Dd already changed what she wants to do at college twice. College has said they won't change it again.

[snowfairysd]

Dd is very undecided. She saw careers advisors, tutors, teachers etc. And it didn't help much at all. She was originally going to do health and social care. Then she didn't want to do that and has just changed it to childcare. But she now says she doesn't want to work with children. I'm pulling my hair out. She has no clue what she wants. She then asked to change it to science and they said no she can't change it again. I'm now worried she's going to start childcare and dread it and then not go. I've asked how much she wants to do the science one and she replies "not much but better than the others" she missed out on sixth form which she wanted to do maths, biology and psychology. She didn't get what she needed by a long way.

Help!!!

Can she do resits and do her first choice Alevels next year?

Can she do full resists for multiple subjects? I thought just for maths and English?

Is it worth her doing something else entirely, not in education, or can she re-take her GCSEs perhaps? I don't know if this is an option btw. Do you know the reason she didn't get what she needed? Was she way off what she was predicted?

There’s no point her doing something for the sake of it if it’s not what she wants to do, it’s a waste of funding when she could do other qualifications for free later. Talk to school/college about retaking a few GCSEs. How many grade out was she? Maths, Biology and Psychology are heavy going subjects.

She only got a 4 in the maths after being predicted a 7! She definitely can't now do maths. She got a 7 in her mocks so it was a huge disappointment. I honestly don't know what went so wrong on exam day. She didn't say it went bad or anything. Her teachers were gutted. She has taken it really well. It's just a big disaster

She does know how much maths is in science and psychology? She would probably have to pay to resit maths as technically she passed.

I am guessing she passed both Maths and English but at a lower grade than expected (four is a pass not 'technically' a pass - insulting to students who have worked hard to pass). Therefore it is unlikely your daughter will be able to resit at college and will have been directed to a BTEC qualification. Health and Social Care is more broadbased than Childcare and will include a modules on Psychology and Science - she would be looking for a Health and Social Care with Health or Science pathway. If she was predicted 7 and achieved 4 then it is possible she doesn't perform as well in exams. Therefore should be more suited to a coursework based qualification.

University lecturer here, also with experience of FE.

This is a really difficult time for her. She knew what she wanted to do, but not getting the grades means the rug's been pulled from under her. So now she's panicking, thinking that she has to do something....anything.....and is snatching at whatever comes along.

Education's changed a lot. It used to be that if you didn't start your A levels when you were 16 you'd lost your chance. That's not the case any more. If she is in such a whirl, I honestly think she'd be better off taking a year out, getting a job waitressing, shop work, whatever, and taking the pressure off herself for at least the next year. Give herself time to recover and have a proper think. There are plenty of opportunities beyond A levels, there are Btecs and apprenticeships, and as she gets older (over 21) most universities would accept her on to a degree programme without A levels if she could show the right sort of commitment.

Give her time to see that her world hasn't ended because she didn't get the grades, and it won't if she doesn't leap straight into another course.

I agree with morty Plus, a year out would allow her to resit the exams for better grades in February.

I've been through the mill with DS, he actually did a bit better than expected, he got 7 including English and Maths. He applied for 2 courses at our local college, rejected both of them, but they were brilliant getting him onto a course he actually is happy with. It sounds to me OP that you need to do a bit of 'Wading in'.

She isn’t ready to move on.

If it is possible to go with mortys Suggestion id go with it...

Has she ever been assessed for learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia? I’m asking because I am quite bright, had good predicted grades and did well in course work but struggled to perform in exams. Finally got diagnosed with dyslexia at 21!

Maybe she could sit down with a careers counsellor to look at her options? She doesn’t have to continue at college if she’s really unhappy...she could look at retaking, or working until she knows what she really wants to do?