UK peas GCSE results

That's great. Congrats. We are years away from that moment in this house but if those years pass as quickly as this past school year, it will be here before we are ready.

My DD's school(State) have posted their headline results and they are really impressive, staff and pupils must be doing the happy dance.

Glad you have a happy child   My youngest got a higher degree than she had anticipated earlier this summer so I know that feeling of relief and happiness!

Thank you 

Oh gosh, the next few years - and that year in particular - are going to be very busy academically for your sons; And that particular Summer is going to seem a long few weeks for them as they wait for the results to come in!

Wishing them both every success when they take their GCSE and A Levels and as little stress as possible for all of you.  

Well done katiejane's daughter and gar's daughter.

In England, education from age four to 16 is spilt into four key stages, KS1 and KS2 cover primary school (up to 11). Then KS3 and KS4 are secondary education up to about 16. GSCEs are the State exams at the end of KS4.

Then students can move on to do A Levels which will provide a route into Uni. They have to now stay in education until 18 either studying for A levels or doing an apprenticeship. Getting good GCSEs increases choices in future education. I believe a new policy means that those not passing Maths and English will have to resit.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-33990713

If you wanted to compare schools you could check the main % pass rate - the % of students who get 5 GCSEs A* - C including English and Maths.

Bear in mind, I'm still learning about the process as my DD in only in KS3 so others might be able to add more info.

It's a great feeling when they pass. DD passed 3rd year at Uni, one more to go and this time next year she will be a probationary teacher. She is both excited and nervous at the thought of having such a huge responsibility. I love how enthusiastic she is, she is already stocking up classroom supplies and today came home with an analogue clock which says quarter past, half past and quarter to.

One thing to remember that all is not lost if they don't quite get the grades needed. DD was one point short in her IB score to be accepted to University but they worked with her and she did an access course which not only gave her a place the following year she went with several credits.

I actually wish University acceptance was 20+  That would allow our kids to have some slip-ups, work for a bit or if finances allowed, travel. I know that is unrealistic but I also think that couple of years would give them a firmer idea of who they are and what they really want to study.

Anyway, hearty congratulations to all who have done well in their exams.

If they did poorly in their GCSE then they are not academically capable of doing the A level. GCSE are graded from A* A. B and all the way down to G.( although they are soon to be changed to a pass rate from 9 being the highest down to 1 in some subjects next year with the other subjects to follow. Most schools require you to pass the chosen subjects they will be doing at A level to the standard of the C pass grade. They can stay at school and re-sit their GCSE but they sit the whole exam again in whichever subject they want to improved the grade for.
They can still do apprenticeships with a lower grade pass in GCSE but most apprenticeships want at least a C pass in English & Maths.

Where we live, the 6th form colleges ( where A levels are taken) have a point system. Points are 'earned' according  to the child's results. What subjects/how many  they are allowed to take is determined by the points . My oldest boy was devastated to learn that 'mum was right' and he didn't get enough points to do Chemistry , computing and Physics at A level. He ended up doing Computing and BTech sciences which gave him the equivalent of three A levels- although most Unis  here see the BTech results as having less value than the equivalent A levels.

where we live there is no guarantee that a child will get into 6th form- they have to have good school references and decent GCSE results as there are limited places and a high demand here. There are a couple of less popular 6th forms where children can be admitted if they fail to get into other colleges, but those kids tend to be re-sitting GCSE or undertaking practical courses rather than taking A levels.

Well done to your DS, that's a great achievement!  

Hope he's enjoying a few days downtime now and wishing him every success for next couple of A Level years.

My DD's school has it's own Sixth form where she could do A levels (not all schools do) and she would be able to do them there with the grades she got. However, she is desperate to move away from town, spread her wings and study in Derby (it's our local City, still quite small but would be a lot more diverse for her than the local high school).

To get into the college in Derby, this year they determined that everyone wanting to do A Levels there had to get a grade B English Language (previously it had to be a C) and poor DD was devastated yesterday as she only got a C. We went into the college and they said that they were sticking to their guns on this. DD equally determined not to stay at High School. She has chosen to pursue the option of BTEC in Business Studies. I personally think this is a better course for her as it is 100% assessment and will be more suitable to her (she is incredibly organised and motivated and her coursework on all courses was working to higher levels than she managed with the exams). She is also not particularly interested in going to University so I think the type of skills acquired on the BTEC are more employer friendly - intentionally so by the college, and they do have work experience as part of the course too.

I really don't like the focus on exams. I especially don't like that the kids have to stay in some form of education until they are 18. I think that was just a ploy to get the unemployment figures down. This DD is quite bright and very motivated and even she struggled to get great grades (1xA 2XB 4XC 2XD). Heaven help my youngest who will be starting year 10 in September. She has learning delay and usually achieves about a level 3 in tests (low even for someone leaving primary school aged 10/11 never mind a 14yo). Even in the vocational courses at 16 she will need better grades than it is anticipated she will achieve.