utterly brutal for these youngsters.

And thanks Enko for sharing your ds's inspiring experience. It's hard to see at the moment that this will one day shrink in importance, as it's so dominating right now.

My DD has received one review back and gone up a grade, waiting for the other one. No word from the college and I'm not hopeful. She is fortunate to have another place at a good, but less academic, school.

My DD ended up with 6 (English Lang) 5 (Maths) 5 (Psychology) and three 3's.

One of the 3's was 1 mark off a 4 and another of them was 3 marks off so that was really disappointing.

She has been home educated due to SEN and has a place on.a level 3 BTech in sports and development which will suit her. She didn't actually meet the entry requirements because they asked for 4 4's. The saving grace, I think, is the 'good' passes in Maths and English which means no resits are required.

We've just paid for remarks in the 2 which were close to the grade boundary so we'll see.

So sorry for all of those who have had to change plans, that's really tough.

That's great news.

Great news. DS’ school are putting several in for review where 1-2 marks off. But I thought this took weeks?

DS has his place but is shaken about having gone down 6 grades on mocks. It’s so hard because nothing i say can help. Hoping with start of new term he will pick up.

Solidarity to all

20 days is the timescale. It's often much much quicker.

Thank you. I also don’t understand the terminology. DC’s school said they are sending four for a remark as very close to the boundary. But I keep seeing this distinction between review and remark. I guess I’ll just see what comes back. Playing it down with DC to avoid further dissapointment

There's no such thing as a remark. Reviewers are looking to see whether the original marks awarded were reasonable. They're not looking for extra marks.

Is that true for A levels too? What do people mean then when they talk about how grades could go down as well as up?

Yes, it's the same.

If a reviewer judges that a mark is too mean, that it's unreasonably harsh, then the mark can go up.

It's also the case that reviews may decide that a mark is unreasonably generous, so it can go down.

Back in the day, when I was first teaching, there was automatic grade protection so grades could never go down. But when remarks changed to reviews, that was stopped.