what to do

Esher College in Thames Ditton also does A levels and takes students from SW London.

According to the other thread Richmond College does A levels and has open enrolment today.
So get him a place there to do the best matching A levels possible.

Then carry on looking to see if you can do better.

But at least get yourself a fallback place.

Op, I’ve seen your other thread. Sympathy.

In your shoes, I would start homeschooling, with paid tutors, until you get a place at a traditional school. As others have said, places tend to come up in year.

Admittedly homeschooling may be easier for arts subjects.

I suspect the grammar will be full of children who are focussed and with parents supportive of high achievement. That might not be the best place for him or the OP.

May be so, but large FE colleges aren't renowned for supporting students in danger of drifting, or for communicating well with parents who need to keep an oversight - their students have to be equally focussed, and independent too.

The best place would be a small, nurturing sixth form that cares (and needs to care, for the sake of their performance stats) about the progress of every student. There are at least 3 like that in my area. However, small sixth forms are under pressure from government funding cuts so they don't exist everywhere.

OP, do look at faith schools too - those that are highly selective on faith criteria in year 7 are often much less so in sixth form because they need to get bums in seats to fill their courses.

A space will come up. Keep on at the schools and get the councils /LEA admissions advice help. Or enrol for BTEC at college and then if no place comes up do A Levels next year. Can he enrol to study A Levels online (but hope not to have to, as he may be able to switch later). Its very unusual in your area most places want bums on seats for A Levels.

I agree it's really disappointing that you're not getting more help from his current school - especially as this year they had the luxury of knowing a long way in advance that he wasn't getting the grades he needed! So would definitely get in touch and see what they suggest.

Spiteful? No, hopefully truthful rather than faux supportive. Arm stroking, head on one side stuff doesn’t get the poor lad a place of study.

Perhaps un-cushioned words, but the OP needs to get her parenting big-girl pants on and look after the child by having better oversight of his educational needs. What’s going to happen at UCAS time?

I suspect the grammar will be full of children who are focussed and with parents supportive of high achievement. That might not be the best place for him or the OP.

My local FE college doesn't offer A Levels. Whether this is because all the secondary schools in the area offer them, or the college dropped teaching A Levels as the grades achieved were so low is anyone's guess.

I’m incredulous that a child was left to determine and remember to accept their own sixth form place.
I’d be pretty disappointed if someone coming out of an elite education couldn’t get the grades for sixth form there - unless there were exceptional circumstances . Won’t be a popular view, but when was it apparent he wasn’t making the grade and why was it left until too late to do anything about it?
He and you might well prefer the more relaxed culture of an FE college.

If they’ve literally ‘shut up shop’ can you find out when staff are back in? Head of 6th form may check emails during holidays. Email each 6th form head at all the schools and request a call, he may need to be flexible with his choices, but at least try to get him on their waiting list.

The op should definitely do a name change before giving her area. Grammar schools are few and far between, and information can be cross referenced with her previous threads too.

Are you sure no colleges do A levels? Seems strange even if all schools have 6th forms. Its not always 16 year olds who want to do A levels.

If you say what your location is and what ALevels he wanted to do people will be able to help. It isn’t outing and you can always name change anyway afterwards.

@logincard, you used the word 'borough' which implies London, yes? If you start a seperate thread with your area in the title then you may get some more help - do a username change if you want to preserve your anonymity.

Another option would be appeal for a place at the Grammar school, following their appeals procedure. You could point to the fact your son only missed out by one point and cite reasons why his performance was impacted over the last 2 years by issues at home. Worth a try.

Obviously make sure he is on waiting lists for every school within commuting distance.

I would perhaps be worth setting up a new email account that you both have access to, for use with important applications. Once your son gets into sixth form he may need some support from you with the next stage of uni/job applications.

There will be LOADS of movement in the first week of September so plenty of places will become available. Lots of kids enrol at multiple sixth forms then take their pick in early September. By mid September your ds will definitely have a place.

Have you looked at independents? Is that financially possible?

My ds is at an academically selective independent and that would have been enough to get him in (assuming he didn’t do 10 and you’ve missed off a low grade?). They require a 6.5 average and a 7 in any subjects being continued.

If he wants in to his grammar school you will have to appeal but it is unlikely to be successful. He may also have to change his A Level options if the appeal is successful as popular courses may then be full.
I'd be calling every local college. Looking for a space. At my school we work closely with those at risk of not getting the grades to stay to ensure this doesn't happen but also that they have a plan B as sometimes exams go wrong. We also offer to help people who miss their grades on the day (just as we do with A Level). The entry requirements for sixth form are not flexible however.

1. speak to ALL local colleges and schools with sixth forms
2. speak to school and sort an appeal just in case But I'd also try to have some big conversations with your child. Mainly about the importance of communication so you can help in future. I'd also make very sure in a couple of years time that they make a sensible insurance choice.

Can he phone his grammar school? Also other colleges in the area. May be better coming from him. Sell himself too. Are the courses he wishes to do the ones he got 7’s in? Our school doesn’t allow A levels in any subjects where less than 7’s are attained. Maths is 8!

He had a back up place ( I thought) turns out he never accepted the conditional offer… and then did not tell me he didn’t have that’s place at a time so I could have done something about it. 5 days later enrolment is over and everywhere is full.
He was one mark off reentry to his grammar school.
Utterly fucked

We have this where students refuse to entertain the idea of a back up as they're convinced that plan A will work out. So they don't have anything in place if plan A falls through.

There will definitely be places left - he may have to rethink the course/where he studies. So 6th form college rather than traditional 6th form?

I agree with noble that grade 7s will definitely get him a place. He should be able to do traditional A levels.

I would also try to appeal the decision though if he's only one mark off. Surely with lockdown etc they should keep him on?

"You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.

You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:

stay in full-time education, for example at a college
start an apprenticeship or traineeship
spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training"

OP: hope you find something.

If you are happy to post the general area, someone on here might be able to suggest options you might not have thought of?

Also are you looking far enough away?

Round my way with large 6th form colleges (and more or less no school based ones) it isn't unusual to have 1hr door to door (or more for a specialist college).

Also, badger the grammar school.

Some kids may enroll at more than 1 location so don't give up hope.