Anyone else have a 16 year old not gain any GCSE 'C' grades this year?

tillycat123

Would really appreciate it if anyone else whose child did not gain 'C' grades at GCSE level would post on what they are going to be doing from September or what they did indeed go on to do if in past years. My head is spinning as is my 16 year old.

Was C/D borderline on most subjects and sadly gained only gained 6 grade 'D's. Very close on a couple to a 'C' I have poured over the grade boundary's and I will be asking if a couple can be possibly be remarked. Annoyingly a couple of other subjects had told him he had gained 'C's in the coursework only for the results slip to come through saying otherwise, so I guess moderated down.

The 2 college places he applied to have come back saying sorry cant do the course. One has offered him a Level 2 place for a year but has to pass with flying colours to get onto the next level. This course though is only an extended certificate so only worth 1 GCSE, so if fails that another year gone and no grades still.

He has only just turned 16, no idea of what he really wants to do in life but was interested in a motorsport course. To me without GCSEs behind him it is too specific, so if he does not like it or fails hes got nothing to fall back on and still no GCSEs for another course.

Local college does not offer a retake year, maths and English only offered as night school. Next college along that does is 30 miles away.

Nobody at school to ask for advice either, dished out results and locked up as soon as they could. Grrr.

I feel like the only parent who has a child that has crashed like this all I am reading is how many A* other kids have got.:(

He's gone off to his summer job this morning dreading them asking how he did.

I know he has to take ownership of this but I am feeling so sad for him. He is not a bad lad, never skipped school, always arrived to be one of the first in everyday but just not achieved.

ViolaLass

Without wishing to sound judgemental, did your son work hard at GCSE i.e. this is the best he could do but has a good attitude, or was he lazy (so could achieve better but isn't trying) or were there other problems?

I ask because my advice would change depending on your answer.

pigpen

My son did his last year and did get a 2 grade C's but not the English and maths most college courses require.. he resat those this year (and still got the same grades!) as he has severe dyslexia and got no support at all from the college.

TBH I would encourage mine to go to 6th form college rather than one which has adults as they are usually more supportive and better for transition into adult education and resit the Gcse's they need to do the college course they want to do.

Usually they only need 4 at grade C or above and usually include English and maths..

I know the majority of high schools here will allow children who got no C or above grades to stay and redo year 11 underc some circumstances.

It just seems really unfair I know.. my son was the same.. he was late 3 times in the 5 years at high school never missed a day off sick etc.. Then my daughter this year.. late every day, did minimal work, no revision etc and walked 12 at grade C and above.

Blackpool_Saver

learn direct?

Kanichen

Does your son actually want to do further education or would he be happier getting a job? Short of maybe be asked at my first ever job interview my GCSE results have never been relevant. (Besides, all he'd put on a CV is 6 GCSE passes). Maybe an apprenticeship in a trade is something your son would be better suited for? If he wants to go into further education then his only option is going to be speaking to a local college about retaking his exams next year. If however he'd consider apprenticeships/working full time - then more doors open.

Further education isn't the be all and end all and I'm sure this will all work out in the end.

The national careers service may be of some help.

spacey2012

Listen, practical advice.
We have a generation of parents who think their kids are geniuses who can work and never get their hands dirty.
We also have an abundance of unemployed graduates and many of those with a job are flipping burgers and waiting tables.

Low academic marks does not mean failure, it means some people are better at using their hands than writing down what they read in a 30 year old book.

Someone has to do the work, someone has to get their hands dirty, the whole countries youth can not be brain surgeons.
We have a million young people unemployed and it has to be connected to the mentality that everyone kids are too clever to work syndrome that New labour sold us.

Start looking for a trade apprenticeship for the lad and forget academic trinkets.
He will be earning a living wage whilst the other kids are in 23, in 40k of debt with a cornflakes box degree and unemployed.

The only difference will be he will have one of the few remaining manual jobs, for sooner or later the unemployed million youth are going to have to get of their backsides, stop kidding themselves they are brain surgeons or rocket scientist and go get a manual job.

Now get behind the lad and find him an apprenticeship in a real trade such as building trades, mechanical or engineering.

Trust me this kidding ourselves bubble is going to burst and anyone who has a trade will be the ones who survive.

So chin up, the lad has a bright future and his lack of academic qualifications may be just what saves him from washing up with the other million who think they don't have to graft.

HappyMJ

tillycat123 wrote: »

W
I feel like the only parent who has a child that has crashed like this all I am reading is how many A* other kids have got.:(

You're not...and it's nothing to be worried about. I never really like school and did not do well at all. I like to consider though that I've done quite well at working and earning money over the years.

If he wants to get into Motorsport how about doing an Apprenticeship and get a NVQ whilst also retaking the GCSE's then he should have enough points to get onto the Motorsport Engineering course that he wants to do. It'll just take a few years more but really what's the hurry.

Brighton_belle

Tillycat, I offer you my sympathy - I did disastrously in my O'levels many years ago - you don't forget that misery, ever.

I certainly wasn't lazy - just no body picked up I had a problem in retaining info and regurgitating for exams. I way also the absolute youngest in the year and with hindsight, that added to my difficulties and I got no good advice on how to proceed.

I have no practical advice to offer as I don't no what's around educationally, but hopefully others do.
Hang on to the fact that people do turn their lives around from these difficult times.

Person_one

Trust me this kidding ourselves bubble is going to burst and anyone who has a trade will be the ones who survive.

So chin up, the lad has a bright future and his lack of academic qualifications may be just what saves him from washing up with the other million who think they don't have to graft.

So nobody with a trade is intelligent and no intelligent people work hard?

What a load of b*****ks.

OP, I'm sorry I'm not able to offer you advice, but best of luck to you and your son.

wantnomoneyworries

OP you say your son has a summer job -so he obviously is a worker? Is this job something he could build on? It seems unfair as aren't children now supposed to stay in some sort of education until 17 - I would be disappointed if I were you that his school has not been able to advise you

tillycat123

ViolaLass wrote: »

Without wishing to sound judgemental, did your son work hard at GCSE i.e. this is the best he could do but has a good attitude, or was he lazy (so could achieve better but isn't trying) or were there other problems?

I ask because my advice would change depending on your answer.

He did revise but clearly not enough. We did have battles over not much time spent doing it. He does find it difficult studying alone, loses focus very easily.

Maths yes did try - Private tutor every week never complained once having to go and got on well whilst there. Grade would have been lower if not for the tutor.

Science - He attended help classes with the headmaster who suggested as he had progressed well and could take the higher paper. Teacher laughed at him and told him he would fail so take what ever paper you like.

English - Bottom set, young fresh out of uni teacher who struggled to control the class. Also school screwed up his exam entry.