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Original poster

A-level course full - what to do?

63 replies

seymour · 15/08/2021 05:38

Hi there, my daughter enrolled at sixth form today but one of the A-levels she wants to do is oversubscribed and the course is full. It’s geography and there isn’t another subject she wants to do as this is what she wants to study at uni. We didn’t realise this could happen. She surpassed the entry requirements. They made her put down another subject which she doesn't want to do! I’m assuming they enrolled kids that were already at the school before external applicants. My daughter's school didn’t have a sixth form so she had to apply somewhere new. That now appears to be a disadvantage. Can anyone advise?

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igelkott2021 · 18/08/2021 12:09

@TeenMinusTests

No help to the OP but this is one of the reasons I think the Hants system is good with its large 6th form colleges. So big that they have multiple classes of most A levels and can timetable pretty much anything.
I was just thinking the same - we're spoilt here. And they all do PE, too.
caringcarer · 17/08/2021 20:47

Look up online A levels then sit as external.candidate.

Comefromaway · 17/08/2021 20:10

@TeenMinusTests

No help to the OP but this is one of the reasons I think the Hants system is good with its large 6th form colleges. So big that they have multiple classes of most A levels and can timetable pretty much anything.
It’s the same in Staffordshire. Schools don’t have 6th forms and everyone goes to one of two large colleges.
SeasonFinale · 17/08/2021 20:06

Glad to hear it has been resolved successfully.

Original poster
seymour · 16/08/2021 22:33

@MadameMinimes

It’s just occurred to me that the PP was referring to LAE rather than Brampton Manor. The same principle applies, although LAE is probably slightly less selective/competitive.
Yes exactly, they"d probably allocated all their places on results day. Thank you.
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MadameMinimes · 16/08/2021 21:12

It’s just occurred to me that the PP was referring to LAE rather than Brampton Manor. The same principle applies, although LAE is probably slightly less selective/competitive.

MadameMinimes · 16/08/2021 21:01

So glad that you got it sorted!
To the PP that suggested it, there’s no way that Brampton Manor would still have spaces at this stage, even if they did PE. They are the sort of place that will have filled every spot on results day. I know people who work there. It’s a highly selective Sixth Form because they are so heavily oversubscribed. You would need higher grades to secure a spot there than at a lot of the super-selective grammar schools in London.

Camdenish · 16/08/2021 20:40

That’s wonderful news. It’s great for your daughter but I’m also pleased that La Swap were proactive and helpful.
I hope she has a wonderful time in 6th form.

Itsafouryearjourney · 16/08/2021 20:22

OP you should ask for DR name to be removed.
Great outcome btw.

Original poster
seymour · 16/08/2021 20:18

Just to say thank you again for all your help, and to update you. I contacted them earlier and they emailed me back to say they have squeezed [name redacted] in to the geography A-level course. Very pleased! Thanks again.

[Post edited by MNHQ to remove name]

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Original poster
seymour · 16/08/2021 20:15

@Camdenish

As soon as I saw geography and PE I thought she probably got her heart set on Loughborough.

Is it possible to find a other sixth form? I’d say if she wants to study geography and PE she should! Have you tried La Swap?

Thank you. Yes, Loughborough has been mentioned although we'll have to have a back-up as it it's so competitive. Funnily enough, LaSwap is the college she's going to - and we just received an email to say they have squeezed her on to the geography course after I contacted them earlier. Hurrah!
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Camdenish · 16/08/2021 19:34

As soon as I saw geography and PE I thought she probably got her heart set on Loughborough.

Is it possible to find a other sixth form? I’d say if she wants to study geography and PE she should! Have you tried La Swap?

Original poster
seymour · 16/08/2021 16:21

@viques

Whereabouts in London are you OP? The London Academy in .Stratford (more Oxbridge places offered than Eton, plus other Russell Group places) takes students from a wide area and Stratford is easy to get to from most areas. Not sure if they do PE though.
Thanks, I did look at that - and the sister school next to the Spurs stadium which is much nearer to us but they only do traditional subjects so no PE.
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Original poster
seymour · 16/08/2021 16:20

@ChristopherTracy

I dont think it is a question of naivety more a bit of a shock as to how the sixth form entry actually works. At 5 and 11 you have lots of time, at 16 you are basically running between schools/colleges juggling the timetable, the entry requirements, teachers saying you need to do a random subject to stay at a school or move somewhere else to do something you really want and it is more stressful than it needs to be - it is a clearing type situation but one that you're in no way prepared for.
Thank you so much, indeed, we had no idea and I really do feel there should be more info out there. Glad it's not just me!
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Igneo · 16/08/2021 16:14

We had a slightly different problem , no local schools offering music A level. We had a disheartening tour of schools with teachers shaking their heads and saying they just haven’t got any internal candidates. For a couple this is the first year they haven’t offered it, but uptake is so low.

We have found a 6th form in the next town which is keeping music a level, so fingers crossed they accept her, but it was made clear to me on the phone that if she did go there she wouldn’t be able to swap courses and many were oversubscribed.

I wonder if this is the effect of so many years of ebacc biting now?
Lots of oversubscribed ebacc subjects, and a dearth of non-ebacc subjects.

viques · 16/08/2021 15:29

Whereabouts in London are you OP? The London Academy in .Stratford (more Oxbridge places offered than Eton, plus other Russell Group places) takes students from a wide area and Stratford is easy to get to from most areas. Not sure if they do PE though.

UserStillatLarge · 16/08/2021 13:57

@beachcitygirl

Not ideal perhaps but She can do the a level via the open university.
The Open University don't offer A Levels!
ChristopherTracy · 16/08/2021 13:17

I dont think it is a question of naivety more a bit of a shock as to how the sixth form entry actually works. At 5 and 11 you have lots of time, at 16 you are basically running between schools/colleges juggling the timetable, the entry requirements, teachers saying you need to do a random subject to stay at a school or move somewhere else to do something you really want and it is more stressful than it needs to be - it is a clearing type situation but one that you're in no way prepared for.

Original poster
seymour · 16/08/2021 08:43

@Rummikub

I think she’d benefit from considering what she would like to do after university. Some places offer EPQ so she could make this a geography based or a PE based project if that A-level isn’t on offer.
Ah, yes, good point re extended project. Thank you.
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Original poster
seymour · 16/08/2021 08:42

@beachcitygirl

Not ideal perhaps but She can do the a level via the open university.
Thank you
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Original poster
seymour · 16/08/2021 08:39

@beigebrownblue

I wouldn't give up at this point for what she wants.

A lot of students will change their minds and also according to grades received.

So there is still a good chance I belive she might be able to do original choice.

Thank you, will hopefully find out more today.
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Rummikub · 16/08/2021 00:46

I think she’d benefit from considering what she would like to do after university. Some places offer EPQ so she could make this a geography based or a PE based project if that A-level isn’t on offer.

beachcitygirl · 16/08/2021 00:33

Not ideal perhaps but She can do the a level via the open university.

beigebrownblue · 15/08/2021 22:49

I wouldn't give up at this point for what she wants.

A lot of students will change their minds and also according to grades received.

So there is still a good chance I belive she might be able to do original choice.

Original poster
seymour · 15/08/2021 22:38

@Ionacat

Look at the two degree courses and the prerequisites for them. PE is unlikely to be a prerequisite for Sports Science as it’s not widely offered. Geography - well I suspect it is more likely to be a prerequisite but a quick look at a few university websites will tell you. That might help inform her decision. If she is really keen on Geography I wouldn’t take a place and hope someone drops out - it’s a gamble. Where as a different combination of A-Levels that do include Geography are likely to keep Sports Science an option.
Thank you very much, good point. Lots to ponder (quickly!)
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