GCSE results at 41??

[onyabikeivy]

Hi I've had a verbal job offer confirmed, it's an amazing job a huge step up in terms of wages and job role. I've been part time for 18 years following having my 3 dcs (aged 7,9 and 18)
So my question is, on my cv I put 7gcses grade A to C, and when the job specification was sent to me it said C or above in math and English, I didn't give it a thought as I wasn't expecting to get the job. I've now handed my notice in and told all my colleagues I'm leaving and I'm staring to worry I won't get it if they look into it and realise I only got a D in maths 😫 I have other relevant qualifications and experience, before this job I worked in a bank for 15 years.
Has anyone had experience of this please ??

Thank you everyone. It's completely my fault. I applied not expecting to get this far and in a bit of a rush.
I'll certainly learn from this.

I'm in my 50's and got an F in maths and have never had any employee check. I'm sure you'll be fine.

I wouldn't even have a clue how to 'prove' my gcse results. I'm 43. Recently went through security vetting and had to prove where I went to school, contacted school and they only hold records for 12 years. Thankfully the school counsellor remembered my family and was able to write something that was acceptable. Do people
Seriously have their certificates from when they were 16?

Thank you

People on Mumsnet do 🫠

I don't even have GCSEs as I went to school abroad and we didn't have an intermediate cert thing only exams at 18.
No one has asked me ever for my school cert although I have it. It also doesn't specify the grades per subject either just an overall attainment. I suspect you'll be fine.

If it were me I would fess up.
Tell them honestly that after looking at the spec you've realised your one grade short on Maths. Then tell them your happy to organise doing an GCSE equivalent Math qualification as part of your probation - this is easy to do.

Thank you for this, I'll certainly consider it

Are you sure it doesn’t include the term (or equivalent)? Most ads do for equality reasons. If so I’d prepare an answer demonstrating how your bank training amounts to an equivalent level.

I left school at 15, didn't take any GCEs. Put ' none' on every application form all my working life, no one ever asked why.

It does!! Thank you for that 🙂

I think it depends on the organisation. I work in LG and we withdraw offers if a candidate can’t produce the certificates. So if it’s public sector I’d expect them to be more pedantic about it.

Or an equivalent would work.

I think to a certain extent GCSEs that old are disregarded anyway. When I did my L3 in childcare I still had to do functional skills as my GCSEs were too old to be considered. Which was a bit annoying as I did have high enough grades in maths and English.

Ive never been asked for GCSE certs but have been asked for A level ones or job specific ones. It likely depends on the role you’ve applied for and what other relevant education and experience you have. At 41 I’d say it is unlikely you’ll be asked. I’d expect them to ask for them in early 20s.

OFFS everyone it’s hardly a bank robbery - with fifteen years experience in a bank she’s hardly going to be scratching her head for her five times tables.

OP personally I would go fess up and say you didn’t get the chance to bring it up but your grades were in XYZ subjects and you got the D in maths. But that has clearly been superseded by fifteen years work experience but you wanted them to know just as a formality. I wouldn’t have thought they’d let you go now that they like you enough to have offered/

Otherwise you’d just be worried your whole time there….

I don't have maths either, at the time I was very negative about maths and did not try. It was 35 years ago though and I've forgotten it all anyway. I don't list in on my cv and no one has ever asked about it. I have never been asked to prove my results which is good because I don't know where they are!

A lie is a lie. Especially working in and around money, you need to be honest.

Are GCSE not invalid after years anyway? Do you have a degree? Surely further education qualifications supercede GCSE's.
Not like you are a school leaver!
I would just wait and see.

I wouldn’t bring it up. I would relax confident in the knowledge that my work experience is equivalent so I’ve met the criteria. If it comes up and they’re unsure it is equivalent, I’d offer to sit a test of their devising or a maths gcse.

I’d expect them to be less! Can’t do anything right ime

@Cattery you are not wrong there. But that’s not usually for a lack of staff trying. It’s 2 staff trying to do 10 people’s work that’s more of an issue. Our service is internal and so doesn’t affect the general public. And as I say pedantic. Leads to some very, shall we say, ‘interesting’ recruitment.

I think it's sector specific if they ask for certificates or not. Usually from last lot of education so for eg. At degree level they would not ask for anything less. But even if advertised in the person spec it's not always asked for during hiring process.

@Pombearprincess Doesn’t it just. I’ve worked with some horrors over the years (retired now) who were basically unemployable but they got through the door somehow

My employer requires minimum grade C in Maths and English. We ask for certificates as proof. Every employer would be different though.

From our side, if you don't have the grade you don't get the job so they would withdraw you from the process / withdraw your offer. It is however, clearly stated in the requirements when listed on a job posting and forms part of the terms & conditions in the offer letter.

Is the requirement listed as a condition in the job offer that you need to have a minimum of C in maths?