Confused over A level choices

I don’t understand why the classmates are even relevant? He doesn’t have to make friends…

This is a good opportunity for him to (1) work further o his self confidence and self kindness! And (2) pursue his interests and goals, when circumstances are not ideal. (Eg peers in class being unfriendly, although at present that’s a worry/risk, not a certainty. For others it might be a crap teacher, disruptive peers, health issue, problems at home etc etc)

Working on these things now will help him to function well in adult life.

A young neighbour of mine, often quiet and nervous (has IMO domineering dad and siblings!) wanted to go into a trade. Got decent gcses then studied his chosen subjects at a good local FE college. Loads of disruptive, disinterested peers, not great socially for him, except for his girlfriend at the time. He cracked on, did well, the teachers helped him get work experience, short term paid work etc. Got the qualifications, got first FT job a commute away and got up v early, got a promotion. He has been doing great, has identified his targeted next moves and opportunities workwise and seems much more confident all round.

Sorry I’ve not read all the thread so apologies if points already made. My son sounds very similar - many of his friends were top science/ maths geniuses and he is more mixed in with what he enjoys - football, art, humanities …He felt similarly in some of his lessons, that he didn’t really gel with classmates, but if he liked the subject and the teacher, and the teaching was good, the classmates were irrelevant. They don’t really need to mix a lot in class and group work etc like lower down in the school. He just went in, did his work, and hung out with his mates doing other subjects. So if he’s keen on biology i would go for it. There’s a lot of people think it only goes with other science subjects, but I think a mix shows breadth of ability. From personal experience I really wouldn’t recommend maths a level unless you’re really keen and find it comes naturally - it’s a world away from gcse. Maybe also consider the btec? I think they are much better received than in the past and if he enjoys it then he will do well, but check what the unis will take.

Actually you say your DS is capable in biology so just tell him to do it. He'll be fine.
I think the problem is that many who do biology also do physics and chemistry and maths, so are the science 'geeks'. I say this in a good way - my DD was one of them! But the effect is that as a group they're the geeky science kids who hang out together and talk geeky stuff. harmless but perhaps a bit intimidating.

Bottom line is Geography, PE and Biology is a good combo. Very complementary.
My impression of Geogralhy from when DS did it was that it was pretty easy peasy (or at least that was his experience). PE is obv your son's passion so he'll likely do well in that. And Biology - well that's the one he may drop a grade in I guess. But who knows? Perhaps being in a class of bright students will be the making of him?
I'd tell him to suck it up and get in with it.
You're right to avoid maths of he's not top grade GCSE material. It's a brute if it's not 💯 your thing.

It is ok, but I suggest you talk to the school ASAP because it might not be possible to change, so it is about managing his expectations and all that.

I think you are really over thinking this and there might not be as many options as you think.

Your child has been to an intro Day, the teacher he disliked may not even be his teacher next year, the other kids might be his best friends next year. And don’t you even think that science kids spent the time studying, mine is a party animal very invested in eSports yet with a true passion for… physics.

Whatever choices they make in sixth form will determine what they study, where and therefore a big chunk of their adult life will depend on those choices, don’t let him screw himself up by supporting him on a move that may compromise his options over perceived stuff that might not even materialise.

Besides… the chances of the school being able to help him move to other subject group might be very slim so it might be a good idea to manage your child expectations as it might not be possible to change subjects.

I read the beginning of the thread and started thinking, sounds like your son needs a confidence boost to convince him he does belong in the biology class every bit as much as the others do. I've just skimmed the rest of your posts rather than everyone elses and see that confidence has been discussed :)

I really hope that he gets a response from the teacher that reassures him he's doing the right thing, as it sounds like it is the best academic choice and that he should be up for it. I'm also going to cross my fingers that at some point something comes up regarding anatomy or physiology stuff that he's already covered in PE and can briefly know more about than the others in his class.

Hopefully, as you seem to suspect, more of the kids in the class are academically intimidating but not out to rub other's noses in it, rather than the couple you know to have a history of being a bit exclusionary. I have a son the same age who falls into that category and I like to think he's supportive of those around him who don't instantly understand things as easily as he does. (mind you he's joyfully giving up biology and sticking with maths /physics /music).

In your first post you say he is doubting himself in everything apart from PE, it wouldn't surprise me at all if he is projecting this on to the other kids in biology who he sees as much cleverer than him and so has decided he couldn't possibly fit in or manage in there. I would tell him that if he wants to do biology he should do it, he doesn't have to spend any time being best buddies with these kids - but if he makes the effort he might be surprised, and learn a thing or two - he can just keep his head down and concentrate on his work ( which really is no bad thing).

would he have acted like 99% of 16 yo boys in a class where they are supposed to be focussing on their own futures, and got on with the lesson and talked to their actual friends during downtime and discussions?

This is what I actually said which you are claiming is a personal attack and painting your ds as “nasty and mean”. Mate, he sounds like a regular kid with who struggles a bit with confidence and is good at science. He will grow in maturity and confidence enormously between now and Christmas. Perhaps you could join him. He will likely have a wobble around early October. He will be fine. Make a dumb choice based on friendships and he will regret it. Mine went to a 1500 form entry 6th form where he didn’t know a soul. Online learning, bubbles, seating plans, no extra curricular at all, odd subject combo has made things difficult. He went on a residential field trip and shared a room with 7 boys whose names he didn’t know. He was fine. He didn’t love it but he was fine. I’m fucking off now because you’re “woe is me” act is not something I can be arsed with. I don’t care about the “they didn’t do anything but he was uncomfortable” non issue enough to tolerate you singling me out as a cause of your alleged upset.

You seem to be implying that if the shoe was on the other foot he’d be nasty and mean to the others and that simply isn’t the case

I’m not implying anything of the sort and fuck knows why you are suggesting I am. You said they weren’t nasty and mean so why would I? I didn’t say they were nasty and mean. I specifically and explicitly said that they had their own friendship circle and were getting on with their own lives at their own 6th form induction. If you think that’s nasty and mean then really that isn’t my fault. Most kids after either 11 or 5 years in school together simply don’t think that not specifically making sure the rest of the class is comfortable is “nasty and mean”. Lord knows why you think it is. I haven’t personally attacked your ds. I haven’t said anything about him that you haven’t said. You seem determined for both you and him to be victims in a situation in which, according to your own narrative, nothing actually happened but your ds found it tricky because he is “rather cool”.

He needs your reassurance and maturity OP. Which I hope you can give him - maybe ask the teacher to have a word and bolster up his confidence a bit as well.

I have no idea why everyone is jumping on what type of kid your DS is when the real question is should he suck it up and cope with an awkward class for two years.

There are a few things I would think suggest - these kids may not get the grades to continue - there group might be split and this could change the dynamic. There may be other kids who get the grades and decide to join. Nothing is set in stone until after results day.

The other thing is don't discount the BTEC. There's a fair amount of snobbery on Mumsnet about them and the perception is that they're a lesser being. They are not. They require a consistent level of hard work over the whole two years. They are not an easy option. From my son's experience they were the best choice he could have made. He went from 4s and 5s at GCSE to getting a double distinction(*) in Engineering, he also took an additional A level alongside it and has just finished his first year as an apprentice - a job he got out of 7800 applicants. The practical knowledge that his BTEC gave him made the difference in his final interview. Find the BTEC spec from the Pearson website, go through the modules that your school offers and weigh it up. As long as the BTEC covers the subject your DS wants to study at Uni they are usually of equal value as A levels.

Right now may be the right time to investigate the course he might like to study at Uni and work backwards. Investigate the course requirements and find out what they really need. Decisions can be made this way too.

I wish him well - it's difficult to make the right choices but lots of kids move courses when they start in sixth form if they find the fit is not quite right so if chooses Biology and he can't 'suck it up' he may still be able to swap in the first few weeks.

BTEC has levels from entry to uni level so check you are looking at the Level 3 course. You also need to know the exact units they are teaching.

I used to teach BTEC Health and Social Care, most of the students went into nursing or other health related fields.

If a student had not taken the anatomy and physiology unit then universities were asking for B grade biology at A Level.

Having a quick look at the spec the A and P unit looks identical.

So IMHO the BTEC complements his other A Levels but I think you need an honest look at the VI form.

Some VI forms allow anyone to progress who has been in the school, others are ore selective so you need to get out your crystal ball and assess what is likely to happen in 2-3 months, will the others calm down? Will the subject be stimulating enough to put up with not being liked in the class?

The BTEC he is looking at looks like the one I did (followed by HNC) to be a clinical physiologist, I worked for the NHS and mostly in cardiology but there are opportunities in sports science.

I have no idea why you are singling me out for special upsetting credit either. You described your child as “cool” and the others as “the exact opposite” of cool, not me. You likened your child to a popular and good looking millionaire footballer type, not me. You said that these kids haven’t actually said or done anything to your ds but still seemed to expect them to go above and beyond, as if it’s their responsibility, to make ds more comfortable in a school situation he’s been in for 11 years, as if he was a new boy. I’m just pointing out that the opposite of cool kids have their own lives and own friendships and given that they didn’t actually do or say anything then they were probably just doing the induction, same as your child was. You’ve repeatedly said most of these boys have known each other for 11 years and he doesn’t like a couple of them so excuse me for not believing that he would have spent his PE induction trying to over-include a quiet kid in a lesson in a school they have attended for 5 years. Other people have different friendship groups. This is ok.

He can socialise with the kids that are doing the other two subjects. My son does Biology, it’s very intense, not much chance for chat in lessons anyway. My sons tutor chooses who they partner with for certain work/practicals and changes them regularly. It’ll be fine.

I'm not sure why anyone's making this about their kids having a shit time at school. The Ops kid didn't make your kids feel bad.