Don't have GCSE maths but want to apply for new job

[twiceasnice47]

I am looking to change jobs as I work in a school and now my kids are grown up I want a job where I can work all year round and take my holiday when I want. My only problem is I only have 2 GCSE's at grade A-C and I got an F in maths. I originally failed all of them but went back to college and got a B for English and French. But Maths is an F and this job says that you must have English and Maths GCSE grade A-C. I managed to get on to a level 2 college course in business back in the early 90's and got a distinction and since then have really succeeded in the workplace, I also have an English A level and an English degree which I got a 2:1 for. So my CV is actually pretty good and I have said I have 8 GCSE's and haven't ever put the grades and don't think I have ever been asked. Not having maths GCSE has not hindered me at all until now.

I have worked as a team manager, a shop manager, a practice manager of a dental practice and am currently an HLTA and Cover supervisor in a school. I was never asked for any grades or proof of maths for any of these positions. Although I have no A-C grade in GCSE maths I often teach maths to year 6 students. I just had absolutely zero interest in learning once at school but as soon as I got to college I loved learning and have lots of different qualifications now.

I am looking at working in the NHS and their application forms want GCSE grades. If they see F grades for GCSE's (especially maths) surely they are going to reject it instantly. But I have lots of relevant experience and lots of other courses with distinctions over the years. It also says on the application form that all qualifications and grades will be checked. So basically as nowadays you have to have a C in maths is it worth me applying and do all application forms now ask for grades. I have worked in my current job for 15 years so applying for jobs is very different nowadays.

Could you take the maths GCSE? Should be easy for you now.

You can do a maths GCSE equivalency test, the courses are usually online and cost about £150

I’d advise taking maths gcse. My last job was the first one ever to ask me for proof of my maths gcse.

NHS is one of the employers that insist on seeing the certificates so there is no getting around it. I would see if you can do Functional Skills or whatever it's called these days .

I could easily re do it and it wouldn't bother me at all. I just love the sound of this job - maybe I could apply and put in other info bit that I am happy to do functional skills course or full maths GCSE.

I would sign up for the gcse so you'll have an exam date and then you can at least write pending on the application. I don't think you've much to lose in that respect - but at least then you'll eventually have the grade for if a similar job comes up in future. I have had to show my gcse certificates in a number of jobs I've interviewed for. At the very least you'll feel more confident going in knowing you have it under your belt.

I think I definitely need to get it done. I have gone 35 years without anybody asking for a grade until now!!

I’m 39 and just passed my functional skills L2 in maths last year! So go for it, it feels good to have it under your belt. I got a job with my local council and I wanted to do a further course through them and they were kind enough to pay to put me through it. Maybe see if an employer has a Scheme for employee development x

Surprised the school you are at now didn’t ask for grade C. I worked in a school non teaching but still required gcse grade C and they asked for my certificates. Although I had a much higher qualification degree.

I’d be screwed if any job asked to see my GCSE certificates, I’ve got no idea where they are or what grades I got. I haven’t bothered putting them on my CV for years, just college, university and my charterships.

I would do this. I'd also include in the supporting information some examples of how your work experience over the years demonstrate competence in maths skills.
The nhs definitely check certificates.

National careers service might be able to give advice on where or how best to get the equivalent grade. NHS will check qualifications.

I had to fork out over £100 to get copy GCSE certificates to enrol on an apprenticeship in my 30s despite me having my A level and Degree certificates.

I know someone who got offered a role and had it withdrawn once they couldn't provide certs, wasted recruitment time so get it or be very transparent.

Mad isn’t it.

@Littletreefrog this is insane! I have a BSc and would not be happy having to spend out to get hard copies of my GCSE's from 30 years ago! I thought AI wants most people to not put exam results on if over 20 years old? I'm currently trying to make my CV AI friendly as every woman I know is being overlooked with the systems picking men for interview - largely blamed on the fact they run their CV's through AI...

This was for my company to be able to access the Aprenticeship funding. Apparently a Degree is Journalism did not prove I had a GCSE in English.

There are tons of level 2 numeracy/functional skills/maths courses available for free at every local college in the country so you should have no problem sorting this OP. It's the right time of year to enrol on most courses, too.

It's madness! On one hand we can't get jobs because they filter out women, even if we have better qualifications than men, then it's because we aren't meant to show these qualifications, but we have to then also pay to get them sent out to us even after 60k uni debt to show we can do it in greater detail!

Schools are very strict on the education standards required and they will want to see your certificates ex headteacher here

None of mine have ever asked to see the qualification certificates.

Just as well I'm not lying about them, really.

Is it possible to get an 'instant access' online Functional Skills Level 2 exam - so if you are already really confident that you'd pass with your current knowledge, you could just do it here and now? (I don't know if these things exist, but I thought they probably do, given that much of it is done online now).
Of course if you actually need to still learn some of it, then that wouldn't work, although you sound like you're in a good place to learn it now!

I dont think you would be, you can get replacement certificates if you know which board you say I understand

This is the kind of thing I was thinking of:

https://www.examcentre.co.uk/services/online-functional-skills-maths-level-2-exam/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22310162776

available every day.

(I'm sure there are others though)

Hi do you have a link to these tests please ? Would be really helpful.