spending 3 years in the sixth form

[violetqueen]

My son is in year 12 and is telling me that he thinks that next year ,he'll repeat year 12.
He thinks he'll need to improve his grades .
I think this is rather bizarre reasoning caused by nerves about his future ( he has very little idea about what he wants to do ).
Anyone any experience of spending 3 years in the sixth form who could advise on the implications ?

[RTKangaMummy]

I went from local comp {that only went to 16} to the local 6th form

I did 5 more O LEVELS and there were loads of us that spent a year doing more O LEVELS and then did A LEVELS

But this was in the dark ages of 1982

Loads of us did it and it was great fun

[Lilymaid]

My DS is doing some retakes in January and we are paying for his tuition as he is at an independent college. A friend's DD is also doing retakes in January. It is quite common and students will retake certain modules to up their grades whilst working to save up money for the post-exams gap year trip.
However, you would need to check whether you could get any teaching time in a 3rd year sixth. At our local state sixth form colleges, students can retake but can't join any classes, so have to organise and pay for private tuition, though the colleges will allow them to resit the exams on their premises and are helpful re UCAS applications.

[webwiz]

I think its a little early to think about retaking the year - how long has he been in year 12, three weeks or so? I would work more on increasing his confidence and getting him to work hard now rather than being defeatist about it. Has he been given some indication that he's doing badly? - DD2 (year 12) has been doing some tests/assessed practicals/essays this week just to see where they are up to now and some people have had very variable results.

The problem with A levels now is that the January modules loom into view very quickly and can be quite off putting at the start of the course. There is a lot of work to be covered before then and DD1 who made quite a shaky start actually did quite well by the time january had come around.

Retaking year 12 should be something decided after taking some of the modules rather than right at the beginning of the year. If he was mine I'd say "Don't be daft and go and get on with your homework"

[violetqueen]

Webwiz I know ,I think the same .
Think the real problem is that he can't imagine himself at Uni ,or even show any motivation to research what he might do .
Guess a year out is going to happen.

[webwiz]

Its a long time till university when your only 16 - university open days are not till after AS exams next year and he may feel differently by then.

DD1 was completely clueless about what she wanted to do so we just said pick a subject you like and worry about what to do with it later. She chose biology and started her degree a couple of weeks ago. I do find it odd when people say "Oh what job is she going to go into with that?" Err does it matter, she hasn't a clue but she at least will have a lot of options at the end.

Sometimes kids think everyone else is really sorted and knows exactly what they want to do in the future but apart from a few potential medics and lawyers most other 16 year olds have no idea either.