Drop a GCSE for Functional Skills

I agree re checking.

DD's college does Level 1 FS, but then straight to GCSE, it seems to only offer Level 2 FS to apprentices. It appears as if even if DD gets her Level 2 FS English this year, when she returns to college in September they may still require her to 'work towards GCSE' in English Lang.

I would just check, when she gets along to looking at college, which qualifications will be sufficient for her not to need any resits. If she does scrape a Grade 3 in one of the GCSEs, she may be forced to try and raise this to a Grade 4, even if she has the Functional Skills Level 2. (This was the case for my DS).

Whereas if you get a 2 or lower at GCSE, I think you are allowed to stop at FS Level 2.

I teach both GCSE and Functional skills (city and Guilds) in maths at a college. I would say that the FS is easier and has a lot less content to learn. I also teach FS English (but not GCSE) - the English at functional skills is a lot easier. For most courses a level 2 in FS is enough. I would say do the FS then she can enjoy the topic she excels in at college - good luck

Fair enough I was thinking A levels on hearing level 3

I did a Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship. I had never passed my Maths at school so did Functional skills level 2. Had no problem doing the coursework for the apprenticeship.

That's what I think. 2 years is a long time when you're 14-16. To double up on subjects you find really challenging and don't enjoy it's going to make that a tough 2 years.

Could be quite depressing though, especially as the OP says she'd need to drop her favourite subject.

She only needs 5 GCSE's really. As long as dropping another doesn't take her below 5 then I'd go for it. Concentrating effort into a smaller number is going to help her hit her potential on the remaining ones.

Don't let her become too reliant on her reader, that person will read the words but isn't able to interpret.

If she continues with GCSE Maths encourage her to 'question pick', decide what her strengths are and concentrate on those first of all eg if Algebra isn't a strength then leave those questions out or until the end. Having just marked Foundation Maths it's obvious that the unstructured questions cause most problems for students who struggle yet often score the highest marks. One of the biggest problems is not reading the question properly so practice on comprehension would be good for her.

Level 3 includes BTEC vocational courses and Level 3 apprenticeships.
These are far less academic and (depending on subject) accessible to YP with basic English and Maths. I didn't mean ANY Level 3 course, but one that interests the YP and aligns with their practical skills.

Level 3 is A level right? I know the schools round here won't let you take them without a minimum grade C in maths and English even if you are brilliant at Art and wanting to do that at A level

It is a reasonable question. Level 3 courses require a certain level of ability in research, writing and analysis, that my own DD (see above) would find hard, even in her particular area of interest. T levels also from the outside appear harder to me in this respect than the old BTECs.
It may well be sensible to start on the equivalent level 2 if having to resit the GCSEs even if they let her in to the level 3 course, and aim to take 3 years.

Functional skills maths level 2 really requires a lot of reading and literacy.

In my experience it's often harder for students to pass functional skills maths level 2 than it is for them to do well on the normal maths gcse foundation paper.

Maths functional skills level 1 is a very good idea and will support her to make progress.

This is true.
However if she can get the FS level 2 it takes the pressure off a bit.
My DD 'left' college still with 3s. If she had had option to get FS we wouldn't be doing it privately now.

My daughter has all sorts of sen too. Does your daughter have an ehc plan?

The only caveat is that not all employers / higher education colleges accept functional skills instead of GCSEs as ds2 found to his cost & it is sometimes unpredictable as to who will and who won't.

I'm not sure why she needs to do the maths and English GCSE at the same time as functional skills (if I've understood right). It's a waste of her time, effort and energy doing both and leaving less time, effort and energy for all her other subjects, including the one she wants to do. I would stick with the option GCSE and do functional skills later if she can. Ideally, she would do ONLY the functional skills but if that isn't an option then drop the functional skills 'extra' maths and English. This will give her a nicer experience of school doing things and enjoys. I think doubling up on subjects she hates to dump something she likes is really silly.

I'm not sure my last post was correct, but anyway updated guidance here
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-funding-maths-and-english-condition-of-funding

Surely if you are at the level you need to be doing functional skills and struggling with GCSEs it's unlikely you will manage a level 3 course anyway