Sixth form for film

What area are you in?

Stick to conventional A levels - English vital. Maybe computing or design tech if he's interested in production. Don't specialise till university though. Check uni websites for preferred A levels - they won't be asking for Film Studies!

Have a look at the Brit School

But surely titchy surely only A levels if capable. (OP says her son is 'struggling through', though that could mean anything of course).

Chichester has a great sixth form for media. My DD did Film Studies but also English and a humanities subject. She is now doing a degree in film Production at Brighton Film School.

If he might ever want to do a degree, he’ll need some variety. DD was advised against film studies as an A Level but took a risk.

I believe a new 6th Form recently opened in London dedicated to all the roles involved in film-making. I think it's this one https://lsa.ac.uk (London Screen Academy)

Media studies covers film a bit and is available most places.

You probably want to be looking at sixth form or further education colleges offering Btec in Film or Media Studies. If gcses are already a struggle avoid A levels or IB.

Perhaps look into apprenticeships too OP?

A level film studies can be quite academic depending on exam board. Some courses allow students to make a short film as part of their course.

Some 6th forms are phasing out A level film studies and swapping over to Btec level 3 Creative Digital Media Production.

Off the top of my head the following might be of interest:

A Level Film Studies
Fortismere (Muswell Hill)
La Swap (Highgate / Kentish Town
City & Islington College
Graveney School (Tooting)
Chestnut Grove Academy (Balham)

Btec Level 3 Creative courses
La Swap (Highgate / Kentish Town) - Btec level 3 Digital Media
Kingston College (Kingston)
Creative Media Production
Interactive Media & Game Design
Royal Hospital School (Suffolk)

Depends what he wants to do in the future. If he's interested in cinematography for example, then photography, physics etc all useful. If he's leaning towards producing, then an understanding of finance, law, Eng lit would be more helpful. Art for the art department etc. There's no need to actually do film at A level if this is where he wants to aim. (I say this as someone who teaches at degree level in related field.)

Look at Confetti in Nottingham. My nephew is studying film production there and has gone from below average GCSEs to loving it and doing very well too. Nottingham is a great city too.

Hurtwood House has fabulous film facilitues, professional standard tv studio and edit suite, Film “Academy” for those with a particular interest. Look up Hurtwood Media on YouTube for examples of student made films and music videos to get an idea. You will however need to sell a kidney to pay the fees 😉