IT BTEC help - so confused

Hi, we are in the exact same position- looking at the exact same A Levels or BTEC IT. My daughter will get the grades for A levels but has ADHD and it has been hell getting her to get the grades although very bright. Existing 6th firm at school doesn't do BTEC just Alevel so would mean going to college. It's so hard to decide!

If he’s getting level 5’s and above there’s no reason why he can’t do A levels?

It really depends on the subject. I would say that maths is out. Most 6th forms advise against maths A level unless the student achieved at least a 7 at GCSE, and some ask for an 8 or 9. I would say the same for the sciences. Most 6th forms won't allow the student to take physics without maths either.

It sounds like BTEC is the right route here.

And I agree that they should be kept.

If A levels is what OP's son wants to do he should be OK as long as he gets mostly 6's and 7's .

But OP has said the traditional style of learning doesn't suit him.

My DS did a BTEC L3 in IT, and is now at uni doing marketing. He also has ADHD and I watched for years as he struggled with mainstream education.

He told me that the years he was at college doing his BTEC were the best, the modular structure of BTECs suited him perfectly.

Generally I read that a 7 at maths GCSE is a minimum for successfully doing it at A level. Given how cumulative maths is, if you have only got as far as a 6 at GCSE that is a lot of GCSE level you haven't mastered / been taught.

@Lovemusic33
I think many would say that A-levels are hard if only having 5 at GCSE.
OP's DS wants to do Maths and Physics at A-level, as well, which are hard and usually require higher grades at GCSE.
Our local college, even, requires a 6 at GCSE to do Maths A-level.

And both my dc are on the spectrum.

If he’s getting level 5’s and above there’s no reason why he can’t do A levels? Dd is in her second year of a computing A level and says most of it is coding so he should find it a breeze if coding is his thing, my dd is predicted a A* and it’s not even her favourite subject, she’s found it pretty easy compared to her other subjects and the work load hasn’t been huge.

My other dd has been doing a computing BTEC over 3 years (she’s in a SEN school) but I don’t know enough about it to say if it’s any easier than doing A level.

The problem with T-levels at the moment is not a lot of Unis accept them.

My son did a L3 extended BTEC focussing on programming and gaming, he then went onto Uni and did a degree in games development and design and now is a VR software developer, try and help him think which direction he wants to go in and see if there is a course that fits with that.

This is why it’s so important to fight to retain btecs.

All the best with your decisions

My DS has autism.

It was a bit easier for him in that most schools in this area don’t have 6th forms so almost everyone goes to one of two local colleges who offer both a levels & btecs.

@MrsSnoops I was going to echo @Comefromaway's comment.

I think at some point (averagely) it could be better for DC to do a BTEC rather than A-levels.
To advise on that part of it (I know your original question wasn't really that) you'd need to say what DC may be looking at for grades for Maths, Physics and CS.

E.g. if a 5 for Maths, then firstly the school may not even allow them to take Maths A-level. And even with a 6 DC may struggle to get an above average grade.

It may be the case here that DC could get better 'results' doing a BTEC rather than A-levels.
E.g. No point getting ADD at A-level, when may be able to get Distinctions at BTEC (in a narrower, loved, subject), and have the opportunity of getting on more degrees.

As mentioned by PP, quite a lot of CS degrees won't need Maths A-level. And based on, say, getting a 6 in Maths GCSE, then with-the-best-will he prob won't be applying for degrees that require Maths A-level anyway.
For degree he could lean towards Software Development/Engineering, i.e. more programming.
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/courses/details/applied-software-engineering-bsc/55906006
Example above doesn't need Maths A-level, BBB at A-level and DDM (Distinction/Distinction/Merit) at BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma.

Example of my local college for BTEC:
www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/study/computer-games-development-extended-diploma-level-3

I think it depends on the school @MrsSnoops. I had a similar feeling when I started working in FE many years ago, and suddenly realised that instead of being sent off on a YTS when he was 16, my non-academic brother should have been encouraged to go on to FE college to do BTECs. Our school only cared about A-levels and only really cared about people who were going to Oxbridge, and I was shocked when I realised how badly he had been let down. Any school which fails to give its students the best opportunities to develop is a failing school (in fact it was rated Outstanding and it definitely was not )

My ds' school by contrast offers BTECs as well as A levels, and we have a vocational college in the city that will take students from age 14 onwards. Which is absolutely as it should be.

I'm totally out of my depth with computer science but my ds had a similar issue with A levels. He got a grade 8 in his GCSE music and could have coped with A level music but he got 4's and 5's in everything else.

He is in the second year of a Music Btec L3 Extended Diploma and is on course for DDD.

My partner failed his a level computer science went onto do btech computer science then topped up to a degree now heads up the cyber security department of a multinational company that supplies an essential service in the UK. He says btech was more helpful and having a good background knowledge of coding languages

You dont need Maths A level to do a CS degree. There are plenty of Unis where it is not required, including Russell Group ones.

Don't rule out the Alevel if he's confident programming already and gets the grades for the course, it might suit him. DS is doing A level computer science. He too codes for fun and taught himself several languages before college so this has been a massive advantage in the A level as while others are learning basics he's up and running and can spend time on the things he finds harder. There is a lot of material that they need to learn through rote learning. DS is dyslexic with memory issues, so this means he can give more time to this part. There is also a programming project done as coursework and counts towards their grade, so being into the programming side of it is a massive advantage.

Hi! My DS is coming to the end of BTEC 2 IT with KanduIT and they have been wonderful. He will want to do the BTEC 3 with them next. It is an online course and concentrates on the Hardware, Configuration and bug fixing side of the subject. You need kit at home - but old stuff, grandads leftovers, used eBay kit etc is fine, you just have to have enough to demonstrate builds and upgrades.
He is also studying igcse computer science which is more the programming side ( you can do this online too if you want) and then he’ll do A level
These things can be done alongside school subjects I’d he is keen and the school has trouble offering it. My DS’s old school suspended computer studies for a couple of years, and like your son
, mine had a real leaning in this direction - missing out on his best subject was not ok.
Because ‘A’ level computer science is supposed to be hard, does not necessarily mean that someone with a natural leaning towards coding with find it overly academic in the same way that they would find more traditional subjects. Having said that DS’s experience of BTEC has been so positive that I think you could end up spoilt for choice.
The thing DS has no experience in as yet, is how these qualifications might help in accessing further education or apprenticeships. Fingers crossed someone will be able to comment more on that.