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Original poster

Can 16 year olds to a year of online GCSE retakes at home and then do Alevels over 3 years if needs be in school?

57 replies

M0iraR0se · 04/07/2020 20:41

Ds has had a shitty time and struggling with mh issues. Currently wants to do retakes himself at home online. 4 that he wants to better grades in, will get Eng and maths but might want to get a better grade in English as one of the 4 so an access course wouldn’t really be suitable.

Thinking a year getting well might be a good thing.
Is that possible? Have been told 16 year olds need to be in full time education.

Also have heard they can retake a year of Alevels if needs be. Would he still be able to take Alevels over 3 years if he had to if he’d started them a year later?

He’s bright so not an ability issue just MH.

OP posts:
islandislandisland · 05/07/2020 08:17

You won't get fined, but you won't be entitled to child benefit or child tax credits if he isn't in full time education. Look up level 3 entitlement- I believe this means if you haven't achieved a level 3 qualification by 19 (end of free education) you can do this free until you are 24. I'm not sure if this applies to A levels or just college courses.

Original poster
M0iraR0se · 05/07/2020 08:16

I think he should get the marks needed for Alevels but who knows.

Crappy GCSE grades are causing extra upset even though we’ve told him they don’t matter. He wants to apply for unis that are hard to get into and is adamant he wants/ needs the grades he is capable of. He is also adamant he won’t be well enough for school in September.

Kind of thinking a year at home rebuilding and just focusing on 4 might not be a bad thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
M0iraR0se · 05/07/2020 08:12

But if we paid for the online GCSEs year would he still get the Alevels over 3 years after?

Is he allowed to stay at home for a year going online courses?

Young Minds said he has to be in full time education or we’ll get fined. He doesn’t want to do courses he doesn’t want to do just for the sake of it and waste a year of free education. Would rather have the 3 years for Alevels iykwim.

OP posts:
FredaFrogspawn · 05/07/2020 08:11

Will he have enough qualifications to get into an A Level class for each subject he wants to take? I would think three years of A Levels would be more valuable than another of GCSEs if so.

FredaFrogspawn · 05/07/2020 08:09

Post 16 you can have up to three years free education, I am pretty sure. Not sure about four.

Original poster
M0iraR0se · 05/07/2020 08:06

I meant online courses to take GCSEs next summer with the next year’s year 11 but at home iykwim.

He’ll get Eng and maths this year. Will probably want a higher Eng and better grades in the 3 sciences. So those 4.

He is convinced he won’t be able to focus on his Alevels so thought a year at home getting the better grades he wants( not my opinion in any way) and working on his mental health would be better than starting Alevel courses he could end up dropping out of or scraping through when he should fly through. The thought of getting poor Alevel grades on top of the lesser GCSEs he is predicting he’ll get is causing quite a lot of distress.

I rejected the idea at first but trying to be lead by him and thinking it might not be such a bad plan although the lack of social contact won’t be great.

OP posts:
roguenhoff · 05/07/2020 07:29

The short answer is no.

GCSE and A Level retakes for the Covid-impacted cohorts will be this Autumn. See here - www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-an-additional-gcse-as-and-a-level-exam-series-in-autumn-2020.
So there is no provision for re-sitting them over the course of a year.

However many colleges and some sixth forms have always offered opportunities for GCSEs to be re-taken in Year 12, either on their own or alongside other Key Stage 5 courses. English and Maths are the most common retakes because they're needed as a minimum for many jobs. Apart from those two subjects, your son might be better off concentrating on Key Stage 5 studies than trying to repeat a year.

Look to your local colleges for tailored advice. If money is no object there are private online providers (no doubt of varying quality) advertising online tuition for GCSEs, but their interest is commercial so they may not be best placed to advise you.