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 ??

Just coming on to say I don’t think OP lied. It was up to the employer to clarify in interview. OP stated her results as many people do in applications.

Best of luck, I hope they don’t chase it.

I had to buy my O level certs in 2023 despite having two master’s degrees. Neither of them were in maths or English and that was what the job required. £50 to get duplicates through something on .gov.uk.

Thank you!!

This is what I'm thinking 🤔 I'm so shocked to get the job I'm waiting for something to take it away 🙁

In my role, you are not qualified unless you have maths and English gcse. Even the vocational qualification is null and void without those. (Its a bit more nuanced than that, but thats the main gist of it)

So we would definitely check certificates and either withdraw job offer or offer a lower level job if someone didn't have them.
I sat my gcse in 1988 and still need to show mine for every job I apply for.

You did not lie. Also it is rare that someone would meet all the criteria for a job.
At 40+ with so much experience it would be ridiculous for you not to get a job for this reason.
You can understand what they might ask for certificates from someone 20 years younger with less experience.

It might depend on the employer. When I moved job I had to bring original copies of all my GCSE, A level, degree and post grad certificates. This was before the formal offer in writing. But I’m a teacher so that could be why it was so strict. I’m 42, so my GCSEs were a long time ago and I wouldn’t have passed my PGCE without Maths, English and Science, but they still wanted the original certificates.

In my 50s, never had to show any certificates and I've had plenty of jobs. I've never worked in the public sector though, maybe it's more common there.

Good luck OP.

I did this. I applied for a job the night before it closed and rushed through the application.

I admitted I didn't have the maths O'level, I also got a D. I did this before they asked for certificates. They checked with the department, who were fine about it as I had the required skills and other qualifications. I'm going to night school to do maths GCSE this autumn. I'm in my 50's and looking forward to it!

Well done on your job. I'd be honest and tell them.

At what age do you suggest a cut off? What about if someone takes exams earlier or later than average? Different cut of age?

No body does this by the was, it is all employees or none

Mine were eaten by bubonic rats. 🐀

Do you apply such rigid rules and thinking in the rest of your life?

Maybe someone going into a first job without any references or experience.
I have never been asked for GCSE certificates for any position. I have A levels, a degree and a masters and never been asked for those certificates either.

I would not worry OP. At your age your experience should supersede GCSE requirements. As an employer this would definitely be my opinion.

If you feel more comfortable you could bring it up with the employer.

Well done for getting the job and wishing you the best of luck with it.

I've always thought it quite bonkers that they ask for this even where it's irrelevant to the job and you may well have a master's level qualification that is. As someone who is so old I took O levels many of the kitten heels shod bright young HR people I've dealt with over the years have no bloody clue what I'm on about anyway.

My partner is foreign and from a country where the premises of the building holding the records burned down so despite having nursing and international studies degrees and over thirty years of experience will have to do whatever the math basic skills equivalent is to either get on a course or do more study (nurse; accidents on duty; COVID; knackered - join up the dots).

I'd also argue, having done both O Levels and GCSEs in some subjects, that old money O levels were way more in depth and complex than most modern GCSEs, a D being equivalent to whatever stupid number system is now in place.

OP, could you offer to take the basic skills maths qualification? Most colleges offer it I believe and even some employers (including at least one cash strapped NHS Trust where I've worked).

The same position here. Everything from O-levels to Masters and various vocational and technical qualifications. Never been asked to produce certificates, pretty sure I binned the O and A level ones years ago as no one seemed to need them.

I was once asked to do a maths competency test before refreshing a technical qualification that had involved higher maths. I'd already passed that higher-level exam. I failed the observed, one-to-one basic maths competency because my methods for things like working out the volume of a room or long division were not the methods the examiner had down on her sheet of paper. Apparently although I'd got all the answers correct, my methods didn't conform to modern teaching practice. I told the examiner it was ridiculous. She agreed.

Yes in education (inc non teaching) you need to show certificates. I know someone who couldn't and was asked to take a maths course but that was for an (adult) apprenticeship. It is to do with safer recruitment. What goes for you here is that you haven't lied and they haven't asked you to clarify the grades or made it a condition of the job. If they ask be honest and say you have 7 a-c as specified but you also have 2 grade d inc maths

I had to produce mine where it was a condition of the job, despite having a first class degree (in maths!) and a professional qualification (in maths!).

Due to grade inflation it's ridiculous to compare GCSE grades now to grades 20+ years ago when fewer people got C or above.

I've never in my life been asked for proof of certificates. In the unlikely event they do ask just say you misremembered (understandable) and you'd be happy to retake at your own expense/ on your own time. I honestly don't believe anyone could care about this.

Thank you every one. I think my plan is to wait and see, it wasn't on the job paging and the interviewer at the second interview didn't ask me to clarify. I feel like the recruiter would have seen this sort of thing on cvs before and would have asked if it was going to affect me going forward with the role.
When I got the job in the bank I was called with the offer and they just said because I didn't get a C in maths I had to answer a couple of maths questions there and then and it was done.
If it comes up this time I'll happily sit any tests or complete the level 4 qualification I'm currently doing anyway.

Good luck, OP. Hope all goes well and it turns out to be your dream job.

I was first year of gcse (or second) and even then c was what you needed fora levels and a good pass.

It does kick in somewhat when applying for a second degree as my AAB was very good then but less good now they have a star but I got in anyway.

👍👌🤣

Thank you 🩷

In my 60s and have never had to show a GCE certificate. First job did ask for a copy of my degree certificate (no idea if it was helpful as it was in Latin 😄)