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Original poster

I don't think DS will do well if he does A levels, I'm right to keep quiet though aren't I?

41 replies

Cremedemar193 · 09/10/2024 07:52

DS is in year 11. He has potential to do well but I've seen absolutely no evidence of study. His end of year 10 results were OK considering how little work he did (ranging from 4 to 6a).

He wants to do Geography, Business and Law at A level. I think he'll struggle as I know the dedication it takes and he simply won't put the effort in. I think he'd be better doing something vocational.

I haven't said a word of this to anyone (other than DH). Im right to keep quiet aren't I? He needs to find his own path etc. and I know theres still time for him to knuckle down, I just can't see it happening.

He wants to do 6th form because all his mates and his girlfriend are.

OP posts:

PaperGloves · 09/10/2024 07:54

I’d be talking to him.

titchy · 09/10/2024 07:55

If he bombs will he even be allowed to stay on? In my experience - they properly knuckle down in the second term of year 11. The second half of the second term in one of my dc's case... So make a plan B but present as a plan B rather than plan A at the moment. Hopefully school are also plugging the idea of plan Bs.

Pottingup · 09/10/2024 08:01

My DS stepped up a lot between GCSEs and A levels and is now doing well at a good uni. Vocational courses are great but they do tend to narrow your options which can be a problem if you don’t have an affinity with a particular course/direction. Maybe take him to open days at look at A level alternatives with some chat about the amount of work involved in A levels and GCSEs to get good enough grades.

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Changingplace · 09/10/2024 08:02

He can always do something vocational later, he’s young, his whole life is ahead of him and A levels aren’t the be all and end all but if he doesn’t do them now in favour of a vocational course it can be harder to go back and do them later.

Talk to him about upping the study, but also about what he wants to do in the future overall.

He could do A levels but still do an apprenticeship afterwards.

GoldyHorn · 09/10/2024 08:05

Have you been to look round sixth form colleges? That's what I did so that dd knew that she didn't have to stay on at school and she didn't have to do A levels. In the end she did decide to do them but at least I felt like she had the knowledge of different options. There's plenty of things to do at colleges that aren't A levels.

Inezz · 09/10/2024 08:06

I would be taking to him just to make sure he understands it's a big step up from GCSE to a levels, requires a lot more work- including self study- and if he doesn't work hard enough (and get decent grades) there is a risk he will be asked to leave. Has he had a look at the course text books or study guides to get an idea of what he'll be doing? What brought it home to DS was looking at a past exam paper and some of the coursework the y13s had submitted.

As long as they go into it with an understanding of what it's about!

Some of DSs' 6th form cohort dropped out after a few weeks because they realised a levels weren't for them so I'd suggest having a backup plan or even just some ideas for alternatives. His friends switched to BTECs eg business, engineering at the local college.

Some others were asked to leave because they weren't putting the work in and got poor test results. This was further down the line so they were unable to switch onto a college course straight away and had to wait for next September start date where they joined the 'year below'.

Anywherebuthere · 09/10/2024 08:06

Talk to him. Be straight. Lack of study will lead to rubbish grades and he may not be able to do A levels of his choice if he doesnt get the grades needed.

Some schools give higher mock grades for some reason and it doesn't reflect in the actual thing. So the real grades maybe even lower than what he already got for mocks.

Find out if he is aware of other pathways in education. It might be that Btec, apprenticeships or something else might be better suited to him.

If he isnt, sit with him and go through course requirements from various colleges that he may be interested in.

If he knows what he wants to do a university, go through those courses and work backwards from there too.

That way the research will already have been done in case he need to change his plan.

Original poster

Cremedemar193 · 09/10/2024 08:06

Thanks for the replies. I have been encouraging him to study and having conversations about the amount of work needed but it's falling on deaf ears at the moment. He's also going to look around a college next month but he's adamant he's not going there.

Yes, my thought is that if A levels go tits up he can still then go the vocational route. We'd support him here at home (ie there's no rush for him to be earning a wage and getting his own home etc).

OP posts:

Comedycook · 09/10/2024 08:06

No you must talk to him.

Tell him that a levels are a huge academic committment and you can't blag your way through them. Also discuss what he wants to do afterwards...uni or into work?

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 09/10/2024 08:10

I would have the conversation with him. A levels are a lot of work. And there’s no point wasting two years if he’s not going to work. Will they let him anyway.? My DC school say you have to get a 6 in subjects (or facilitating subjects) and a 5 in Maths and English.

steppingcarefully · 09/10/2024 08:11

My son did well in GCSE’s, which we didn’t really expect, so we assumed he would be ok with A levels. He went to college in a different area, met a whole bunch of new friends, partied hard every weekend and didn’t knuckle down to the work. We spoke to him many times to try and guide him and encourage him but it made no difference. Consequently he ended up getting rubbish results and didn’t go to uni when all his mates did. He massively regretted it. However, he got a job for 4 years then went off to uni and has now finished with a first class degree. I think if he had gone at 18 that wouldn’t have happened, he wasn’t mature enough. So even though at the time we wished he had listened to us we now realise it’s probably better he did it his way and he learnt a lot from it (ie needs to knuckle down and not think it will just land in his lap). I would chat to your son about his options but not try to push him into anything and don’t let him know you think he’s not capable of doing well at A levels. They often surprise us.

clary · 09/10/2024 08:12

Yes I agree, Talk to him. Looking at A level papers and specs is a good idea - it's quite a step up.

Also many sixth forms require min grade 6 at GCSE to study a subject at A level. For law they might ask for a 6 in Eng or history. Is he likely to achieve these grades?

mumonthehill · 09/10/2024 08:13

The honest truth is if he does not get the grades Alevels will not be open to him and he needs to understand this. A plan b is always good to have. With 4-6 grades he will struggle at Alevels and it is worth him understanding what he needs to get to stay on at school.

TeenToTwenties · 09/10/2024 08:14

Definitely do talk to him. Express your concerns, consider his response.
Explore other options and discuss their pros and cons.
If he was y13 I would agree with you, but before the decision is made is very much the time for guidance.

Original poster

Cremedemar193 · 09/10/2024 08:14

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 09/10/2024 08:10

He is predicted those grades.

OP posts:

TeenToTwenties · 09/10/2024 08:15

if nothing else he needs to apply for plans B and C as backups in case he doesn't get the predicted grades.
Predicted grades are predicated on doing some work...

TheBelleOfBelfastCity · 09/10/2024 08:16

He still has plenty of time to pull things together. If he’s anything like my DD then the pressure of the buildup to GCSEs worked wonders and she finally began properly studying.

The subjects that he wants to do at A level are on the easier side - if he wants to go to sixth form with his friends then I’d support him in doing so. He will likely be absolutely fine. If he isn’t, he’s young and there’s still plenty of time to change his mind and do something vocational etc.

Fairslice · 09/10/2024 08:17

Could he do one BTEC a level equivalent and 2 x A levels? If your school offers that? So say a BTEC in Business?

BTECs also require a lot of work but it's more spread out over the two years which might might the workload a bit easier.

Original poster

Cremedemar193 · 09/10/2024 08:18

Thanks everyone. I'm so glad I asked on here. It's hard to have these thoughts rattling around in your head and not know how to handle the situation. I'm very aware that pushing him in a direction he doesn't want to go in also won't end well.

I'll have another talk about the amount of study required and we'll get plan B in place.

OP posts:

Fairslice · 09/10/2024 08:19

And just to say - dd got 2 x 7s and the rest 6s and 4s at GCSE and ended up with 3 x As at A level- she suddenly started working really hard at the beginning of year 13 and shocked us all. The clincher was visiting a uni and loving it and really wanting to go there.

Gelasring · 09/10/2024 08:20

I think you need to talk to him about the work expected for A level - and it sounds like you have. It's a big jump. So you shouldn't keep quiet but I personally wouldn't be doing any more than that - I wouldn't be getting into arguments or trying to force him down the vocational route.

ShellFace · 09/10/2024 08:22

Keep his options open and see what happens on results day.
It'll probably be you that needs to do all the research but you need to have a plan for every eventuality...

A levels hopefully if he knuckles down last minute.

BTechs or C Techs??? Do school sixth form offer anything other than A levels, or would this be college? He needs to apply to at least one, as a fall back option.

Research apprenticeships- easier said than done. But start keeping your eye on what is available in his field of interest.

If he's not interested in these alternatives, or work, hopefully it might spur him on to revise.

sausageupanalley · 09/10/2024 08:24

My DS is exactly the same but shuts down if I try to have the conversation with him. It's so frustrating as he puts such little effort in, but also has no idea what he wants to do. I think he will struggle with A level workload and even choosing 3 subjects he would like enough also. But he's also not interested in anything like electrician or plumbing so I really don't know what to advise him. It's really hard and you have my sympathies op!

ShellFace · 09/10/2024 08:24

Ds1 did mix of A levels and BTech. DS2 doing all BTecs. You can get to (some) university(/ies) with good BTech results, if that's your thing

TeenToTwenties · 09/10/2024 08:25

I'm a great believer in Plans B and C.

Come results day you don't want to be scrabbling around for a course because he got 4s&5s not 6s&7s. You want to have an offer for a well researched course that you think will suit.

Also if he prefers the look of A levels to T-Levels/BTECs then it will incentivise him to work to get the grades. if you don't look, he won't know the alternatives. Or of course he might prefer the vocational courses anyway.

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