Changing School - Safeguarding Concerns

Some schools, for example this one, offer a one year GCSE (partly so that children who’ve had a bad time in another scjool can start from the beginning).

https://rochester-college.org/study-with-us

I don’t know when it was introduced, but it has been in the regulations for several years, albeit the regulations are updated each year.

The regulations state for most pupils there should be educational progression but if there are good educational reasons for pupils to undertake a course without educational progression it can be funded, so in some cases it could be funded even if the pupil already has a level 3 qualification.

Is this a new rule out of interest? And is it only when you don't have any other level 3 qualifications?

In case it is relevant for anyone, the A level is still considered one learning programme even if DC sit AS exams.

That makes a lot of sense, as there's now no AS and A2. Thanks for clarifying.

Depending on the course and at which point the pupil wanted to resit they may still be able to. For example, if an A level pupil wanted to resit Y12, as some do, they would still be able complete A levels by resitting Y12 and completing Y13 because both years of A levels are considered one learning programme. Which is why I posted the link to the regulations.

Of the second year. That's meant to day. They'd turn 19 before 31st August of their second year.

Yeap @LovelyLilies that's why if they retook Y10 and took their GCSE age 17, they wouldn't have 3 years. They would turn 19 before 31st August.

As long as DC is 16, 17 or 18 on the 31st August prior to the start of the course they continue to be classed as a 16-18 pupil for FE funding until the end of the learning programme even if they turn 19 during it. Paragraph 44 and 45 of the funding regulations.

I did not comment on the likelihood of it being agreed either. My post was purely factual about who the admissions authority is.

Ah I see. Fair enough. I still stand by the fact that it's not as uncommon as people on here are saying. Unless you're in that position, you wouldn't really know would you? It's most likely geographically dependent too. I imagine much more common in areas with lots of kids moving in and out.

@Postapocalypticcowgirl I agree the FE consequences are ones that are important to consider. No safety net left in essence. However, that's the same when children are deferred for entry into reception. My DD has 2 friends from the school she has just left who will be sitting their GCSEs age 17 as they were deferred. That was a state academy. I don't believe schools can discriminate those kids age 11.
And as you say, anyone even considering this is most likely going to be in a worse position if they stay where they are. No one happy is going to be moving at the end of Y10 unless theres significant extenuating circumstances .

I did not comment on whether a school would prefer a pupil repeat Y10 or not, nor did I mention admissions to Y11. I commented on you stating it was the LA’s decision even for academies. It isn’t.

I cannot imagine a school would prefer a child going into Y11 than retaking Y10. As mentioned, if they have a space, they have to admit into Y11. If I was a head of an academy and had a parent with a summer born, asking if they can retake Y10 Vs the upheaval of entering Y11, I know which option I would prefer.
I appreciate there are worries about it regards age etc and future post 16 options but still, if we're just talking what's better for the school, I can't see how entering into Y11 would be.

I know of a student who was allowed to repeat Y10 in a state school, due to suddenly having to move schools at the end of Y10. If you don't ask the question, you'll never know.

The knock on impact is that once they're 18, they can't usually start a new FE course and get funded all the way through, so they couldn't retake a year at sixth form, like a lot of DC do.

State schools also can't refuse admission into Y11 if they have places.

I agree it will have an academic impact, if they have to go straight into Y11 and they may end up with a reduced number of GCSEs- but presumably there will be a severe impact if they stay where they are, as well?

Unless it is a maintained school &/or the pupil has an EHCP it is up to school itself as to whether they allow deceleration as they are their own admissions authority even if the LA co-ordinates admissions.

My DD changed end of year 10 from one comp to another comp. Similar GCSE courses but not identical and some taught in reverse. Move went very well and got 12 GCSEs at almost perfect grades and an A in level 3, all during my chemotherapy for breast cancer as well. Got lots of friends and support at new school. Old school was awful. But she was able to self teach and very bright and also new school were flexible unlike old one. It took about 3 weeks to move with pressure on LA, both academies with LA doing admissions. Head of old school said not possible she will fail but would make no adjustments to help her.

Almost all academies in our area still have admissions through the LA. I don't know any that do it themselves.

Interesting. In that case what are you doing with the kids who deferred entry to reception?

Most schools are academies now, and can do what they like! No links to LA anymore.

We don’t allow it - bog standard secondary! Causes issues later if they decide to leave at 16 (as is the law, at least to move on to further Ed, training etc.,) and don’t sit their GCSEs. This is why schools don’t do it any more. Assistant Head btw.

Do I look like some sort of statistics robot? It's really not practically unheard of. My DD is doing it this year! We've heard from lots of families, there's even a Facebook group. I'm not saying it's a super common thing, but it's really not unheard of. A lot of LAs seem to be fine with it, as these kids would've been able to defer reception anyway. I can't speak for all LAs but it's ultimately up to them, not the state school.
I have no idea how often it happens in private schools, DD is coming from a state.

To resit year 10 in a state school? What are the figures for kids doing that then?

It's really not 'practically unheard of'.

That must mean it doesn't happen than? What a strange comment.
I'm not going to say it happens daily but it's by no means uncommon. Before we started the process for DD we did lots of research and actually it happens often enough that information is fairly easy to find. Tons of threads on here on it. I spoke to quite a few parents via PM. Our LA had no problem with it as our DD is born after April so could've started a year later anyway.

Private schools will allow things like this in some cases. State school its practically unheard of.