Is it too late to switch from A level to BTEC?

@GrumpyMuleFanhow did you get on speaking with them?

I suppose I would just reassure that there is always things that can be done.

If he’s a great typist and it’s a usual way of working does he have access fo
using a laptop for exams? It’s a standard access arrangement for many at gcse level so I would have thought the same for Alevel.
my DD struggled alot with biology and her college took you off the course if you got a low D at the mocks at the end of year 1. She just just scraped into year2, we bought access to “up learn” to try as cheaper than a tutor plus she used Quizlet and passed with a stong C last year. We analysed her mock paper for where she dropped silly marks and she worked hard on the maths/stats questions, and terminology to pick up crucial marks. Hope he does ok.

OP said DS doesn’t have an EHCP.

Many state settings don’t offer such flexibility but OP’s DS is in an independent school so there aren’t the same financial constraints on the school. Although some still don’t offer the flexibility for less than full-time. Not that I think it is needed at this point in light of OP’s update.

Given he was in a SEN school I’m assuming he had an EHCP so the full time requirement doesn’t apply - even if he doesn’t still have an EHCP college are likely to be flexible given his learning needs.

That is a much more positive picture than DS originally believed.

As well as looking at how to better use tech with the LS tutor, it is worth discussing pre-teaching new vocabulary if the business teacher suggested learning terminology should be a focus.

My son uses Business As Usual and Tutor2u for Edexcel Business A level

If note-taking is a problem, has DS tried typing and assistive technology? Does he have study skills support? What adjustments is the school providing in terms of providing handouts and electronic powerpoints/notes prior to lessons.

Both my sons got into university to study building surveying / quantity surveying with btecs in mechanical engineering. It is an industry that takes all levels from all walks of life. Many of the big firms have good training programmes that lead to qualifications in the subject, and ultimately becoming chartered.

PS. Maybe they offer a 1-A-level equivalent in Construction in a year? That would also be relevant to what he wants to do.

@GrumpyMuleFan Like @Emyj15 says, some schools teach the 1-A-level-equivalent BTEC in a year. So for example, your son is doing the 2-A-level-equivalent BTEC in sport. Most likely the school teaches it in a way that the 1-A-level units are all covered in year 12 and the remaining units in year 13. They usually do this so that pupils who drop out after one year still get a qualification. This may play in your favour here with Business: He may be able to do the 1-A-level-equivalent BTEC Business in year 13 together with the year 12s. It depends if the school offers the 2-A-level equivalent BTEC Business; if so, they will likely teach the 1-A-level-equivalent in one year.

Sorry if that's confusing - essentially your son may be able do a 1-A-level-equivalent BTEC in Business (or maybe another subject if not Business) in year 13!

The jobs situation is entirely different now. I would not recommend sport when so many others will have geography degrees and more suitable qualifications. Obviously if he’s not having to compete and in a shoe in with mates, that’s different. For most young people now it’s so hard to get anything and many are extremely well and suitably qualified.

At my sons school single BTEC'S are done in a year and are also suggested for year 13 where children are struggling with an A level in year 12.

Its probably worth finding out from the school why your son is struggling with A level business.

My son and others he knows have struggled with timing and the structure of essay based answers.

It maybe worth trying a tutor or looking on YouTube to see how to answer the essay based questions.

Good luck with being a chartered surveyor, Do you scruffily know any?

For my DC it would be starting a new A level elsewhere alongside the two he is doing which are going better . His school pride themselves on never kicking anyone off a course (also meaning no repeat years). Not sure that is entirely sensible. DC is working hard and him and teacher say things will improve.

Like you have figured if he can do well in other two he can possibly weather it. But also looked at other options above ‘behind the scenes’ so I an informed should June mocks not show an improvement.

Good luck. It will all come out in the wash but doesn’t stop the stress.

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Degree apprenticeships are competitive. Is sport good prep for being a surveyor? My friends who are surveyors would not think so. I’d probably play to his strengths.

Funding in sixth form is weird. However, he would be funded for a level 3, 3 a level equivalent (extended diploma) if he restarts year 12 in September, though year 14 is slightly less than 12 & 13. He won’t be funded for a third year if he continues into year 13 on his current courses and wants to resit.

Stress of it - poor thing.

DS struggling with one A level but he/ teacher assure me it will improve. Have done some research:

Check school’s policy on transition to year 13, some don’t allow children to move up without a E/ D. Or at least strongly advise against it.

Some will allow a new course to be done alongside existing courses in year 13/14, so they have an extra, very part- time year 14. Some will support starting year 12 again

Are there other schools that would take him to restart year 12. I have asked around and got a positive reply

I found a college that will allow a one year A level in year 14. Maybe that could be an option for Btec if you have somewhere he could go for year 14 if business doesn’t pick up

Depending on what he wants to do next, a D or E might be ok. Are you able to consider a tutor?

Best of luck!

An independent school can (although that doesn’t mean they will) have more flexibility in terms of allowing education that isn’t seen as full-time because they aren’t reliant on government funding in the same way. So I think I would ask the school if DS could remain with his current cohort for BTEC Sport and start BTEC business in September.

There is no Btec in German tho that I am aware of anyway. Is she simply struggling so much that she will get a grade U? If she is in year 12 then there is time to pull her grade up for sure. What did she get at GCSE?

(sorry so many qus - MFL is my subject. and I hate to see anyone really strugging).

@GrumpyMuleFan there is no grade F in A level but I wonder if the teacher meant F for fail – as in, a U or unclassified?

What qualifications would he need for his possible apprenticeship? Would the full Btec in sport be enough (I mean if he took the extended diploma)?

Could he drop the business and pick up an EPQ in year 13? This gives half the points of an A level. He could then do an EPQ related to his career aim. Research titles and begin over summer.
Given that he’s working at DD in sport it doesn’t seem like a good idea to restart year 12.

I like to explore worse case scenarios and plan back ups with my students. Then that tends to ease the pressure as the back up isn’t that bad.

-Add EPQ
-Start BTEC in year 13 (check points) and the government are looking to defund BTECs. Though hopefully there’s a pause on this.
-Apply for uni as this is easier to gain a place than a degree apprenticeship
-apply for level 3 apprenticeships in surveying then for level 4-6 after that. The employer might keep him on to progress to degree apprenticeship.