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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Year 12 - Wants to drop 2 A levels & study only one A Level at college

31 replies

Deyjxh · 10/01/2025 13:48

I need help and advice to a situation with my child - Who is 17.
Currently taking A levels. Currently predicted AAB (Math, Computer studies and Physics). In an excellent college, but it is not working for her.
Struggling to think of another 6th Form or college locally that would be better.

My child wants to change to self study at home for two A Levels and attend college for only 1 of them.
Finding the travel too much, hates the noise of college/school. Has SEN but no EHCP. My child is very good at own study and is highly motivated to do this.

The college have said that the only choice available is drop all three A levels or continue with all three. This is due to ‘how the college is funded’. They seem to not be flexible with helping anything work.

What do I do? how are the college funded? Where can I find out this information.

Having had a child with an EHCP, I know how flexible school can be, if they want to be.

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/01/2025 16:05

It's a condition of funding that students undertake a minimum number of classroom hours - they have to be supervised/attend.

The provider has to complete termly censuses where you specify if they have a primary learning aim (for vocational) and every course they are on, their attendance and number of hours spent in lesson + number of non qualification hours is extracted from the MIS - plus hundreds of other categories of data.

To claim ESFA funding for somebody in her proposed situation would be deemed fraudulent (and likely cause a financial audit, an urgent safeguarding one and all matter of other issues).

Lindy2 · 10/01/2025 16:03

To be classed as in full time education at the college she needs to be doing 3 A'levels there. I can't remember the exact hours but I think it's something like 12 hours minimum.

I think you've got a few choices:

  • carry on full time college.
  • leave college and do self study at home. You'd be doing this independently though so will need to arrange exam entries etc - like a homeschooling child.
  • Find a college evening course for 1 subject (if they'll take a 16/17 year old) and do 2 independently at home.

Unfortunately, education is not as flexible as a lot of people would like it to be.

Phineyj · 10/01/2025 15:55

The college's position is understandable. You're asking them to educate your daughter with no funding!

Can you show her what it would cost to enter her for 3 subjects as a private candidate plus some tuition UpLearn, tutor)?

Original poster
Deyjxh · 10/01/2025 15:49

@stichguru Still study the same A levels they have started at college (one complete term) but do the work completely by them self, using college and other online resources and the teacher ideally marking the work.
They feel how the subject is taught does not help with their learning and understanding; my child gains better understanding with self study. As proved by her GCSE approach.

I would like to avoid the expense of exams if possible.
Child says that they get nothing out of college socially, feels lonely most days, sees travel wasted time and would rather self study.

I believe that they have the skills and motivation to make this way of study work, but college have an all or nothing approach.

OP posts:
titchy · 10/01/2025 14:17

Funding is only available for full time students. A full time programme of study is 3 A levels. If she only does 1 they won't get any funding for her.

stichguru · 10/01/2025 14:15

"My child wants to change to self study at home for two A Levels and attend college for only 1 of them."
What do you mean by this? For the A-levels she doesn't study at college for, do you mean she will study completely independently of college, finding all her own materials etc, registering as a private candidate and paying the £300 per exam entry plus more for certificates etc, going to an independent test centre for each exam etc. Or do you actually mean she would continue to be doing the college course and using their exam provision (and have them pay), but studying herself rather than attending classes?