When Is GCSE Results Day? Information And Advice For Parents On Dealing With Exam Results | HuffPost Life

A Parent's Guide To Dealing With GCSE Results Day

Amy Packham— The Huffington Post UK

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GCSE results will be released on Thursday 24th August 2017 and it probably feels like you've been living and breathing these exams since May.

Your child may be depending on certain grades to get them into college, but poor exam results are not disastrous and they may need some reassurance from you.

Catherine Sezen, senior policy manager for 14 to 19 at the Association of Colleges told HuffPost UK: "Don’t let your son or daughter get disheartened: whether they have received the grades they wanted or not, there is something out there that is right for them.

"Try not to let your vision for their success cloud your judgement.

"Make sure they look at all their options, do their research and get as much advice as they can before making a decision."

The Association of Colleges said every year, 834,000 16 to 18-year-olds choose to study in a colleges, a further 438,000 go on to maintained schools and academy sixth forms and an additional 70,000 16 to 18-year-olds take an apprenticeship through their local college.

Here is some advice on how to handle GCSE results day from Sezen and psychotherapist Robert Stewart who collaborated with career specialists How2Become.com.

1. Find out the options.

Sezen said regardless of the results your child receives, they need to put careful thought into what it is they want to do next as there are many other routes beside A Levels.

Make sure you know the options available in your local area by contacting your local college or visiting the National Careers website.

Sezen added: "You may have a fixed idea of what you want your son or daughter to do after GCSEs.

"A Levels are one option, but at college they could take a technical or professional qualification which may lead directly to the career they are interested in. Colleges offer BTECs, NVQs, City and Guilds and also A Levels."

2. Decide whether you should be with them on the day.

Stewart said if a child is old enough to take an exam, they are old enough to decide whether they would like their parents there or not when they receive their results.

He added: "Be available for your child, offer to join them or to be there for when they return.

"But allow the child a choice, exams are an extension of their ever increasing responsibility as a young adult, so their actions and choices can illustrate this."

3. Be honest but encouraging.

"Don't panic," said Sezen. "If your son or daughter hasn’t quite got the grades they wanted, encourage them to talk to their school or local college and ask for advice about all of the education and training options."

Stewart added parents shouldn't put a positive spin on their child's results if they're bad. He said: "Parents need to be honest with their children, their children know them better than they realise and will pick up on phoney reactions.

"But disappointment should be expressed towards the result not the individual. It is ok for both parties to be disappointed in an outcome, but not in each other."

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You may be filled with the urge to make it all better for your child, but Stewart said you should allow your child to be disappointed.

He added: "As humans our strength and resilience does not come from our successes but rather from our failures and our ability to cope with this.

"Allowing your child to be disappointed for a short time will allow them to see they can cope with disappointment and come out the other side.

"Once they have gotten through this, work with them to understand what could have been done differently for an alternative outcome."

4. Research apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships are a great way to earn and learn particularly if your son or daughter knows what job they want to go into, Sezen explained.

Many local and national companies now offer apprenticeships. Colleges can help find the right one and you can also find out more on the government's website.

5. Know where you stand with retakes.

The rules have changed now and if your child doesn't achieve at least a grade C or above in GCSE English and maths they will need to re-take them alongside any other qualifications they plan to do.

However, colleges will support them through this.

6. Understand the qualification levels terminology.

Sezen added: "After GCSEs it seems as if there is a whole new language to learn about qualifications.

"If you know what they all mean then you’ll be able to better understand what your son or daughter might want to do next."

Entry level – suitable for students who have gained no GCSEs.

Level 1 – equivalent to at least four GCSEs below grade C.

Level 2 – equivalent to at least four GCSEs at grade C or above.

Level 3 – equivalent to two to three A Levels.

Cute First Day Of School Photo Ideas

Photo Frames(01 of15)

Use these fun, colourful printables to mark the first day of school! This way your kids will always remember what teacher they had over the years. But if you’re feeling creative, you and your kids can even make your own signs to pose with in front of the camera.

Source: Carrie Elle

(credit:Carrie Elle)

Sidewalk Chalk(02 of15)

Here’s a cute idea: use sidewalk chalk to write out the grade your child is going in to. Then have them pose beside it in their first day of school outfit.

Source: Blue Cricket Design

(credit:Blue Cricket Design)

DIY Picture Frame(03 of15)

This is a great craft idea to do for the first day of school. Using a wood photo frame, wood letters, and paint, you can help your kids create this prop. What’s great about it is that by using chalkboard paint, you can change the frame from saying first day of school to last day of school or any day in between. Plus, your kids can also decorate to their liking using all sorts of materials such as glitter, pom poms, and even feathers.

Source: Mom Always Finds Out

(credit:Mom Always Finds Out)

A Traditional Twist(04 of15)

This idea gives the traditional first day of school photo a nice twist. Have your child balance books on his or her head and take a photo from their eyes up. The number of books on their head equals the number of the grade their going in to. This is a cute idea, though it will take some talent for those in upper grades!

Source: Be Different, Act Normal

(credit:Be Different, Act Normal)

Comparison Photo(05 of15)

Here’s another fun idea. Take your child’s first day of school photo from last year and have them pose with it this year. The comparison will show how much your kid has grown from then until now and will make your child feel that much more grown up.

Source: Seven Thirty Three

(credit:Seven Thirty Three)

First Day Of Preschool(06 of15)

The first day of preschool is important too. Get creative by documenting everything your little preschooler loves! Take a photo of your child off to one side. Then, edit the photo using Paint, Photoshop, or any other kind of editing software to add in the words.

Source: Sunshine Praises

(credit:Sunshine Praises)

Goodbye(07 of15)

Take a sweet candid of you saying goodbye to your little one as they head off to school. This is a great way to capture a precious moment and remember their first day of school.

Source: Pinterest

(credit:Pinterest)

Silly Candid(08 of15)

Not all first day of school photos have to be nice and proper. Let your kids be silly and take some fun candid shots of them as they head back to school.

Source: Sugar Bee Crafts

(credit:Sugar Bee Crafts)

When I Grow Up(09 of15)

Another great way to celebrate the first day of school for younger kids is to document what they want to be when they grow up. A simple way to do this is to write it out with chalk and take a picture from above!

Source: Paging Fun Mums

(credit:Paging Fun Mums)

Inner Nerd(10 of15)

Let your child’s inner nerd shine by taking a photo of them with their favourite book. To give the photo even more first day of school charm, take the picture in your kids’ school yard or classroom.

Source: Ruffles and Stuff

(credit:Ruffles and Stuff)

Then And Now(11 of15)

If you have a child starting his last year of elementary school or a teen starting his last year of high school, this is a brilliant idea. On their first day of school, take a photo of your child holding a photo of their very first day of kindergarten. Seeing the comparison of how much they’ve grown will make them (and you!) nostalgic remembering their childhood.

Source: Christina Dieselberg

(credit:Christina Dieselberg)

Stop Crying Mom!(12 of15)

It can be tough sending your little one off to school for the first time. To help deal with the separation, take a silly photo to remind yourself that you (and your little one) will be just fine! You can make this speech bubble using cardboard and chalkboard paint and you can customize the message yourself.

Source: Adventures of Bradysitting

(credit:Adventures of Bradysitting)

Siblings(13 of15)

If your have more than one child, it’s always a fun idea to take photos together. Give each child a small chalkboard to write down what grade they’re going into. Then, take a group photo of them holding their signs.

Source: Simple Little Home

(credit:Simple Little Home)

Hurray For School!(14 of15)

The end of summer vacation is always an exciting time for parents. Capture this positive feeling and this moment by taking a silly photo with the kids!

Source: Pinterest

(credit:Pinterest)

Prison Photo(15 of15)

As the photo states, this is “a more accurate version of how kids feel about the first day of school.” While some kids count down the days until they go back to school, others are less than enthused. To document their lack of excitement in a fun and silly way, take a picture in the form of a prison photo. Just set a simple backdrop by drawing lines on a piece of large white paper and write your child’s name, grade, and the date on a chalkboard.

Source: Pinterest

(credit:Pinterest)

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