GCSE art exam looming, would missing prep mean a U?

[Jbeens]

Hello,

Just after some advice about GCSE art from my current living hell 🫣 DS is around 10 days away from his art exam, but i am certain he has done almost no prep for it. Really wish that he hadn't chosen it as he has hated every minute and it has killed all his creativity - bad teacher, huge workload etc. He got behind a while ago and stayed behind through lack of confidence, the teacher hasn't done much to encourage/help she mainly criticises and ruins his self esteem. I am so glad it is almost over, because it's horrible to watch, he does so well in everything else (easy 7s in every other subject) but is on track for a 2 in art, so naturally he has pretty much given up and would rather focus his energy on revision elsewhere. I am totally fine with that, but curious about if he doesn't do the exam prep, and potentially then isn't allowed to sit the exam, will he get a grade 2 from his coursework? Or would it be a U?
I am not concerned about one low grade at all, he will get to college on the other grades easily, but I am worried about the optics of a U on his record forever, CV for jobs etc.
I'm not sure if I should be pushing him to at least finish the prep and ensure he does the exam, or just wash my hands of it and let him do what he's gonna do. He's such a good kid and he works hard, he's no trouble, polite, kind, and doing so well everywhere else, that I am tempted to just let him ignore art for his mental health. As I say, my only concern being the optics of a U for his future. Does anyone know what would happen if they don't let him do the exam?
Thank you in advance, please be kind, he is so lovely and really doing his absolute best x

Would he have to put it on a cv? If it was me I just wouldn’t mention anything I didn’t pass and just put the GCSEs I did achieve

Yes that's what I'd do too I suppose, things just work so differently to how they did for me doing GCSE I just wonder if it could come up one day. I am probably worrying over nothing. I think I'd relax a bit more if I knew he would just get a 2 from the coursework he's already done, and if absolutely nothing else happened then that's where he'd be. I just want to take some of the stress away for him really, it's so hard watching them go through it! Thank you for the reply :)

I can't see why any future employer would care about a low grade in GCSE Art if, as you say, his other grades are good.

if he’s still going to pass 6-8 GCSEs without it I’d not get worried. Does he need it for next stage at college? Then just let it go. My DD pretty much stopped everything for Spanish to focus on the subjects she was planning to do at A level. It was fine - she’s since passed her A levels and has zero regrets. Mental health is more important.

Can you speak to the school to see if it’s possible to pull him from the exam now and cancel his entry?

Surely absolutely nobody cares about your gcse once you leave the next stage of education?

Sorry he has had such a difficult experience. Its so sad the education system crushes kids enjoyment of art in this way

He doesn’t need to put it on his cv so he’ll just leave it off.
If in the future he needs to show his certificate it will be to prove he has maths and English at the required grade, no one will care about the art grade, however look at withdrawing him.

My daughter (is Autistic) refused to turn up for GCSE Drama - she did come out with a 3 for course work and we are pretty sure if she’d made the exam she’d have at least a 4. She leaves it off most applications, and no one cares.
I don’t think even if she applied to Drama school they would care.