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Original poster

what to do

33 replies

logincard · 17/08/2021 16:07

my DS has 5 grade 7s and 4 6's at GCSE.

he missed out on acceptance to his grammar school for A level and we now have no place for him to study A levels, I have contacted every state and private school in the borough and close by and no one has a space.
who has responsibility for educating him , given that its a legal requirement for him to be in education? and how do I contact them ?

OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 17/08/2021 17:42

What about college for A levels rather than 6th form? Loads of colleges near me are still advertising that that have spaces.

clary · 17/08/2021 17:27

As noble says, what were the requirements if five X 7 didn't meet them? What have his current school said? just a flat no, or not that course but he can do this one?

I am amazed if there are no other options with space. Colleges round here are very keen on bums on seats. When did you discover he didn't have a place? A big ring round tomorrow is called for I think, make sure you get him involved too.

There is usually movement - people change their mind about A levels after a few days or just don't turn up on day one - two students on one of DD's A levels just never appeared - so I cannot believe there are no spaces. Some popular subjects may be at full capacity but there must be a place.

UserStillatLarge · 17/08/2021 17:00

I don't believe that "everywhere" is full. He might have to rethink the courses he wants to take, or travel a little bit further than he wanted, but there will be sixth forms happy to take extra people.
Is he down on waiting lists at least?

Original poster
logincard · 17/08/2021 16:43

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

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 17/08/2021 16:27

What on earth were the requirements if he didn't meet them with five 7s?

Do you mean that there are no spaces on the specific courses that he wants to study (in which case can he rethink?) or no spaces at all (which would be unusual as bums on seats = money and generally sixth forms are keen on money).

In my area there's a lot of movement between now and the third week of September as people who were holding offers to two places decline one, or change their mind so them all being full is mind-boggling to me. What did the colleges you approached suggest?

wackamama · 17/08/2021 16:17

There are plenty of sixth form places at good schools in our area. I suggest you start a new thread with the title "Anyone know which good sixth forms still have places within easy commute of borough X?" and then you're likely to get a few suggestions.

converseandjeans · 17/08/2021 16:11

He has decent grades - however did you not have a back up place? Is he currently at grammar school? There should be a college which would have places. There's guaranteed places at the college near us. His current school should be able to give advice.

JanglyBeads · 17/08/2021 16:09

To be fair he doesn’t legally have to be in education post 16.

Contact the local authority education department, they’ll have some ideas.

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