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Original poster

Will not doing A'levels hinder DS long term?

77 replies

MrsJamieFraser2 · 26/08/2018 14:30

My son received his GCSE results last week, and whilst he did very well, he didn't do well enough to get back into the 6th form at his selective grammar school.

He's adamant he's not doing any further education, i.e. not joining another school or college. He's very bright, just lazy! He's looking at apprenticeships, but I feel he will ultimately do better if he had a'levels. Even going into an apprenticeship at 18 and not going to university.

I'm torn between him going into an apprenticeship now and he perhaps doesn't achieve his full potential, or trying to speak to the school again regarding mitigating circumstances which didn't help him over the last 9 months.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 26/08/2018 15:03

I come from a very academic background.

DD1 did a BTEC and is now doing an apprenticeship. DD2 is likely to do likewise.

I think doing A levels keeps more options open provided the DC is capable and willing to work. It seems to me that generally you need to be getting 6s or higher at least in the A level subjects, and to work hard, to succeed. If either aren't there then maybe another option is better? D & E grades at a level aren't going to be much help going forward, whereas Distinctions in a BTEC or the work experience + qualification via apprenticeship could be better.

These days there are access courses etc available if he changes his mind.

On the other hand, you aren't indicating he is making a positive choice / has a burning desire for a particular route? DD at 18 found working full time a big shock to her system, and she was able to get to work by car so didn't need to mess about with public transport.

Is he throwing his toys out of the pram because he didn't qualify for the school 6th form, of is he really fed up with school? Did he look at all at 6th form colleges which are more 'uni' like in comparison?

MsMamaNature · 26/08/2018 14:56

Hi. My son has just completed his GCSE's. He had applied to do apprenticeships in Plumbing and Joinery as well as a few BTEC type courses. He prefers subjects which are a bit more "hands on" rather than purely academic ones so he knew fairly early on that A levels were not for him. I think apprenticeships are great for some kids but it depends a lot on the personality of your child - mine realised that he didn't like the idea of being on a building site 3-4 days a week with a lot of 30 and 40 year old men! My son only turned 16 as he was doing the actual exams and realised he wasn't quite mature enough to deal with the "real world". He has decided to do the BTEC instead as he realised that it allowed him to have a combination of classroom based work and some work experience. I don't feel that he is missing out by not doing A levels.

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