BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26

@SuperTrooper1111
I totally agree the level 2 is the best bet for your dd, but that error is disgraceful!

@SuperTrooper1111 Sorry to hear about the rollercoaster. I'm not surprised they wanted the GCSE in science though.

DD's college asks for Five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above to include Maths, English and Science or Level 2 qualification in Animal Care with Biology and Health units at distinction level and Maths and English GCSEs at grade 4 or above.

The year first at Level 2 could really help. She will get all the basics under her belt and learn what is needed to do well in BTECs/T-Levels and then really hit the ground running next year.

Sorry, just seen your post @Sallycinnamum – sounds like your DS is in same position as my DD. I do think if the college believe he should start at Level 2 it's probably for best.

Well we've had a rollercoaster morning! Turned up to DD's college enrolment appointment only to be told she couldn't start her Level 3 BTech in Animal Care because she only got 3s in her science – despite her conditional offer clearly stating she only needed to pass English and/or maths. I'd actually printed out the offer as back-up in case my phone died, so when they saw the wording they apologised profusely and said it should never have been sent out like that but unfortunately DD definitely needed a 4 in science for Level 3. You can imagine my reaction! The options she was given were a) do Level 2 for a year, which would be the equivalent of four GCSEs including an animal biology module, then move up to Level 3 Foundation for two years, or b) start a Level 3 Extended BTech now which is the equivalent of 2 A-levels. DD has opted for a) because boosting her GCSE results can only be a good thing for future job prospects, plus only having UCAS points for 2 A-levels could rule out uni. Having talked it through with the tutor I am now convinced the extra year will do her good – DD is an August baby and has always been behind her peers so an extra bridging year which means she'll leave college at 18 rather than 17. Her dad needed more convincing, but ultimately he just wants her to be happy. So not the outcome we expected when we rocked up this morning but a good one nonetheless!

Hope everyone else's DC are doing okay today.

@MamaElephantMama and @swampwitch0 yes I think you're probably right.

Now I've had a chance to sleep on it i think this is probably the best for him.

@Sallycinnamum
Agree with @MamaElephantMama

TeenToTwenties yep I know that college do resits. I sort of feel that it's too late for this year - neither of us had engaged with him going anywhere else but his sixth form.

Hopefully, if he can pass maths this year and get a sense of whether he's interested in media, he might be in a better position to have a plan for next September.

I will get him to go to some open days this autumn though. We didn't do that last year as he was dead set on sixth form and the whole process of that had been so stressful with dd the year before, I was glad not to. Possibly a mistake on my part, but it's done now.

I would trust them. Like they’ve said it’s valuable experience.

@Anxiousthoughts
(Just checking. You do know colleges provide resits too don't you?)

I don't know whether a diagnosis would help. My DDs did find diagnoses of dyspraxia (DD1) and dyslexia & dyspaxia & other stuff (DD2) helped, as it gave them the words to explain things to other people. Somehow it is easier to say 'I have dyspraxia which means that I can't balance things' rather than simply 'I can't balance things' iyswim.

TeenToTwenties thanks for the advice about the option to 'start again' in Y12. I hadn't thought about that.

I think sixth form is the best place for ds at the moment - he needs to resit maths - but I'll encourage him to go to some open evenings at local colleges to consider an extended BTech for Y13/14.

Hopefully, he will mature somewhat in the coming year.

Regarding possible ND... Is there any benefit in pursuing a diagnosis? He already gets extra time in exams and the option to use a laptop which he doesn't make use of.

Dd's college has Zebu, Red Panda, & Lemurs. Her favourite lesson was 'walking the dogs'.

dD also got all she needed (and a 6 in the English! What the hell happened there?)
So will be starting a T Level Animal Management in September. Look forward to sharing experiences @SuperTrooper1111 and @TeenToTwenties .
Cats are her main thing but anything furry and feathery is welcome. They have a fantastic collection at the college she’s joining 😀

Thank you. That should be great. I’ve had a quick look at the spec on my phone but will download it to my laptop, as well as buying the books. Just so happy she got what she needed today - will start on the practical side next week.

Dd very similar.. 17 soon
Just done with school

IT/Computing BTEC here, good grades in his GCSEs just wanted to leave school.
I'm here for a bit of strategy to help (but in a hands off kind of way) keep him on track.

Just popping in to say we are a BTEC family.

One studied BTEC instead of A levels in the 80s, the other two 10 years ago.

We have a Chartered Accountant, an Estate Letting Agent and a Software Developer.

Skills needed to pull off top grades - consistent work ethic right from the word go, good organisation, and a passion and genuine curiosity for the subject as they are quite focused.

Many of my son's friends that had pulled off slightly better GCSEs than him - mainly Bs not Cs like he did - they foundered at A level and joined his course a year later.

Good luck Bteccers!

DS has just finished his BTEC level 3 extended diploma in Sport and Exercise science. He achieved DDD and is off to university in a couple of weeks.

if you have any questions about how the course is structured, feel free to ask.

I would definitely recommend downloading a copy of the specification document from the Pearson website. It gives clear details about everything you need to know and include in coursework assignments. I’d also recommend buying the Pearson revision guide and workbook (if you haven’t already).

Bit unsure as to whether DS is on the right course after enrolment today.

He passed English, maths and science and got a 7 in DT but has been put on a level 2 engineering diploma even though he had the grades for a level 3.

Spoke to the course director who said it would be best so he gets a year of practical engineering experience under his belt and then can move up to level 3 next year or do an apprenticeship if he chooses.

It made sense at the time but now doubting whether I should have pushed for a level 3. Any advice welcome.

DD got better grades than she needed so that’s a relief. Enrolment is next week 🙂

It's absolutely a maturity thing and it worries me that I can't expedite that iykwim?

@Anxiousthoughts
Sometimes it's a maturity thing ime.
Hopefully he'll realise he needs to apply himself

Thanks for the link to this thread.

Ds did BTech drama and got a D. Rest of his GCSEs were not good, he's going to have to resit maths. The coursework and being kept on track by his teacher definitely suited him in drama.

He's enrolled to do level 3 BTech performing art, BTech in applied science and 'A' level in media studies. He didn't achieve the minimum stated to get on the latter two courses (need 4s in science, maths and English) which is a worry. It's a lack of application rather than ability or knowledge that is the problem.

Will need a significant attitude shift for him to do them in all honesty.

DC will be doing 2nd year of BTEC Foundation diploma from September. After completing this willing to do apprenticeship. Last year completed first 4 units and achieved PPM so I am concerned. Is on mild ASD. What are their options? Doing a lot of voluntary work and good Work experience.

Thank you OP for thread

Being a dinosaur who did Olevels 40 years ago I don't really understand BTECs at all (!)

DS is 1 year into his Sport Level 3 - he has ADHD, dyslexia and tracking issues. BTEC curriculum seems to suit him and he gets on well with course Tutors.

Their prediction for him is DDM (?)

• obviously I would be thrilled if he achieved this - they seem very confident throughout year 1.

In his sat exams he has P, M,M

Awaiting to see Tutors in September to discuss as only have grade (no raw scores or anything) - there was a note to say not everyone needs to retake as it may not be worth it ? Is that because corse work could push the overall grade to a D ?

My other Mum concern is that he has no idea about what to do next ....

She loves reptiles and small mammals but her favourite is big cats/dogs. There's a wolf sanctuary in Bavaria that she would love to work at!