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Original poster

Can anyone offer urgent advice on sixth form choices?

36 replies

Whistle73 · 05/09/2018 13:52

Eldest daughter did much worse than expected in her GCSEs.

Two of her original choices (psychology and sociology) are now not an option.

She wants to study criminology at university after sixth form.

She is now doing BTEC sport (which was always the plan), BTEC law and has the option of either doing English or Photography A level or another BTEC.

The BTECs are 'sold' as being the equivalent of an A level but I can't believe that is true. Am I wrong?

I guess what we need to know is, is university completely out of the question with very disappointing GCSEs (a B, a 6, two 5s and the rest 4s).

Is she better off getting a bad grade at either English or Photography A Level or a very good BTEC but in an unrelated subject to criminology (health and social or performing arts for instance).

I would like her to take English Lit ideally, but that particular GCSE was the real shock. She was predicted a 7 or 8 and only got a 5. As a result her confidence is now shot to pieces and she doesn't want to do it at A Level.

Any advice would be very gratefully received, she's in school today and will need to make up her mind by tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
Whistle73 · 05/09/2018 15:20

Thank you so much, I completely agree with you Older.

I suppose I've let her run with the Criminology idea because deep down I haven't ever envisaged it actually happening.

We have definitely got some talking to do tonight. Thanks for everyone's help and no-nonsense advice.

OP posts:
OlderThanAverageforMN · 05/09/2018 15:14

Whistle73 Personally, deep down, I don't believe she is academic enough for University but she isn't ready to confront this yet and I don't want to write her off at 16 before she has even started sixth form

I wasn't going to post, but then you said this, and it was completely what I going to say. University isn't for everyone, I have a DD just finished, and she did brilliantly, but my second DD Year 11, is already pretty sure she won't, although she does want to do ALevels, and is planning to do three subjects which she loves, but none are so called "facilitating".

Also, and I hate to say it, spending three years and many £'s doing Criminology really isn't worth it. Sorry, but it seems to be the modern equivalent of the Media Studies Degree. So many kids are doing it, I know quite a few, and yes, really enjoyed it, but then got nowhere with it.

Go with ALevels or BTEC's that she is interested in, and will do will in, and over the next couple of years, maybe she will get a better idea of what the future holds for her. So many new opportunities opening up, and they don't necessarily need a degree.

Good Luck.

Original poster
Whistle73 · 05/09/2018 14:59

She got a 4. Again a big shock. She got a 7 and a 6 in her mocks.

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/09/2018 14:57

Ideally it should be an extended level 3 diploma course. She does not need Law to study it later but she does need solidly to meet entry grades and probably good gcse English - what was her language grade?

Original poster
Whistle73 · 05/09/2018 14:53

This is the law:

COURSE: BTEC National Extended Certificate in Applied Law
QUALIFICATION: BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate (equivalent: 1 A Level)

Sport is either this:

COURSE: BTEC LEVEL 3 NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN SPORT
QUALIFICATION: BTEC Level 3 Diploma
(equivalent: 2 A Levels)

or this:

COURSE: BTEC LEVEL 3 NATIONAL FOUNDATION DIPLOMA IN SPORT
QUALIFICATION: BTEC LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATE (equivalent: 1 A Level)

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/09/2018 14:48

What level btecs are they? She might be better taking an Extended level 3 in one subject which is the equivalent of 3 A levels. Mixing subjects could add to her workload. Neither Psychology nor Sociology are facilitating subjects so not doing those does not rule them out later on. If she can get a decent level 3 qualification uni will still be an option, although some courses may require a minimum gcse grade for English or Maths. Maybe look at their entry requirements and work backwards.

Original poster
Whistle73 · 05/09/2018 14:44

She could do the Sport diploma which is worth 2 A levels and then BTEC law and just stick to the two subjects. DH really wants her to do English Lit A Level though if its an option.

OP posts:
Original poster
Whistle73 · 05/09/2018 14:42

Thanks so much for all your help.

No question of remarks or retaking anything apparently but I think they are letting her do English because of her performance in class and her mock result.

Personally, deep down, I don't believe she is academic enough for University but she isn't ready to confront this yet and I don't want to write her off at 16 before she has even started sixth form.

She took art GCSE but only got a 4 which makes me think photography isn't for her either. I honestly, realistically, can't see her spending her weekends doing photoshoots.

BTEC business is an option and if Uni doesn't happen this might be more useful to her when she is looking for a job at 18.

No chance of doing BTEC science I'm afraid.

OP posts:
Ariela · 05/09/2018 14:31

Does she have a natural eye for photography, and is she really interested in it? Was she good at art? (Has she done any photography at all?). If so then I'd say this is probably a good one to go for.
My daughter took both Photography and English. The advantgage of photography A level is the fact that it's mostly course work, and the exam is in May - so done and dusted before the main A level exams. This then gave more time to revise for the main exams. My daughter got an A* which was the only one for this subject at her school, her advice is take the advice of the teacher(s) and spend your weekends doing loads of photshoots and whittle out the rubbish so you have some good material to work with. I'm definite that having more time for revision for her other 2 gave her an advantage in her exam grades - she came out significantly higher (1-2 grades) than predicted in all 3 A levels and is now at Uni when she'd not planned to go before getting her results.

English Language is quite an intense essay based subject. If, as my daughter put it (she got an A), you can woffle in a meaningful way and add in the right content in the right places, then it's quite easy to get a good grade. If you're not good at structuring answers then you may find it hard work. She avoided English Lit because it meant she'd have to learn a lot more, as they expect you to use quotes. So if she's lost her confidence then maybe English Language would be easier.

Is she able to do Biology? Mine considered doing PE and Biology at A level because there is a fair bit of overlap in content. However she got GCSE results which were way above prediction so she changed subjects and didn't do this in the end. I'm not sure of the BTEC content so it may not be as science based as the Alevel.

Incidentally, if she feels strongly she had done better than the exam grade predicted is it worth seeking a remark? If her grade(s) improve then could she do the A level rather than the BTEC?

Caselgarcia · 05/09/2018 14:06

I think if you get a distinction grade with BTECs you get 120 UCAS points, the equivalent of an A level A grade. Obviously a pass at BTEC will be lower.

Rainbowtrees · 05/09/2018 13:57

A levels are really hard and I wouldn’t consider English unless she got at least a B/7.
Has she got the option of doing a science Btech? My dd is doing applied science (forensics) which teaches some criminology.