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Original poster

School suggested DS might benefit from repeating Y10 on a different pathway.

62 replies

WatchingPaddingtonForThe400thTime · 04/05/2025 16:52

DS is currently Y10 he’s doing a standard combination of English x2, maths, science x2, German, geography and food tech.

He’s been really struggling this past year - grades and behaviour deteriorating. (Gone from getting 4/5s to getting 1/2s and based on KS3 should be aiming for 6s). I’ve been called into school I don’t know how many times, he’s been re-setted in some subjects, moved forms and spends a lot of his time in detention or time-out. He started going to the horticulture/gardening after school club and that’s the only day I, or the school, have no issues with him because he knows he will miss gardening club because of detention.

School offer an “outdoors” pathway. This is usually offered to children who cannot access full mainstream education for a variety of reasons. (It’s a mainstream state school not a specialist school). On this pathway they do English, maths and ICT as GCSEs or functional skills, and science and food tech as GCSE or BTEC. In addition they do RHS Level 1 in practical horticulture, Level 1 or 2 John Muir Outdoor learning award, Arts Award bronze or silver, and C&G Level 1 Land Based Studies. This pathway also integrates geography, statistics, PE and PHSE/RE into the projects for the other subjects as AQA UAS awards with the potential to take 1 (or more) as GCSEs.

Everything is geared towards project based outdoors/practical learning with some classroom time. They have 6 hours ‘traditional/more mainstream-type’ classroom time each week for English and maths and the rest is outdoors/practical or in the classroom analysing projects results or learning the theoretical side of the skills required to apply to outdoors learning projects or in science labs or cooking ect. The aim of this pathway is really to teach everything in as applied/practical/integrated way as possible including the core subjects.

I’ve been mulling this around in my head for a few days. Half of my thinks this will really suit him and give him that 2nd chance that he really needs. I also agree with school in that it could really engage him in education again. However, half of me things this is not a good idea and he won’t get any GCSEs. Advice needed.

Appreciate that was a bit of a long one, so if you got to the end, thank you!

OP posts:
EndlesslyDecluttering · 04/05/2025 17:20

I would be asking about the outcomes for children that have already taken this path, what qualifications did they get, where did they go next etc. Who will be teaching it, some of this isn’t standard school curriculum. It does sound excellent in theory.

RedToothBrush · 04/05/2025 17:17

This is usually offered to children who cannot access full mainstream education for a variety of reasons.

This clearly includes your Son for whatever reason.

FrippEnos · 04/05/2025 17:13

Are they offering him an extra yr in yr 11 or are they offering him 1 year courses and he goes straight through to yr11?

On this pathway they do English, maths and ICT as GCSEs or functional skills, and science and food tech as GCSE or BTEC. In addition they do RHS Level 1 in practical horticulture, Level 1 or 2 John Muir Outdoor learning award, Arts Award bronze or silver, and C&G Level 1 Land Based Studies. This pathway also integrates geography, statistics, PE and PHSE/RE into the projects for the other subjects as AQA UAS awards with the potential to take 1 (or more) as GCSEs.

You need to look into some of these as they are not 1 year courses and in the case of things like food tech could be an actual ball ache to catch up on as some of the courses are not just cooking.
Also what exactly is ICT?
If it is making him computer literate, how to use Microsoft office etc. or is it more focused?

Finally with no disrespect to the other pupils or teachers, what are the pupils and results like?

Or is it a dumping zone for those pupils that the school are containing and not teaching so they can bump up there progress 8/league tables score?

BoredZelda · 04/05/2025 17:08

If he stays as he is, he isn’t going to get his GCSEs either is he?

This seems like a no brainer to me.

CortadoPlease · 04/05/2025 17:07

I’d bear in mind that he’s a child of 15ish and at that age they don’t necessarily see round corners like adults can with more life experience. So I’m not sure if I’d defer to him to decide. Why do you think he’s not hitting his potential (6s) on the traditional path?

TheNightingalesStarling · 04/05/2025 17:05

What does your son think?

Hollyhedge · 04/05/2025 17:02

Has it been possible to get to the bottom of why his grades and behaviour have deteriorated?

Owmyelbow · 04/05/2025 17:02

Wow! More schools should do this!

Needlenardlenoo · 04/05/2025 16:59

Sounds great!

Snorlaxo · 04/05/2025 16:58

On this pathway they do English, maths and ICT as GCSEs or functional skills, and science and food tech as GCSE or BTEC.

I count 5,6 or 7 level 2 qualifications there (assuming that Science is at level 2 and not sure if English and Science counts as one or two ) which would be enough for most college courses if he passes.

The path would have suited my son but he would have probably said no on social grounds- friends were his primary motivation for attending school)

picturethispatsy · 04/05/2025 16:55

Sounds like a great opportunity for him. More schools should offer this type of pathway. Not everyone needs all the academic stuff.

What does he want?

TourangaLeila · 04/05/2025 16:54

Do what is right for your child. What does he want?