What If Your Child Gets a Failing Grade on Their Final Report Card?
The final report card is coming — and that can be stressful. Especially when grades are disappointing or if your child receives a B or C certificate (Belgian system). But don’t panic: this isn’t the end of the world. In this blog, we’ll walk you through what you can do as a parent, what steps to take, and how to support your child positively over the summer.
A Certificate with a Summer Assignment? Here’s the Plan
Did your child receive an A certificate but still needs to complete a summer task or retake an exam? Here's what to do:
- Start with rest. After a long school year, one or two weeks to unwind is well-deserved.
- Then make a plan. Self-study can work, but extra support from a tutor is often more effective and motivating.
💡 Did you know that learning problems often stem from gaps from previous years? Tutoring can help fill those gaps in a targeted manner.
What Does a B or C Certificate Mean?
Getting a B or C certificate can be tough to process. But it’s important to understand what it actually means:
- B certificate = your child can transfer to the next year, but not in every field of study.
- C certificate = your child must repeat the school year, even if they change their course of study.
🔎 In Grade 11 (5e middelbaar), students can only receive an A or C certificate.
Always ask the homeroom teacher for clarification. You can’t contact the grading council directly, but the teacher can provide insight. Try to understand:
- Did your child fail multiple subjects?
- Are the deficits significant (e.g., more than 5%)?
- Are core subjects affected?
- Was there no improvement in the second semester?
If you answer "yes" to several of these questions, it might be a sign that the current academic path isn’t the best fit anymore. That’s not a disaster — a new direction can often boost motivation and success next year.
Considering a New School or Filing an Appeal?
You might be thinking about switching schools. Keep in mind:
- Other schools are required to respect the original certificate — switching won’t change that.
In exceptional cases, you can file an appeal:
1. Internal appeal process
- File a written objection with the school.
- The school will have to review the decision.
2. External Appeals Committee
- Handled by an independent board (Flemish Ministry of Education).
- They make a binding decision based on objective arguments.
📌 Strong motivation is crucial: have mistakes been made? Is the assessment unjustified? Note: only in about 20% of cases the decision will be amended.
You Have the Right to View the Exams
Make sure your child knows: they can absolutely review their exams. And so can you.
- You evenhave the right to a copy of the exam.
- This helps you understand what went wrong and how the grade was calculated — especially helpful for summer retakes.
Facing a Retake Exam?
A retake in August isn’t fun, but it’s manageable. Focus on:
- Provide structure: Make a clear plan with sufficient variation between rest, study and relaxation.
- Professional support: A tutor can help your child review the material — and also tackle performance anxiety or motivation issues.
👉 At Eduvik, you can easily find a subject expert who matches your child. Feel free to reach out for free advice.
Final Thought: Keep the Conversation Going
A failing grade isn’t a personal failure — not for your child, and not for you as a parent. It’s a signal, not a final judgment.
✅ Show empathy, listen, and talk openly about what’s challenging.
✅ Explore options together, without pressure.
✅ And above all, stay hopeful: every report card is just a snapshot. Growth is always possible.
Need help this summer? Feel free to request support at my.eduvik.com or send us a message. We are happy to think along with you.
Resources
🔗 Education Flanders
🔗 CLUB
🔗 OVGS