Options when English GCSE unobtainable

It sounds like you need to request an early review or even a reassessment of needs. As part of this DS needs up to date SALT and OT assessments and ongoing therapies.

Yes exactly this, same for my DS1, he was so proud as well after E-E-E at GCSE

Does DS use any assistive technology? Has DS had SALT and OT assessments? Does his EHCP have ongoing direct therapies?

Rockbird you can request an EHCNA yourself. Separate to this if DD can’t attend school the LA have a duty to provide education.

Agree re Lang v lit. I was asking which one had been dropped.

@Rummikub - if he’s not coping with Lang he won’t be able to manage kit which is more challenging. If the OP can afford some private tuition IGCSEs are easier and give higher results for similar ability candidates. Unfair but true.

There's some info here about post 16 with an EHCP:
https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/education-learning/education-beyond-16/#ehc-plans-after-16

Have you started looking for colleges/placements for him? I would do that asap - depending on what you want, you may need to appeal which will take time. I may be cynical (but it's through experience!), local authorities will often push DC/parents into accepting the cheapest post 16 options in borough.

My Ds has ASD too. Like your DS, he is 'on paper' quite able but passing exams requires very specific skills that I just don't know if he's going to be able to do it. One of his teacher said my DS could get a '9 or a 1'. My Ds likes to write a page to answer a one-mark question as he wants to show everything that he knows and worries he's going to miss something out. It's very painful.

Having said that, if your DC got GD in his SATS, it shows he has the potential to take - and pass - assessments.

@Rockbird some colleges will take on students from age 14. It needs the agreement of the LA and school to transfer funding.
Im aware that some schools don’t do this in order to keep funding.

This is really encouraging as I have a year 10 who doesn't attend school at all. She is still on the books as doing all her GCSEs but she has only done minimal work on maths and English, other teachers haven't made any contact at all with her in 18 months (school are aware of this and don't seem to care). So she may sit maths and English but is very unlikely she'll pass. She is awaiting ASD assessment and has a few other issues but school won't do an EHCP as they say it'll make no difference.

it looks like there is another route to getting qualifications, at the moment we're very downhearted about her whole education.

Some students do better with a scribe. Look into different options with the school.

EHCP will be valid in college. It gives more time to achieve. Support is usually better in college too.

And yes agree with pp make sure school is doing adjustments for exams and lessons. These can continue in college.

I teach Functional Skills English at an FE college. I too would advise biting their hand off if this is what is being offered. You say its below GCSE Level but it could be Level 2. It’s just that Level 2 achievement is capped to a Grade 4 whereas GCSE has the potential of achieving a 9. You say he has autism. FS is so much more suited as it’s practical useful English rather than the airy fairiness of a literary leaning GCSE English language. DS smashed it after struggling to achieve GCSE after 2 goes at it. As do our students.

Friend of mine her son failed maths and English and got into the local FE college, I think his first year was at level 2 and he either did gcse resit or functional skills at the same time, then the next year he moved up to level 3. Think it was some sort of electrical engineering course. Then he got an apprenticeship and is doing really well. I’d certainly talk to the fe college about what’s available.

kids Who are poor at inference to better with Eduqas not aqa. That’s something else you can check?

He will probably be offered Step Up silver or gold award. I can’t imagine he has been taken off Eng Lang - that would be very unusual especially when there is a year to go. The Step up quakes can be done in a very short period of time.

Apologies, just seen your reply. It sounds like the school are putting some things in place then in terms of DoE and independent living skills which is good. I would still recommend applying for an EHCP for him though. If he does get one, it will give him more options post16 and it will identify what his barriers to learning are and how best to support him.
There are programmes now for post 16s with EHCPs to encourage them into the workplace and apprenticeships etc.

Have you thought about applying for an EHCP for your DC? An EHCP can go up to 25 and a good one will provide additional support/funding and better options going forward.
With an EHCP, he would be able to take his GCSEs (or other qualifications) right up to 25. It can also include life skills.

I would look into this asap. The legal test for a needs assessment is really pretty low and it sounds like your DS would meet the threshold.

Has he ever been seen by an educational psychologist? As part of the needs assessment process he will be seen by several experts and they should generate reports about what your DS's barriers to learning are and what additional support he requires.

Is your DS getting extra time/reasonable adjustments for his exams? If he's only doing maths GCSE and now functional skills English, what is he doing for the rest of the school day?

Have you spoken to the school's Senco about support they're putting in place for him?

There's some good info about EHCPs here. If the school aren't supportive, you can apply for one yourself, that's what I did.

https://www.ipsea.org.uk/Pages/Category/get-support

That’s all good. There’ll be options for him at college or apprenticeship level. Or I’ve also seen personal de elopement options post 16.

Try not to worry too much. If it is FS level 1 this year then will
it be FS level 2 next year?

There will be options available to him post 16. FE colleges offer courses starting at level 1 in many areas. It could be a good idea to have an open day visit and check out the options.

Apprenticeships are also possible even without maths and English.

Are the school offering vocational qualifications to boost his timetable? Or is he going to college one or two days a week?

My daughter had a similar issue with Maths. She got into college to do the BTEC she wanted to do, but they included Maths GCSE in the 1st year.
The different teaching styles and small group settings really helped, and she passed, even though it took her a bit longer than most.
Maybe research your area to see what alternative routes are available for him.

Has he been assessed for dyslexia?

Try to reassure him. Often there are equivalent qualifications that can be take. Alternatively, persevering means students can get there eventually.

A young person I know felt similar as the idea of GCSE's including maths and English seemed absolutely impossible.

By taking courses that were judged to be equivalent to a GCSE over a couple of years, and admittedly resitting Maths 6 times, they eventually got there.

They are now flying in a job they never imagined they could get.