My rant

[Kovu]

Or never

Same here. That teacher was lucky I think.

 

[snorri]

I got a B in English

I don't know if B is good or bad, but a potential employer reading your first post in this thread would not be impressed.

 

[marinyork]

I don't know if B is good or bad, but a potential employer reading your first post in this thread would not be impressed.

Employers are not bothered about GCSEs. They are only concerned if you don't have the magic 5 A-Cs. If you do have them they'll think of some other excuse not to hire you .

 

[wafflycat]

Grades are only part of it. Another and BIG part of it is what they perceive as ATTITUDE. A prospective employer is not going to be too interested in taking on someone who comes across as having a bad attitude. There's plenty more folk out there looking for work who don't have a bad attitude...

 

[marinyork]

Sorry. I'll try and not pass on any of the jaded attitude Wafflycat .

The references point is important. My first job needed the reference from the guy who ran that college site.

 

[Radius]

Also, it may be likely that even if this teacher is unpopular, a good attitude towards him would be far more effective for you to:
a) not get into these kinds of situations
and be more infuriating for him when he tries to wind you up
But like Waffly says, attitude is the thing. I have a very good relationship with all my teachers, and the bit of effort that takes from me has pulled through for me on a few occasions, you can get away with more, but only because of what you've done to 'deserve' it in a way. I'm quite surprised that you are not more motivated even at A level. Didn't you pick subjects you were 'interested' in, or are you just not interested at all?

 

[wafflycat]

Defending sixth-formers... it's entirely possible to pick the subjects you enjoy to study but then find that once you start the course, the teacher sucks, there's a personality clash, you find at A-level the work is much harder, different to what you expected... all sorts of reasons. BUT, you have to get on with it. If you mess about then you end up creating problems for yourself and others in your class. It's one thing to mess up your own stuff, but to mess up others is particularly unacceptable

 

[marinyork]

Some of the transitions in subjects can be quite big. I heard some big complaints about Geography and Maths in particular. History seemed to surpass expectations.

 

[Radius]

Defending sixth-formers... it's entirely possible to pick the subjects you enjoy to study but then find that once you start the course, the teacher sucks, there's a personality clash, you find at A-level the work is much harder, different to what you expected... all sorts of reasons. BUT, you have to get on with it. If you mess about then you end up creating problems for yourself and others in your class. It's one thing to mess up your own stuff, but to mess up others is particularly unacceptable

I AM a sixth former

 

[Joe24]

Geography does have a big change between GCSE and a level. I wrote an answer in geography which would of been a b at GCSE, but would be about an e at a level.
I was very good in secondary, and with pretty much all my teacher i can have a joke with, and am very friendly with because i spent years my secondary school years being friendly to them.
I think my attitude to the teacher i dont think would be that different if i had only just got there. Going by the way the other kids in his lesson are, i think it would of influenced me.
I picked 2 subjects that interested me, pe and digital photography. Geography doesnt really interest me, bits of it do, other bits bore the hell out of me, and the way the teacher teachers() doesnt seem to be the best way, but the other geography teacher is fine with me and i find it easy to do that work.
I am interested in PE and digital photography though, and bits of geography. River stuff is pretty interesting, still have interest in that from when i was canoeing.

 

[Radius]

Did you change school at sixth form? I.e: go to a college? or did your school have an integrated sixth form college. Mine had that, so I am with the same teachers I have known for 7 years ish now so you can imagine we have good relationships, and if not that then a good knowledge of one another.

 

[bonj2]

just pick a vocational non-office based but skilled trade that's probably always going to be required like plumbing or motor-mechanicking or plastering or something and do a course on it at a college.

 

[wafflycat]

I AM a sixth former

I was one

 

[Kovu]

Okay -

Done the sixth form thing myself. Had son go through the sixth form thing.

1. Don't wind the teacher(s) up. The only ones that lose out are you and any other classmates you disrupt. Even if you don't like the teacher, you've no right to spoil a lesson for others who may be enjoying the subject, be passionate about it, require a decent grade to go on to university. Disrupting lessons by winding-up the teacher is harming your peer's learning.

2. Arriving halfway through a lesson is not slightly late, it's hugely late and shows disrespect to not only the teacher but to any other students in the lesson.

3. You don't have to go to university. It's not for everyone and that's okay.

4. Even if you don't go to university, but go on to get a job, you are going to require a reference from your sixth form. If you've been acting like a spoilt brat, winding-up teachers and turning up late, why should they give you a decent reference? So you are harming your future chances by disrespecting teachers.

5. Keep your options open. Although you may not want to go to university now, you may change your mind in the future. This is entirely normal. It's entirely normal to not know what you want to do at this point in your life. But to keep your options open, you NEED to put more effort in now, and that means not worrying about university. That is not an excuse, however, to disrespect your teachers and your peers in lessons.

6. Think about the pros and cons of having a year out once you've got sixth form done & dusted. Whether it's to get a job or do a spot of travelling - whatever - that year out can be hugely beneficial for many who use it as a time to work out what they do want to do with their lives for the next few years at least.

7. Don't ruin your chances, whatever route you go (job, university, travel... whatever), by acting like a brat now.

You sure you weren't on my bus home today. Was on about how i felt slightly chuffed that i had failed at least adequtly, and then i got the whole rant about the above from this lady sat next to me.

 

[wafflycat]

You wouldn't want to be anywhere near me right now - I'm a biohazard with the lurgy I've got!