DD wants to retake GCSEs at 18 - help!

[Namechanger0800]

Does anyone know what routes there would be for this? She pretty much gave up at school - was dyslexic and something about the school environment just wasn't working for her. We tried and tried but ultimately left her to follow her path and predictably she only passed English.

She's since been doing an apprenticeship but isn't really enjoying it (although has stuck with it which is great) but- now is thinking about nursing as a career pathway. However def needs GCSEs to be able to do this.

What routes would be open to her for this to happen? Any suggestions?

When I was doing my access to healthcare professionals there were people who had done the pre access course and had or were still taking/retaking GCSEs. Just enquire at the local colleges about that.

I'd suggest the best thing to do is to have a look at some nursing courses and take a look at the entry requirements. If she needs A Levels then she will most likely be able to sit her missing GCSEs at the college she chooses to study at. Or at night school. My ex did his GCSE English and maths at our local college, two evenings a week, when he'd just turned 30, as he never did them at school. It opened up the job market for him a little, so was definitely a positive thing!

Take a look at some nursing courses that she's interested in (and maybe even phone a few admissions boards to see if there are alternative paths of entry) and take it from there :).

She doesn't need a full set of GCSEs she needs an access to nursing course and maths and English GCSE or a level 3 heath and social care BTEC (or CTEC etc).

If she has no GCSEs she would have to do L1, L2 and then L3 BTEC. You have to be 19 to start an access course, they are not easy but they only take 1 year.

If she in no where near 19 years then she can do maths and English GCSE at an FE college at no cost.

I'd say contact your local college about functional skills level 2 or GCSE. I work for an NHS Trust which offers a trainee nursing associate apprenticeship, you do need English and Maths functional skills level 2 or GCSE to apply though, but it might be worth looking at your local NHS trusts to see what they offer. The TNA programme is 2 years with 4 days per week in work and 1 day per week at uni. We're hoping to actually start nursing apprenticeships next year subject to how successful the pilot schemes are.

Thanks everyone - she actually is 17 so not quite 18 yet so sounds like she can do maths again at gcse for free at a college? Was looking at access courses but hadn't realised they started at 19

The trainee nursing programme sounds interesting - going to look at that as well