His GCSE's are CRAP! Where does he go from here?

Question

My son has done his GCSE's and they are rubbish..he got 3C's and 8 D's and an F and a G.....He had high hopes of getting into his college but they cant accecpt him with those results...he wanted to do film editing and work with things like that....what can i do for him???

Answer 1

Blimey, why was he sitting 13 in the bloody first place?! get him to re-sit, but only focus on getting about 8or 9. I have 9 GCSEs and am about to start a PhD at a prestigious university.

Also, try and be a bit more supportive than going on about how "crap" and "rubbish" he is. Is this a surprise to you? If so then you obviously haven't been in contact with your son's teachers and haven't been helping him by supporting him with his revision.

My mum always told me she would support me in whatever I did, however it turned out, just as long as it was what I wanted to do, and that I tried my best.

Maybe your son needs the same reassurance.

xSx

Answer 2

Don't panic! Your son's GCSE results are not great but there not disaster. He would be better doing resits (they take a year and he can do up to 5 gcses full time, if he is confident taking 1 or 2 in the evening, he may want to do that too). I am sure the second time round he will be ok and his results will be better as his results are just below average and have room for improvement and then he can go onto A Levels and then university.

Answer 3

Film editing isn't necessary an academic route they want experience more than anything. He should get some voluntary work with a theatrical base. He can also write to some film companies asking if he can have a look around, or even write speculatively asking if he can be a tea maker etc because if you start from the bottom you will get your foot in and make contacts. The trouble is these days everyone wants to start their careers at the top anything worth having is worth working for. If he thinks he should re sit his exams then he can do but he can also look at local colleges and what they can offer.

Answer 4

I am in the same position as you. My son has had a disaster. 1 B in maths, several D's, 2F's and an unclassified in a GNVQ. A bit of a shock as he had been predicted B's.
He had planned to go to a sixth form college to do AS Levels but, they have already confirmed that they will not be able to offer him a place.
We spoke to a careers adviser at our local connexction office, who were really great (the number is on the web) they told us that re-sits normally only improve the grade by one.
They have advised that he should go to a further education college and do a Btec first certificate. then hopefully he will have more choice next year and gain back some confidence.
It has been very hard for him, all of his friends have done really well and his confidence has taken a real knock. I feel that he may have cruised through the exams with little real revision as he had the predicted grades required.
The only thing that I can take from this is that, hopefully he will put more effort in next time, as he has an understanding of what it its like to be not to pass.
Good luck for next year!!!!

Answer 5

He can re-sit at college, though with that many low grades I'm not sure what course he could do. Media studies is over-crowded as it is though and he may find it very tough getting a job in it, unless he can go through university and get very good grades there too.

Maybe he should look for work now - start at the bottom like in the good old days! Write to small film companies and ask if he can just go and help out for free. It's a foot in the door which is more than a lot of university graduates get.

Answer 6

I don't think your son is clever enough for film editing. I doubt that he stands any chance at all in getting into that industry.
If you cannot divert him from this ambition then he must attempt his GCSE exams again - probably at a local college.
In my opinion he would be better attempting vocational qualifications - he does not seem to be very academic and no amount of hard studying (or promises to study) will help.
Get specific advice from your son's school and from the local college. Ask them what the options are.

http://www.skillset.org/film/jobs/post/article_4732_1.asp
http://www.skillset.org/film/jobs/post/article_4741_1.asp
http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/coursesevents/mediacourses/?terms=editing&submit=Search
http://www.bbctraining.com/

Answer 7

I wouldnt push him to resit all of them. I was pushed to resit some AS levels and it put me under a lot of stress that I didn't need!
Does he have a grade C in maths and english? if not, then maybe its worth resitting those, as they are generally compulsory for a lot of things.
I would suggest perhaps a year in higher education college, doing some sort of foundation year? That way, he can do something he loves, without having to go back to school and go through the stress of GCSEs all over again.

Answer 8

He will have a chance to resit. thats ofcourse if he wants to. As much as he did not well in his gcses, many colleges will still accept him, the course will however make him do small assessments like maths, english and science due to his low grades. Maybe going along to the open day will help put hings into prespective.

Answer 9

He will have to re-sit. It's the best thing for him to do. Tell him not to waste the chance and re-sit them, 1 year out of his life could give him the career he's always wanted.
He will need to get his head down though.
He must have his head screwed on to some extent....at least he has an idea of what he wants for his future...more than what I had at his age.

Answer 10

Might be what he needs to make him wake up & realise he needs to work to get decent grades. He can do re-sits at college then reapply for the film course next year when he has improved his grades. Don't dispair, he can get back on track but he has got be to motivated to work & get to where he wants be in life.