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Original poster

PE A level as a private candidate or self teach in 6th form?

30 replies

alevels · 28/04/2026 22:18

DS (currently in yr11) has known A level choices since year 9 and is not flexible. Unusual mix with further maths and school cant timetable all 4.

DS wants to self teach PE and get school to moderate the course work and enter the exams (no help required from school on practicals as does the sport every day outside of school. No help required with teaching as DS wants to self teach to move at faster pace (predicted 9s at GCSEs) and we could pay for private tutor. Refuses to consider not taking PE and FM and they clash. No other options in local schools and wont commute due to wanting to train at the sport each day!

If this is not an option then to enter as a private candidate but the centre would need to moderate the practical and their experience at this is hard to establish and location for exams seems problematic.

Anyone have any experience of either option? Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
alevels · 29/04/2026 09:45

@TeenToTwenties Thanks but you have misunderstood me. All 4 A levels would be taken at the end of yr13 in one sitting as required by universities. Maths would be studied in yr 12 (easier as already has a 9 in FM GCSE) then FM syllabus added in yr 13 then both exams taken together at end of yr 13. This means FM students are only taught maths with other FM students so the pace can be much faster rather than where in some schools FM students are taught maths with students who are only taking maths A level not FM and who maybe got a 6 at GCSE which is frustrating if maths is very easy.

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 29/04/2026 09:10

Thanks he wants to do maths syllabus in yr12 and FM in yr 13

I'm out of touch with modern syllabus but this always strikes me as a poor idea. By waiting to take the Maths A level it should seem so much easier by the end of y13 due to having done the harder FM syllabus.

Original poster
alevels · 28/04/2026 23:52

Thanks he wants to do maths syllabus in yr12 and FM in yr 13 which isnt an option if taking FM externally. Plus the PE classes are too slow paced so he wants to self teach. FM has to be one of 4 at school but presumably if PE was external they would count that as one of the 4.

OP posts:
titchy · 28/04/2026 23:25

Would it not be easier to take FM as an external?

clary · 28/04/2026 22:48

It’s a bit rubbish that PE clashes with FM. That (and maths obvs) was DS2's initial plan (luckily he added biology and dropped the FM – I say luckily as he is taking a bio degree) and a friend of his did that actual combo – two different schools.

Still, that reflection doesn't help you much. Is the school on board with his plan? Will it let him take "just" maths, FM and one other (some schools insist on four with FM)? If the school will support in the way you describe I cannot see any immediate issues.

Otherwise I think it would be a real pain to get a private exam centre to moderate the CW tbh.

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