If your child didn’t get the GCSE results they were hoping for, you’re not alone – and more importantly, all is not lost. Every year, thousands of students across the UK have to resit exams, change direction, or re-think their plans. As a parent, you play a vital role in supporting your child through this tricky time. Here’s what you need to know and how to help your child move forward confidently.
1. Stay Calm and Supportive
First and foremost, your child might be feeling disappointed, embarrassed, or even panicked. Your reaction can set the tone for how they deal with the setback. Reassure them that failing an exam doesn’t define their future. Many successful people have failed GCSEs and still gone on to do great things.
2. Find Out Exactly What They Need to Resit
Not all GCSEs need to be retaken – it depends on your child’s future plans. However:
- English Language and Maths are compulsory. If your child did not achieve at least a grade 4 in these subjects, they must continue to study them and resit until they’re 18 or they pass.
- Other subjects (like Science or History) may not be essential for resits unless they’re required for a college course or career path.
3. Speak to the School or College
Contact your child’s school or sixth-form college as soon as possible. They’ll help explain:
- What resit options are available
- Whether your child can stay at the same school to retake
- If they need to move to a different course or college
- What support or tutoring they can access
Many schools offer November or summer resits, especially for Maths and English.
4. Understand Resit Timelines
- English and Maths resits usually take place in November (for students who just missed a grade 4) or in May/June of the following year.
- Other subjects are typically retaken in May/June only.
- Results for November resits come out in January.
5. Consider All the Options
There are multiple pathways your child can take:
a. Stay in Education with Resits
Many sixth forms and colleges allow students to begin a Level 2 or 3 course (e.g., BTECs, T Levels, A Levels) alongside resitting Maths or English.
b. Change Course
If GCSE grades didn’t meet entry requirements for a course, your child might switch to a different course for now, then progress once they improve their grades.
c. Alternative Providers
Some colleges or training centres specialise in resits and functional skills courses (a more vocational alternative to GCSEs).
d. Apprenticeships
Some apprenticeships accept students without GCSE passes, offering the chance to earn while learning, with functional skills training included.
6. Help Them Prepare for Resits
Resitting is a second chance, but it’s not automatic. Students need to prepare differently:
- Reflect on what went wrong – poor attendance? exam anxiety? wrong revision method?
- Use free revision resources online (e.g., BBC Bitesize, Seneca, past papers).
- Hire a tutor if affordable – one-to-one support can make a big difference.
- Encourage study planning – small steps often lead to big improvements.
7. Remember – There’s a Way Forward
GCSEs are important, but they’re not the end of the road. Many students who fail first time go on to succeed through determination and support. What matters now is helping your child take the next step with confidence.
Lynn Doyle Home Tuition 