Should I be concerned over my GCSE results?

I really struggled to study in school as I was badly bullied and suffered from OCD throughout my late childhood and teenage years. I was predicted to get A's and B's in my GCSE's, but was unable to concentrate in my situation. I was very lucky to get the results that I actually got:

Maths - D
English Language - C
English Literature - D
Science (Double Award) - C x2
RE (Short Course) - D (Only worth half a GCSE)
Geography - C
Business Studies - C
GNVQ I.C.T - Pass (Equivalent to C x4 at GCSE level)

I'm currently studying a Public Services National Diploma course, but I'm struggling as I have depression because I dwell on my past. I find it really difficult to accept my GCSE results as I know if I hadn't have been in that situation they would have been much better. I have no confidence. Will my results lessen my chance of getting a good job, wage and doing well in life? I know I owe it to myself to do well. Any advice? I would like to be a Police Officer or History Teacher.

Please do not worry. Here are two examples of people I know of with little or no GCSE's:
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GIRLl 1 - I went to school with. She left with GCSE's grades D's and E's and then did undertook no A Levels. She went on to to an HND in Business at the local college. She got a place at Birmingham Uni to study Law and qualified as a solicitor about 7 years ago. She now has her own practicel!

Girl 2- Suffered from depression left school with similalry low GCSE;s and did not go to college until she was about 22 years old. She worked in Estate Agencies for a number of years. She then went to collega and did an access course and got a place at QMW uni to study a combined degree in journalism and history. She graduated abotu 3 years ago did a law conversion course called a CPE, then did the solictor's practice course - LPC, now she is a year into a solicitors training contract!

Being a police officer they do not rely so heavily on GCSE's results. If they do require grade C's for English and Maths you have the option to re-sit these papers!! You also have to sit an entrance exam to join the police so this may compensate for your GCSE results. But you must remember that GCSE's can be re-sat. Heck I failed my Maths O Level twice before I took it again aged 24 years old and got a B!

Finally here is a further example - my son's father. Left school with two O levels and a grade E A level in Sociology. He got a place at Huddersfield Polytechnic [now a uni], completed his degree and his PGCE teacher training and has taught at a sixth form college for years now.


To be a teacher you do not need to have achieved excellent GCSE results or even excellent A Level results as there are so many universities around nowadays that cater for all abilities from Oxbridge to Hertfordshire University!.

Get help for your depression asap - doctors and counselling [your doctor's surgery should provide or refer you for free counselling and there shouldbe a counselling service at college!!] -and also note that depression can be used as a mitigating circumstance in terms of your exam results. You can also get extra time in your exams because of it and that is a fact.

Your results are good enough to get into 6th form and therefore University later if you want to be a history teacher.. I doubt most police officers have that many GCSEs anyway to be honest..
Don't worry about the results too much, in a few years you won't think about them at all and probably won't even remember what you got!

No stop worrying, you are suffering from low self esteem and you are letting pieces of paper dictate. You can't be more than 18 are you? You have your whole life to change your mind.
I got great results at school and still didn't get the dream job I wanted because circumstances change. Don't set your whole life by what job you have, you are more than the job.