Has anyone’s dc dropped out of A levels and if so, what did they do

Thedogswhiskers · 2026-08-23T16:43:07+00:00

Dd is so behind in holiday reading for history plus homework and art. She has poor mental health and finding it very hard to knuckle down. She is bright but doesn’t enjoy school as very lonely (autistic too) and commute. I can’t see her lasting the year but she would be upset if she didn’t complete history and fear her self esteem would sink further. School very supportive but it doesn’t seem to be enough. Please help us make the decision what to do at this late stage?

Sunbringer · 01/09/2026 17:26

RotatingPenguin · 24/08/2026 20:31

One of mine dropped out of A levels and has regretted it forever. He went out to work FT at 17. He has found a lot of doors shut, which would have been open with A levels, and seen peers that weren't as clever get on and establish decent careers. He is mid 30s now so he feels like he has missed the boat.

He definitely hasn’t missed the boat. I started a degree at 30 and many had done an access year + the degree in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

LoisSangerAteMyHamster · 01/09/2026 17:20

I suppose I feel that at this stage in the course it might be as well to carry on. It’s “only” 9 or 10 months and it will all be over. I know that’s a lot of a teens life but it’s also not a whole year.

If you or she had already started looking at other options in June then may think differently, but it sounds like a bad back to school wobble now.

My daughter’s school expects high grades. I’ve told her that I don’t. I don’t even expect her to do her very best. I expect her to do her school work and also do a bit of exercise, go to some galleries, keep in touch with out of school friends.

I understand that young people in London may have the opportunity to complete some level 2,3 or maybe 4 courses for no fees after they are 19 depending on the course and their circumstances. Although that Durante help if you aren’t in London but maybe it’s something to do with a change in funding generally and is country wide.

School work going on today for start of school tomorrow!

Original poster

Thedogswhiskers · 30/08/2026 11:01

LoisSangerAteMyHamster · 30/08/2026 10:45

I’m here to offer my support and to say we are in a similar situation. DD hasn’t done any of the history and she found last year hard enough. She is ok with her art. She’s in pain a lot and her friendships have disintegrated in a low level but nasty way.

She is keeping on going and accepting her A level results may not be great but she only needs some passes. And trying to get some friendships out of school. I’m not sure if that’s the best thing for her mental health though. And we will keep on checking in.

I'm not looking forward to this year any more than she is.

It’s so hard when all we hear about are the parties and the fun and the holidays all the other year 12-13 are having.

solidarity!

Thank you! But so sorry to hear you are having a hard time too. I’m absolutely dreading the year, feeling unsettled all the time and quite scared to be honest. Dropping out will bring its issues but so will staying in school. And my worry is, if she continues
and doesn’t pass she will have missed the boat on doing a btech or something that she may quite like that would hopefully bring more friend options.

OP posts:

LoisSangerAteMyHamster · 30/08/2026 10:45

I’m here to offer my support and to say we are in a similar situation. DD hasn’t done any of the history and she found last year hard enough. She is ok with her art. She’s in pain a lot and her friendships have disintegrated in a low level but nasty way.

She is keeping on going and accepting her A level results may not be great but she only needs some passes. And trying to get some friendships out of school. I’m not sure if that’s the best thing for her mental health though. And we will keep on checking in.

I'm not looking forward to this year any more than she is.

It’s so hard when all we hear about are the parties and the fun and the holidays all the other year 12-13 are having.

solidarity!

Original poster

Thedogswhiskers · 30/08/2026 10:33

Octavia64 · 23/08/2026 18:35

Yes

dc got glandular fever and then post viral fatigue.

spent a couple of years being ill and then did a part time catering course (to build up her hours) and then an access course.

access courses are funded if you are over 19 abd don’t have a level 3 qualification.

Do you mind explaining more how this works? So if she say didn’t pass A levels, she could do a course of some sort (would this be at college or would she have missed the boat having been through two A level years even if still 18), or at an adult education site? Do all subjects offer access courses? Many thanks

OP posts:

Crispynoodle · 24/08/2026 20:41

Not dropped out but decided to go to college rather than school this was despite getting 12+ GCSE’s grade C’s and above. One DD is now a cognitive behavioural therapist with a lucrative private practice and the other is a senior OT in acute medicine. They did grand!

Whyherewego · 24/08/2026 20:34

My DPs daughter dropped out after about 6/8 months and then switched to a BTEC. Absolutely the best thing for her, she didnt get on with exams and much better with coursework. She did really well and has gone on to a degree apprenticeship. She's really thrived in that environment and would not have done so at A level/uni

RotatingPenguin · 24/08/2026 20:31

One of mine dropped out of A levels and has regretted it forever. He went out to work FT at 17. He has found a lot of doors shut, which would have been open with A levels, and seen peers that weren't as clever get on and establish decent careers. He is mid 30s now so he feels like he has missed the boat.

Original poster

Thedogswhiskers · 23/08/2026 21:46

Thank you for your positive ending stories. I’m worried it’s too late to switch to a btech or other type of course and if she would cope with the change anyway. Interesting about access courses, I didn’t realise that. Is there an upper age limit? In the process of applying for EHCP

OP posts:

Octavia64 · 23/08/2026 18:35

Yes

dc got glandular fever and then post viral fatigue.

spent a couple of years being ill and then did a part time catering course (to build up her hours) and then an access course.

access courses are funded if you are over 19 abd don’t have a level 3 qualification.

EllaPaella · 23/08/2026 18:35

I’m sorry to hear your daughter is struggling with her mental health. I’m not sure what the options for Art would be but are there any art based apprenticeships or vocational courses she could consider? For my son he enjoyed the more vocational aspects of the BTEC.

EllaPaella · 23/08/2026 18:32

My eldest dropped out after year one of A Levels and switched to a level 3 BTEC in Engineering. He got a distinction in that and got into Bath University to study electrical engineering but decided last minute to apply for an apprenticeship with an engineering firm instead. He was successful in that and now has a very good job with that firm 5 years later.