DS wants to repeat Year 13

Sorry, not clear - I don't mean 'accessible' in terms of 'available for someone to do', I meant accessible AND FREE.

Lynette,

How would the funding for that work for a child who had already taken A-levels? Can they 'start again' and get the necessary funding?

(I thought that they were A-level equivalents and, while accessible to someone who had done 1 year of A-levels and started again, not available to someone who had already taken a Level 3 qualification after 2 years, however disastrously they have done, but I may be wrong?)

OP I would recommend your DS does a BTEC Extended Diploma. It will be accepted by unis in place of Alevels. Lots of bright kids do them, honestly.

You need to drop the idea of Alevels. They just haven't worked for your DS. Just because he's over 18 doesn't mean you stop parenting him. Tell him staying on at school is not an option (hey, it would be great if we could all just stay at school and in our comfort zone forever) and get him to the FE college. They will have staff who can support his needs and I think it's a better option atm than an apprenticeship or staking shelves

Oh dear seems the issues stem right back to the beginning of last year with depression. Agree with everyone else his mental health needs help before anything else but that requires the OP to acknowledge he is genuinely suffering instead of believing he is lazy.

OP, his mental health is the foundation for any success in life. He is obviously depressed from your March post but I think your focus is exams results rather than his health. Have you ever suffered from depression?

If he gets well he will be able to study to his potential. I can now see why the school have been so obliging and understanding.

Exam success is not everything in life..he needs to learn to be happy from within and then he can move forwards. I appreciate resources are not widely available for help, could you and your H fund private therapy?

Twitchy's post makes more sense than anything op's written

It's been quite a frustrating post, GCSEs inform a levels.

Twitchy, I cross posted and didn't realise there was a backstory

Having just read that update I would now say that he should just forget a levels, forget college, forget uni - for now. He needs to focus on his mental health, his interests, finding out what he really likes and enjoys in life. Then look at the academic side if needed.
Look into if there are groups locally run by charities like Mind or Aspergers charities. Groups that could just be social groups or ones that focus on a specific task that gives a goal (not an academic goal but for example being involved in a community event).
Don't tell him to pack his bags - seriously he will end up sofa surfing or on the streets.
He may be entitled to benefits that could ease any financial worries but if you are in a situation that you don't need to charge him rent and can afford to feed him and supply a few basics then do that. Look after him. Get him out of his depression. Get him happy and comfortable with who he is. The obsession over a levels and uni needs to go.

Wow! That's quite an update titchy. The OP would have had a different set of responses if she had told us that in her first post.

GCSEs grades are generally higher than O levels so you can't compare your experience and his. Your son might be bright but his results don't suggest he is academic. Did he try for grammar like your other son?

A Head of sixth form has given you the advice that the door to him at school is closed. Forget the others person circumstances as you and your son do not know the facts so not worthwhile 2nd guessing or claiming your son has been treated unfairly.

Also Business and ICT would be seen as softer, less academic subjects at A level and unlikely to get him a law course at Uni, also given Law is very competitive he would need much, much better grades.
He doesn't appear strong in the STEM subjects and has no MFL so that suggests what he may not be suited to. Now you need to work on what he is interested in.Is he practical?

Out of the options given previously what path will you investigate? Could you afford to fund A levels privately?

Btw, I thought every parent looked at their DC exam passes..its a big day as first public exams and usually they happily show you their slips..I recall sitting in the car after collecting DC from school on results day and just looking through them.
Bright DC usually get A or A*, or 8 or 9 mostly, that's not pressure just realistic for academic children who have also applied themselves.

Thanks titchy. That's helpful extra information, and may explain the very unusual GCSE situation, as the school may well have made appropriate adaptations for someone with that list of SEN.

I've just advance searched OP. There have been issues for months. Kid has Asperger, depression, OCD and sees CAMHS. He is unhygienic and talks about being severely depressed. OP has utterly failed to acknowledge any of this, putting it all down to excuses, or laziness.

He desperately needs his parents to step in with a plan that doesn't involve more pressure academically. At least to give him some breathing space and to address his multitude of issues.

I'm feeling quite sorry for him now, and quite angry towards OP who despite saying she's an involved and supportive parent does not appear to be at all from her actions.

My sister got a U in maths A level. She got a private tutor and retook. She then got an A after 6 months of study and then went study at LSE.
If one is very bright and committed,** one can improve dramatically.

OP

I'm not sure why you are getting such a battering about your DS GCSEs, he has the subjects he has told you and shown you the certificates.

Phoning the school is not a good idea, as he is over 18 they should not tell you anything without his permission.

I can totally understand him not having any idea what he wants to do, he doesn't have to go to uni, he can also go to uni later, he can do a college course orhe can get a job.

I have a feeling a job might be a good idea, that way he can't bunk off, or if he does he will be out of a job.

His A Level choices are not great for law.

Maybe a year or even two out of education would be best allround.

Did he get A's in geography ict and business studies

OP, could you, completely unwittingly, be putting pressure on him that he can’t live up to and therefore prefers to fail on his own terms?

I only say this as you said he has fantastic GCSE results (when they are OK) and he could get a A in a-level easily if he put the work in (which very very few can and even fewer with OK GCSEs). It would be silly to lie about his GCSEs but teenagers do silly things and there is something off about his results.

He needs to think where he wants his life to go, what type of job/lifestyle does he want to aim for and then plan how to get there. Could he use his interest in Karting to get into being a mechanic, could his gym lead to being an instructor. How about a trade? Would an apprenticeship in the armed forces be something he would consider.

Lots and lots of options, but he needs to be the driver of it all now.

If he really 'wants a levels' then he simply needs to accept that school is off the table and college is where he has to go. College however is much less strict - they don't do detentions and registration groups and all that school stuff. He just has to go to the classes and then he will be left to his own devices. If he couldn't do that in a school environment then he will really struggle in the college environment.
Why is he so obsessed with a levels. They aren't the only way to get a qualification.
Btec
GNVQ
City and Guilds
Apprenticeships
You haven't said what the course he has applied to do at college.

I suggest you pay for a full educational psychologist's report to see how bright he really is (and perhaps reveal has some hidden learning difficulties affecting his ability).

My other suggestion is a year at what used to be called a crammer's. A college where they specialise in getting kids' grades up in their A levels, often to get into medicine/Oxbridge.

Both expensive options but you are giving him a chance to make the best of himself.

user

Nobody is saying that your DS isn't decently bright, or adequately intelligent.

Just that those GCSEs he has told you about are typical of those who MAY go on to be OK at A-level, but equally MAY lead to being overwhelmed as A-levels are so much harder than GCSEs. Not being able to get stellar A-levels isn't a sign of 'not being bright', just not being academic and diligent in the particular way required by A-level studies.

I don't believe the school allowed him to drop physics. DD's school doesn't allow students to drop subjects they hate, and I doubt that any other good school would allow it either.

Us won't appear on certificates. OP need the results slip. Which OP's ds wont have....

he dropped physics in Year 10 because he hated it.

Sorry that's bull. Open your eyes OP. You say you've been involved but so much has slipped through that you're seemingly unaware of. He has failed three GCSEs.

But you know, let him keep the phone which has caused all of this, carry on telling him he's great academically when he's not, don't bother addressing the issues which led to this attitude, let him go to college to do A levels because a miracle will magically happen and he'll get three As. You do know the definition of madness - doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.

See you on here next summer!

7 GCSEs is unusual.

Only Eng Lang is unusual.

Only Biology is VERY unusual.

Parents not knowing genuine GCSE results is EXTREMELY unusual.

Hence people's questions.