Is it that uncommon for a young person to don

[Hopingforthebest54]

Three years of college in the uk.
My son is doing a third year and people keep saying oh he will be nearly 20 when he finishes. He’s 20 in September so one of the oldest in his year.

What course is he doing? 3 years is standard for many courses.

A level 3 betec. He didn’t get the grades needed to go straight onto the level 3 so had to do a level 2 first.

It sounds very normal to me.

Everyone is entitled to free education up until age 19. It's almost a 'Year 14' really but they don't call it that. Year 13 (upper 6th) is for 17 turning 18 so if it was called 'year 14' it would be for 18 turning 19 year olds. Loads do 3 years of 6th Form/College. If he turns 20 next September then he will be 19 when the academic year finishes.
All normal and not unusual.

My ds may be doing a third year , he is in 2nd year of btech level 3 and may do a one year level 2 after as a top up as he isn't sure on uni yet and has applied for apprenticeship as well but another year at college is back up , though he is young one won't be 18 until he finishes , there isn't going to be an abundance of jobs this year , whilst we slowly recover so i have no issue with him doing another 1 year course if need be , so three years at college

Think it is quite common to level 2 1 year then level 3 for 2 years after.
My ds may be doing other way around