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Original poster

Should DS drop to 2 A Levels - can any teachers advise?

10 replies

TattiePants · 05/09/2023 18:20

I'm hoping some teachers or parents that have been through the same thing can give me some advice before I contact school tomorrow.

DS has started year 13 at sixth form today. He's doing three A Levels but did two AS Levels at the end of year 12. He passed one, failed one and is on track for the third A Level that he didn't sit an AS Level in. He's been told today that he may not be able to continue with the subject he's failed. They're requesting his AS exam papers and will then make a decision. It's been suggested that if he doesn't continue with the subject he failed then he does another AS Level in a different subject which he wouldn't consider.

DS had a bloody horrible yr12. He has SEN and whilst the extra support he had up to year 11 was brilliant it practically disappeared in yr12. I was very poorly earlier this year so wasn't on the ball as much as I had been previously and if that wasn't enough, he was badly assaulted in sixth form and we had police involvement, had to decide whether to prosecute etc. Frankly, it amazes me that he made it into sixth form every day.

I'm trying to decide whether to ask if he can drop to two A Levels. He can then focus on his two best subjects and we can use the rest of the time to develop his other skills / build his confidence / get some work experience. He definitely doesn't want to go to uni but would sitting only two A Levels negatively effect him in other ways?

OP posts:

TeenDivided · 05/09/2023 18:24

I can't answer your main question, but have you already considered and discarded the idea of restarting y12 and doing a T-level / Extended Diploma BTEC instead?

Does he have an EHCP? If not, would they even let him continue with just 2 A levels, as that wouldn't qualify as 'full time' for funding purposes.

itsmyp4rty · 05/09/2023 18:41

Oh bless what an awful time he's had. As pp says some schools won't allow 2 a-levels as it's not full time but I'm pretty sure ds's let some kids who couldn't manage 3 drop one later.
Does he want to continue the A-level? I think that's key here, if he doesn't want to go to uni i think dropping one would have less impact. But what A-levels is he doing and what does he want to do when he finishes?

HappiDaze · 05/09/2023 18:43

Why on earth did his previous school push him to take AS Levels

What was the point of that ?

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samlovesdilys · 05/09/2023 18:44

He can drop the third but needs to take something to get back up to 3 or the school won't get funding. I would suggest a new AS and an EPQ with support. But - be aware that some unis want 3 a levels straight, so if that is his pathway you will need to check.
BUT I have had students not succeed in yr12 and then improve in yr13 and gain a full a level, it depends on subject and reasons why yr12 was tricky for them - can the school put support in place??

Original poster

TattiePants · 05/09/2023 18:45

He doesn't have an EHCP. When he got his diagnosis at the end of year 7 school immediately put every recommendation in place so we didn't pursue one. Funding was one thing that I wasn't sure about. I don't think he would consider redoing yr12.

OP posts:

Sidslaw · 05/09/2023 18:47

He probably would not get funding to retake year 12 either

He chooses from whatever options the school gives him

Original poster

TattiePants · 05/09/2023 19:05

@itsmyp4rty ideally he wants to continue with the 3 A Levels. The AS Level he's failed is geography and that was his favourite and best subject at GCSE so things have gone badly wrong this year for his grade to drop so much. He hasn't a clue what he wants to do after A Levels (other than not go to uni).

@HappiDaze his school do AS Levels as standard so there wasn't an option not to do them. Apparently a lot of kids haven't started yr 13 as they didn't pass their AS Levels.

@samlovesdilys doing two A Levels and a new AS Level seems to be what school has suggested to DS today. The only two AS subjects that fit with his timetable are subjects he would find impossible so unfortunately that wouldn't be an option for us. Plus, his mental health is fragile enough without him feeling like he's failed and has to resit a year with the yr12s.

OP posts:

samlovesdilys · 05/09/2023 19:08

A big part of Geog is the coursework, can he show them he is committed by getting a head start on that?? EPQ with us doesn't involve lessons, just 1:1 with the nominated teacher so would that be possible?? Recalling the paper is a great idea though, it will help them highlight skill/knowledge gaps

Original poster

TattiePants · 05/09/2023 19:14

@samlovesdilys that's helpful thank you. He's already started the practical part of his geography coursework and surveyed two beaches, planned the structure and started getting some words down. I'm also happy to throw money at the problem and get him a tutor. He has great geography knowledge and can discuss things at length but struggles to get it down on paper. I think he probably needs help with structuring the questions which is where a tutor may be necessary.

OP posts:

samlovesdilys · 05/09/2023 20:44

A tutor sounds good but make sure they are familiar with his exam board. I would push school, really it should be a 2 yr course, and there should be support in place...

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