Insofar as you are in a school that is more focused on tracking attendance than in academic performance, attendance is a big deal, yeah. If you turn up and they can see you trying then things tick along... If you don't turn up then that creates a bit of a problem for them... They can turn a blind eye if you give them evidence you are doing your work outside class (e.g., by handing in high quality work / by doing well in tests). But when you teacher asks you if your test was a 'serious attempt' they are sort of saying that what you have given them is indistinguishable from someone who didn't do any work for the course whatsoever... Did you do any work for the course? You said something about being too anxious to study... Too anxious to attend, too anxious to study...

See... They can't keep giving you passing grades for not turning up and for turning in work of poor quality... If they did... Well... Whatever qualification you are working towards... Really would mean nothing. It would have no value whatsoever. You said something about how if they left your attendance alone then you would get A's... And yet it sounds like they have been leaving your attendance alone (you said your attendance fell to less than 50% before christmas) and yet your test was indistinguishable from a joke.

You said yourself that you don't believe you have many other options due to poor GCSE's and not having any work experience. Perhaps they can help you find other options. It doesn't sound like continuing on doing poorly as you are is doing you any favors... It can't be nice to be feeling anxious all day... Volunteer work in order to get work experience might be an option... But surely you can see that the current situation can't continue on indefinately into the future?

There is only so much that your progress tutor can say on your behalf. It sounds like they made it clear in the last meeting that they weren't really able to support you anymore / they really weren't able to offer you the support that you need.

Hopefully people can help you get in touch with an educational advisor / career planner person who can help you with some work experience.

Sorry if this sounds harsh... I think this is what the meeting will be about. I don't know how much help they can give you in finding an alternative pathway in life... But it really does sound like you surely need to find one...