Year 9 troubles

[Hooplah]

My 14 year old DS is dyslexic and shows some very mild dyspraxic tendencies and is struggling at school so badly. He is at a private school and gets a huge amount of 1-2-1 support but he's just done end of year 9 exams and the results are shocking. We have 2 years to try and change something before the dreaded GCSEs... We 're not looking for A* or whatever it is now (9 points?)...he just needs to pass so he can move on to do his BTEC. He doesn't 'get' maths and sciences (I think he has dyscalculia but that's not really recognised and not sure what good a diagnosis of that that would do anyway)...he overheard his teachers discussing him today and it's not good. He has low self-esteem and no confidence whatsoever. ADD has been suggested over the past few months by 4 different sources but this has never been mentioned before at any stage and Google is just confusing me more? We have absolutely no idea how to help him. I have a GP appointment in a few weeks to discuss but unsure how to broach it or what she can do? Any advice appreciated, thank you.

Hi

Do you have an EHCP ?

Just because it's a private school or is giving him 1-2-1 doesn't mean it's meeting his needs. Have a meeting with the headteacher of the school and ask what they're doing for him beyond 1-2-1. Go through each subject. Who's giving 1-2-1? What qualifications do they have? Are they experienced with SEN etc. Are class handouts printed on pink or yellow paper for him (easier to read for dyslexics) If not, why not? What things are they doing to satisfy his dyslexic needs?

In a private school teachers don't actually need to be qualfied teachers (i.e. have QTS - qualified teacher status), let alone know about teaching dyslexic kids.

I've taught in a top 25 school of England and the headteacher and team knew how to wrangle numbers to look like they're getting great results and would let the lower-ability kids slip by the wayside.

Also, please stop trying to diagnose him yourself - that's putting pressure on him more!

I forgot something!

Ask the school for extra homework that you can use to sit down with him to help him. They won't like doing this and will probably just offer printouts from an exercise book for him but that will be good enough! Buy some revision guides for subjects, and as you sit down with him compliment him lots to encourage him.