Breezing through GCSE's?

[AndrewBurling]

I've currently done no work had no teaching from my current "special" school and have frequently gotten A/A* my Question is simple Is this normal for AS or Exceptional. I ask this since my class mates are achieving at best C with maximum input and my friends In mainstream are getting the same Marks as me.

 

Is this normal and If my current school Is making me miserable and has given me depression Is there any point In me going there. I think the LEA could use the £135,000 better elsewhere.

 

Forgot too add In what's a good average for someone with AS in the IQ department? Mines over 140 and enough too join Mensa.

 

Please excuse me If I sound like I'm trying too brag I just wish too compare with a wider range of people than my school area. W

Edited June 28, 2011 by AndrewBurling

[flappyfish]

Regarding IQ's, my son's was measured at 135 and is on the 99th percentile, so yours is very, very high!

[Mandapanda]

Hi Andrew

 

Firstly, don't knock getting As. I assume you're in class when they are 'teaching' stuff, maybe you just take it in and retain it well. My eldest did OK in his GCSEs with no revision, but he has found doing A-levels a totally different experience. He won't take notes and thinks he can remember everything because that's what he did at GCSE level, but A-levels are a big jump up from GCSEs, and he is only getting Cs at best.

 

 

IQ: An IQ level is only an indicator of potential. I have a high IQ (152) and have been a member of Mensa, but I'm really not noticeably brighter than the next person and haven't achieved any outstanding things. Both my sons are very bright, the eldest enjoyed mainstream school, but the youngest could not cope at all with mainstream secondary school and it nearly destroyed him - secondary school is very different to primary and the expectations on the pupils are much greater and the caring and consideration from teachers is much less.

 

Is there any possibility that you resent being in a 'special' school and do not want to admit to youself that actually there could be some difficulties for you in a mainstream environment? If you're doing GCSEs presumably you won't be there much longer, what will you do after?

[AndrewBurling]

Go to my mainstream college. My last school almost kicked me out after mucking around In lessons and doing nothing. That and Insulting teachers. I had friends and I fitted In well except for the fact I was hated by the teachers.

 

Well most of them anyway.

I know A level Is a bigger step up and I want too work again. I've not even entered the classroom.

I wasn't there too be "taught" and yet I've still gotten my A/A*.

[dm2010]

GCSE's are easy.

A levels are harder - it isn't called Advanced Level for nothing

Degree is much, much harder - you have to do everything yourself, the support network you had at school disappears completely - and you're probably living away from home for the first time.

 

The shock of going from easy to difficult is pretty big !

 

Note also that the actual grades you get at A level and degree are less important than how you do in comparison with everyone else - it is a full-on competition for the best universities and jobs which GCSE isn't.

Edited June 29, 2011 by dm2010

[Mandapanda]

Go to my mainstream college. My last school almost kicked me out after mucking around In lessons and doing nothing. That and Insulting teachers. I had friends and I fitted In well except for the fact I was hated by the teachers.

 

Well most of them anyway.

 

Having no respect for adults and 'mucking around' in class can make you seem cool to other pupils, but that doesn't mean they are genuine friends. They may have enjoyed enouraging you in your misbehaviour, and then enjoyed standing back and watching what happened. If you were mucking around and insulting teachers and not doing any work that would not make teachers want to help you. It must be soul destroying for teachers seeing bright kids deliberately sabotaging their time at school. Not quite sure how you could be getting As if you're not in class and not studying by yourself?!

 

It doesn't sound like mainstream school would solve any of your problems as you didn't put any effort into studying there either. If it's that you want 'normal' friends, join a club - youth club, wargaming club, air cadets, or whatever is local to you.

[AndrewBurling]

Trust me It was genuine friendships from Primary and others from Hobbies. I can tell the ones that were posers because I was 'cool' for mucking about.

 

I know teachers didn't want too help after that, yet the few that did said If I stayed In school long enough I would do my GCSEs In year 9 and As Level In year 10-11.

[JsMum]

My sons best friend recieve extra support and tuition for been on the Gifted and Talented sceme, he is in yr 9 in a mainstream and sitting GCSEs and predicted a A* he has admitted that he hasnt revised or put in the effort and just seems to get throw the work effortlessly, if he gains a A* in this situation I said imagine if you studied, put in the work and effort your mark would be off the scale, wouldnt you want to be able to see your true potential and see what could be achievable if you put your all in it.

 

I have to read page repeatedly to process information and my IQ is below average, It doesnt matter how hard I try or how much effort I put in my results are still always average.

 

You should go throw life knowing youve tried your best.

 

You need to set challenges up to really push yourself by the sounds of it and been the class clown may get you friends but where will those friends be in ten years time?

 

If your truely that miserable at your current school and your depressed you may need a different type of aproach to learning and therefore a different type of special school.

 

No good progressing achademically if your emotional and mental health is deteriating.

 

Look at special schools that take talented and gifted young people with AS.

 

JsMumx

[AndrewBurling]

Thanks for that Insight.

Supposedly this School is for bright AS kids.

Since there are only two people Including me always achieving A-A* I would disagree.

 

We've got students that are around 80-90 In the IQ department, thats borderline retarded according too the scale.

 

I've been talking too my parents about a move back too mainstream or home education but three years ago I was aggressive and thats when I was homeschooled.

 

Another point Is we've paid 30K too get me where I am In legal fees much too my Objections.

[Sally44]

IQ's only give information about a person's abilities in that particular skill and is averaged out. For example my son scores above average in some areas and has severe difficulties in others, which brings his total IQ down to low average. It depends on what skill sets are intact and whether they are integrated and learning is functional and generalised.

 

It sounds like you have got alot of academic potential. It maybe that you are placed in a special school because there was a real fear that you could be excluded? or expelled? or maybe your parents and others argued that your behaviour in school had made the school staff disengage from you as a pupil? or maybe it was argued that your behaviour was due to being influenced by others, or that you were a bad influence on other pupils? Could be any number of reasons. But, the argument for you to be placed there must have been strong. As you say, it is alot of money and LAs don't pay that lightly, so somehow, someone managed to prove that you needed that placement?

 

Related to your diagnosis you may find that in mainstream you do struggle with social interactions and communication. Being "cool" in school usually means you are disruptive in class. That just causes trouble, especially as you become older, and you may need to think about the "image" you give to others. Afterall any educational setting is not just about "you", as others need to be considered as well. But at the same time you should be stretched academically as well as in the other areas you may have difficulties in eg. relationships, imagination, theory of mind etc.

 

You may well feel that you don't fit in where you are. Maybe college will be different because you will be able to choose the subjects you are studying. But remember that you do have a diagnosis for a reason and you may struggle with some things and may need to seek assistance for them. Or you maybe totally unaware that you even have any difficulties and others need to be proactive and ensure that that support is already in place.

Edited June 29, 2011 by Sally44

[Linnet]

Even if you find the work easy, it's worth getting into the habit of studying as eventually you'll come across something you do need to work for and then it's hard to have the discipline to study. I have an IQ of 154 and found school really easy but, as an adult, I have found some things difficult (sociology module at University was a nightmare)and have not liked having to put the effort in. My son got a B in religious studies at GCSE even though he didn't take it as a subject and just went in and sat the exam. It makes you wonder what all the lessons at school are for!

[bid]

To be honest, Andrew, the way you describe behaving at your last school really wasn't fair on the other students and the teachers.

 

bid

[AndrewBurling]

Everyone was doing the same.

I was just picked out because I had AS.

The teachers had a go at everyone In general too start with then just me when the found out I had AS.

[bid]

Everyone was doing the same.

I was just picked out because I had AS.

The teachers had a go at everyone In general too start with then just me when the found out I had AS.

 

Doesn't make it right to behave like that, though, does it?

 

If 'everyone' was nicking stuff from shops, would you do it too? I hope not!

 

Bid

Edited June 29, 2011 by bid

[AndrewBurling]

Of course not but hindsight Is a wonderful thing.

 

But It does justify my position a tad more.

[Mumble]

Education is not all about grades. Perhaps your school can help you with your attitude towards others, your superiority complex, and perhaps with a few basic English lessons. I find it fascinating that you're happy to berate other students as less intelligent (even 'borderline retarded') in comparison to yourself and yet litter your posts with basic mistakes:

 

We've got students that are around 80-90 In the IQ department, thats borderline retarded according too the scale.

• there shouldn't be capitals in the middle of sentences
  
• 'thats' needs an apostrophe
  
• too means including/as well/indicative of a large amount. You might find this website helpful.
  

 

Some basic mathematics wouldn't go amiss either. 90 is closer to 100 ('average' IQ) than to <70 (below average IQ).

[AndrewBurling]

I forget too add that I'm typing all this Via a mobile touch screen. Sometimes it double clicks and other times It changes words Into other things.

 

I put capital I since It looks better. I hate this i looks weak.

 

Basic mathematics? I've put no equations In there and according too the scale I've seen 0-70 Is retarded and 70-90 Is borderline retarded 90 Being less so.

[Kazzen161]

The best way to persuade the LA and your parents that you should be in mainstream school is to attend lessons, work hard and show that you can treat others with respect.

 

My son went to a specialist AS secondary school (which only takes very challenging children). One of the children in his year wanted to go back to mainstream school, but they worked hard on their behaviour and attitude. They were helped and supported by the school and their parents and they did go back into mainstream and were successful there.

[Mumble]

I forget too add that I'm typing all this Via a mobile touch screen. Sometimes it double clicks and other times It changes words Into other things.

 

I put capital I since It looks better. I hate this i looks weak.

 

Basic mathematics? I've put no equations In there and according too the scale I've seen 0-70 Is retarded and 70-90 Is borderline retarded 90 Being less so.

'I' on its own should be a capital, but at other times (except the beginning of a sentence) it should be lower case. It's not about looking better, it's about correct English. You wouldn't get very far in an English exam if you used the excuse "but I prefer it that way"!!

 

Just for your information, a normal IQ range is 70 - 130.

[AndrewBurling]

Ok whatever. Also for you Information I scored an A* on my English exams.

[Lyndalou]

Ok whatever. Also for you Information I scored an A* on my English exams.

Hi Andrew

 

You are still very young and in time you will realise that qualifications, although important, are just a small part of what you learn in life. I am in no way saying that to put you down. It is just fact. Many of the people responding to your post are most likely a lot older than you, like me. We too were young once and in many cases maybe just as opinionated and single-minded as you are.

 

Whether or not a special needs school is the 'right' place for you to continue your schooling is something that you will have to work out with your parents etc but it may have little to do with your academic abilities that this decision was reached in the first place. In the work place you have to recognise the different rules and boundaries that apply (each work place may have similar working practice but there is more room for manouevre in some jobs than others) and you will have to decide yourself how much respect to give your boss/manager and colleagues. I would view school in some ways as 'practise' for the 'real world'. In the work place you are likely to come across managers (teachers) who you may think are less qualified/intelligent/not worthy of respect than you are but by virtue of their position you give them respect or you could find yourself out of a job pronto. The same goes for colleagues (other school pupils) who you could think should not be in the job. They applied, got accepted for interview and gained the position just like you so you try to work with them as best as you can. They could be bringing to the job skills you are unaware of or even the handy ability to work well in a team! The best way to lose a job is to be overly critical or disparaging of your colleagues.

 

Work hard (or not) but accept criticism. It's hard to do that but it's an important life skill which will serve you well.

 

Lynda

[dm2010]

Qualifications do matter but not forever.

Even my university head of department said that by the age of 30 they have much less significance.

 

They matter most between the ages of 18 and 22 when you're either going to university or leaving there for a first job.

 

In professional fields everyone is qualified so it is a bar to entry, and no more than that. In a sales orientated business world environment, qualifications have much less value. You're judged on monthly sales figures.

[Karen A]

I've currently done no work had no teaching from my current "special" school and have frequently gotten A/A* my Question is simple Is this normal for AS or Exceptional. I ask this since my class mates are achieving at best C with maximum input and my friends In mainstream are getting the same Marks as me.

 

Is this normal and If my current school Is making me miserable and has given me depression Is there any point In me going there. I think the LEA could use the £135,000 better elsewhere.

 

Forgot too add In what's a good average for someone with AS in the IQ department? Mines over 140 and enough too join Mensa.

 

Please excuse me If I sound like I'm trying too brag I just wish too compare with a wider range of people than my school area. W

 

I popped in today and have not been around for a while.

However I thought I would give another perspective.

My son who is 13 and has AS is very bright indeed.He is at a large mainstream comprehensive in London.He copes on an almost daily basis with difficult behaviour by other pupils and the impact it has on him.

 

If we could find a local ''Specialist Provision'' that could meet his needs he might well be interested.He also feels fed up at times.Although the environment is well able to provide for his educational ability this only works if he can get into lessons and learn.

Furthermore it is a very common situation.

 

If I were you and Specialist Provision to the cost of £135,0000 was funded by the LA and I was doing well I would not complain too loudly.My LA would be only too happy in the current financial climate to amend the Statement at the earliest oppurtunity to name a mainstream school and use the money elsewhere or not at all.

 

.

 

Karen.