funding for gcse resits??????

Scousebird_2

hanny83 wrote: »

Grade D is regarded as a pass in GCSE terms, anything less is a fail. Although most employers (if specifying qualifications) do require a pass grade of C or above in English and Maths in terms of requiring basic numeracy and literacy skills. Other competencies can in some cases make up for this.

The way you put this is what I would of said! I think if you look at what is in a GCSE exam and what is required even for an E grade-that is simple multiplication, division, taking away and calculating. Most businesses these days have systems that add and calculate for you-and most tills TELL YOU what change to give (lol) so I think that there shouldn't be so much focus on getting a grade c-and more just proving you sat and achieved a grade.

shewhoguards

Oh, in addition, I should have said, if she's already working it may be worth checking to see if her employer would actually give her a hand to get them.

I know I've worked in a couple of large companies that was happy to help folk eager to get their qualifications - it's all that "investing in people" thing.

Burlesque_Babe

Getting a C grade in Maths and English is very important and is also classed as a Level 2 qualification. Many employers want the 2 GCSE's at this level or level 2 qual. (D is a pass at GCSE, hanny, but a C is the equivalent of an old O level pass and is seen as the benchmark).

She should be able to get her level 2 qualification for free:

http://www.lmc.ac.uk/home/sservices/fees.php

this isn't where I work, but has the guidelines, she can choose maths and english as 2 of her 5 GCSE's if she wants to go for it and do it for free.

hanny83_2

I think without doubt they are handy things to have, especially if you apply for a job and the application is initially sifted as a point-scoring exercise. But it definitely would be a boost to a person's confidence if they couldn't for any reason achieve it at school and then went on to sit and pass later in life.

hanny83_2

Thank you BB, I did not know that

pinkshoes

Madtaff, could you not help her yourself? All she needs to do is buy herself a GCSE text book, and teach herself. If she gets stuck on something, she can post on forums for help.

There's also the BBC Bitesize stuff online that will help her.

She'll then just have to pay for the exam.

Oldernotwiser

Scousebird wrote: »

Employers have to be careful it isn't construed as Indirect Discrimation also-and having that grade c often does not mean that Joe Bloggs going for an interview after you with a C grade and you only having a D grade, that he is any better for the job-he may be academically, but in terms of suitiablity for the role-this is a different discussion to have.

There are many jobs now that do not exclude people for having less than a C grade-mainly for equal opportunities I would of thought.

Ridiculous as the world has become, we have yet to see a situation where not having a particular qualification is an equal opportunities issue!:rotfl:

I'm pleased that you've done well without the basics but it's really not a good idea to advise people on the basis of your own personal experiences. Many employers just automatically bin applications from peope without a Grade C in English and Maths; when you get 100 people applying fora job it's quite a good sifting mechanism to the get the numbers down to the point where someone will actually read the form.

Oldernotwiser

shewhoguards wrote: »

This is going from very rough memory (my employer pays for me to attend college and last year they had posters EVERYWHERE). "Fulltime" I think, when you actually looked at it, was only about 16 (?) hours a week, and if she hasn't currently got maths/english C+ at GCSE I think she would qualify.

You're right that full time may not be a large number of hours but the funding is for what's called a "full level 2 qualification" which would be 5 GCSEs. You can't just pick up the odd one or two this way, or at least not in any general sense.

Oldernotwiser

Scousebird wrote: »

The way you put this is what I would of said! I think if you look at what is in a GCSE exam and what is required even for an E grade-that is simple multiplication, division, taking away and calculating. Most businesses these days have systems that add and calculate for you-and most tills TELL YOU what change to give (lol) so I think that there shouldn't be so much focus on getting a grade c-and more just proving you sat and achieved a grade.

Grade C in GCSE in English and Maths is a shorthand way of finding out that someone is basically literate and numerate. The standards are so low that anything else would be a worry for an employer.

seven-day-weekend

When my son was studying for his GCSEs we paid for a private tutor for his maths, because it was not one of his strong subjects and it is so important. His English was OK. He finally scraped through the Maths GCSE with a C, having got an E in his mock/.

I think most jobs ask for these as the minimum requirements these days, especially if you have no work experience.