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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

what if my boy fails all his exams 😭

165 replies

ChangingChances89 · 18/08/2025 22:15

cant sleep keep thinkin bout thursday. ds gettin his results n my stomach just turns over every time i think of it. i feel like if he dont get what he needs then i failed him as a mum.

hes such a quiet boy, keeps to himself, xbox n music, but hes had same help as the other kids so what if it werent enough?? i keep picturing him openin that envelope n its all fails 😢 what will happen then??

i been cryin in the bathroom tonight so the others dont see. just wanna protect him but i cant do this bit for him.

any other mums feel like this?? like u just wanna take it away from them.

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 21/08/2025 18:47

Good news.
Now join the BTEC thread BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26 | Mumsnet and make sure you ask about anything you don't understand or want to know.

murasaki · 21/08/2025 18:53

Excellent news!

Original poster
ChangingChances89 · 21/08/2025 19:11

thanks everyone 💐 its sport btec hes got on it and hes buzzing. we had pizza n cake and now hes gone out with his mates. im shattered but proud as anything, big day for him x

OP posts:
Lambtangine · 21/08/2025 19:18

Awh well done !!

LaundryOracle · 21/08/2025 19:19

This is all brilliant news, well done to you and your DS!

Sussexswain · 21/08/2025 19:21

Do you know which one? Is it a Sport BTEC that would be equivalent to one a level? If so, have college given any insights on other qualifications he could do along side? Many colleges offer enrichment courses as well which would be for his CV and if it is just a single btec he will have a lot of down time

to put in to context - a ‘full time’ college student would usually be taking 3 Alevels or their equivalent. Eg 3 a levels or 1 BTEC and 2 a levels ect.

there is an extended BTEC which is the equivalent to 3 a levels

as someone posted - join the BTEC boards. He’s done incredibly well but you need to keep the momentum up - this is just the beginning!

LIZS · 21/08/2025 19:46

Well done your ds and well done you, only a month ago it was looking so different but you have turned this around. Shame about maths but hopefully he can pull that through on a resit with more support.

TeenToTwenties · 21/08/2025 19:57

I'm assuming it will be the Extended Diploma, as otherwise he wouldn't be full time.

OP. He needs to keep up with course work, and be diligent on meeting all the requirements for any written work. There may be more written work and less practical than you expect (it won't all be running around), but the course work will be relevant theory plus maybe some stuff on Health and Safety, Employability etc.

Ask them (or get him to ask them in the first days) for a link to the course spec, and a list of which modules they will do in the first year. There will be compulsory ones but then college will also probably need to select some from a list of optional ones too. It will help you ongoing to be confident what he is doing, and it will help us to help you as we can look at the spec too and explain it.

Get him to tell you every time an assignment is set and when it is due. Have a wall calendar or something with deadlines on it. He may manage this just fine himself, but it wouldn't hurt for you to stay up to speed.

Original poster
ChangingChances89 · 21/08/2025 20:11

its the extended one they said its like 3 a levels worth so full time. they told us its not just all sport stuff theres written bits too but hes happy with it. maths he has to resit but they said theyll help him loads with that. i like the idea of a calendar for his deadlines so will do that thank you x

OP posts:
clary · 21/08/2025 20:31

That's great news @ChangingChances89 well done to your DS.

Great advice there from @TeenToTwenties as well about keeping on top of things – both him and you. You’ve done this now – gone from not even knowing his likely results or what day they were out two months ago, to him passing several GCSEs and with your support, enrolling on a college course he is engaged in. Brilliant stuff.

So you can do this and so can he. But with a Btec it is especially crucial to stay on top of assignments as it is assessed during the course (rather than via lots of exams in year 13 – there will be some tho) so he needs to find out when assignment deadlines are, and have a clear idea of what he needs to do for each one. You can help here by also knowing this info and supporting him with getting the work done. All the best to you both.

SpecialMilkMonitor · 21/08/2025 21:16

Fabulous!

Big day for you, too @ChangingChances89 - you’re the mother of a boy at college! With GCSE’s to his name.

I hope your other sons, and wider family are proud of him too? And, whether he says so or not, he must be so glad to have had your active support today.

Really pleased this has all worked out well for you both.

Original poster
ChangingChances89 · 22/08/2025 10:11

thank you both ❤️ honestly it still feels a bit surreal but im so proud of him. hes proper excited now which is lovely to see. i know i’ll need to help him keep on top of the written bits so will be looking out for those deadlines with him. the little ones were buzzing yesterday too they kept saying “our brother’s going college!” 🥹 it’s been a big couple of days but feels like a fresh start for him.

OP posts:
Wayk · 23/08/2025 19:27

So delighted for you and your son. Congratulations

Inlimboin50s · 23/08/2025 21:50

Well done to you both. Hope your son flourishes and will no doubt make some really good friends at college too.

Agapornis · 14/09/2025 15:16

I followed your previous threads but had missed this one. So pleased he got what he wanted. Hope he's having a good time at college so far.

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