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Original poster

GCSEs online if no place in school can be found

38 replies

Squirrelseatcake · 14/02/2025 11:38

Does anyone have experience with doing GCSEs online?

DC has SN (around MH and cannot cope in a mainstream environment) but extremely bright and academic. We are trying to find a school via EHCP but all local APs which offer an academic setting are full. We are now staring into the abyss of not having any sort of education anymore at all (child is currently in y9). One school we visited suggested we approach the LA for online schooling. Has anyone done it?

How isolating is it for the DC? I work and and DC would be all week alone at home just with a laptop and I worry their mental health would spiral further downwards it surely that is better than no education.

Any other idea how an academic child can access at least 6 GCSEs (that's is what all local sixth form colleges require for A-Levels). 4 or 5 GCSEs won't cut it. DC want to study science or engineering at uni.

OP posts:
Sunlightonthewater · 14/02/2025 12:53

For the GCSE science subjects which normally require practicals (or for subjects with coursework) you would take iGCSEs which are fully exam based…

“The IGCSE was introduced 30 years ago by Cambridge Assessment International Education. IGCSEs were created to give students overseas access to a qualification of the same standard as GCSE. Since then other UK awarding bodies, such as Edexcel, have joined suit and offer a range of subjects at IGCSE.
IGCSE have become very popular with distance learning students at both home and abroad. GCSEs have historically included coursework, which always proved problematic for students studying remotely, so having access to a qualification, which on the whole removed this barrier, was very popular.
Apart from that there is no real difference these days. There is a lot of overlap in the syllabuses, both qualifications are the same level, and they are treated as equivalent to one another by all colleges, universities and employers.”

Original poster
Squirrelseatcake · 14/02/2025 12:52

I think you need to concentrate on her mental health rather than a preoccupation with decent GCSE's

DC is focussed on that. They are highly academic and all the reports list access to a high quality education as a 'protective factor'. If we cannot access an education things will go downhill. I appreciate it's difficult to understand without knowing the child. They can cope in school and learn. They work so hard in lessons. we just need a small setting. there are a handful of suitable settings locally but it transpires now all of them are full and the LA has not come up with any suggestions. they are just stonewalling.

I work 2 days from home. they rest they are just alone doing nothing. It's not been a good time :(

OP posts:
StrivingForSleep · 14/02/2025 12:50

Where mainstream further education wouldn’t work, some continue to have other provision made for them either in SS or EOTAS/EOTIS/EOTISC/EOTASC. Although who can’t cope with mainstream secondary find sixth form easier.

Online provision can be alongside other provision. It doesn’t have to be isolating.

Knowing the timescales and how to force the LA to act, including via judicial review where necessary, does actually help. It means the LA won’t get away with dragging out finalising for over a year.

PuffinLord · 14/02/2025 12:47

I’ve heard good things about Minerva online school - it’s private so you’d have to ask LA to fund it. But they seem to have a high proportion of kids with Sen/MH problems so they’re very well set up for that.

PattyDukeAstin · 14/02/2025 12:45

I think you need to concentrate on her mental health rather than a preoccupation with decent GCSE's. Also if she is struggling in mainstream secondary - how well will she cope in sixth form? Online study (from what you describe) sounds very isolating. What does she do at the moment when you are at work? Can you talk to school about a reduced timetable? In the present climate you really will not hurry the local authority, get them to provide specialist provision - no matter how informed you become about time scales etc. Hope this works out.

Octavia64 · 14/02/2025 12:38

It's possible to organise practicals,

If you sign up with one of the online schools they offer various days and weekends you can book to do them.

Same for a level.

StrivingForSleep · 14/02/2025 12:35

You don’t need to accept the LA waiting a year to finalise. If the LA fails to finalise by week 20, you can force them to act, via judicial review if necessary.

Chase the section 19 provision.

You can request the mainstream school and there are limited reasons the LA could refuse to name it if it is your preference. However, if specialist is your preference, you should say that. If you say both the specialist and mainstream, the LA is likely to name the maisntream because it is cheaper.

Science doesn’t have to be tricky. Lots do iGCSE science, but if you want to do GCSE it is possible - for example via Tutors and Exams and one of their partners.

Original poster
Squirrelseatcake · 14/02/2025 12:26

OccasionalHope · 14/02/2025 12:25

Sciences will be tricky online because of the practicals.

would that need private tutors then?

OP posts:
OccasionalHope · 14/02/2025 12:25

Sciences will be tricky online because of the practicals.

Original poster
Squirrelseatcake · 14/02/2025 12:24

We are at the draft stage and waiting for a temporary PRU place to fill the gap until Ehcp is ready. So far the LA stuck to the time lines but I know they tend to stall when it comes to finalising. I have friends who have been waiting over a year locally. They don't pick up the phone, don't respond to emails. It's impossible to get hold of anyone.

Can I request that they name the old mainstream school where DC is still on roll even though they said they cannot meet need? Just thinking DC may be able to go in some of the time whilst I appeal for a specialist place. They are so desperate to attend school and to be able to learn.

OP posts:
StrivingForSleep · 14/02/2025 12:18

Where are you in the EHCP process? Is the LA sticking to the timescales? If you have to appeal, if DC isn’t attending school, you can request an expedited hearing. Still a wait, but not a year.

Are the schools you want wholly independent?

If DC isn’t in school, the LA should be providing alternative provision. If this isn’t in place, IPSEA has a model letter you can use to request it.

Online schooling can be funded via an EHCP. It can also be provided under section 19 provision. Other provision could be provided alongside it so DC isn’t isolated.

Original poster
Squirrelseatcake · 14/02/2025 11:47

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 14/02/2025 11:41

Appeal for a place, don't accept "we are full". Ask, under FoI what the number if pupils on roll where for previous 5 years. If there were additional pupil(s) in previous years why not now?

I will bit the waiting times are a year. Appeal won't be heard until Spring next year when y10 is almost over. Child wont be able to do decent GCSEs by being out of school for most of y10 and only having teaching in y11. Currently not in school either (waiting for EHCP). Appeal won't help us. We need to get their education going. one way or another.

OP posts:
ByQuaintAzureWasp · 14/02/2025 11:41

Appeal for a place, don't accept "we are full". Ask, under FoI what the number if pupils on roll where for previous 5 years. If there were additional pupil(s) in previous years why not now?