to think that my DS has been fucked over by his schools 6th Form's greed for accademic results

[heleninahandcart]

DS, severely dyslexic, is was doing A levels at 6th Form. He acheived a D and E in two of the harder academic subjects, failed 2 softer subjects. School told DS yesterday that his results although a pass are poor and he'd be better off doing an aprenticeship. His IQ has been assessed several times is between 142 and 146. He is out, no resits allowed, no re taking the year. Only if he had got 3 passes could he have stayed. He went into school to see how he did and came out having left school . I've spent years trying to find every way of building his fragile self esteem. He is crushed. Didn't even receive a congratulations of what he had achieved, I was there and heard it.

This is a London school, just changing to academy status on 1 September, and its in competition with 'the' area school. He had been told on entry to 6th form that there is always the option of 2 A levels plus 2 AS levels/BTEC etc. This has apparently changed.

Does anyone know if they can just do this? It is not common practice in most schools colleges, but common in London. Of course I'm trying to see if he can find a place somewhere else, even if he has to travel outside London but he is really going to be up against it and first 'consolation' goes to colleges and schools existing students. So far nothing.

[jugglingwiththreeshoes]

My BF's father made a good career in photography and graphic design designing book covers, so I guess it can be done !

[ImperialBlether]

It can, juggling, but it's very unusual. He is obviously exceptional.

[Fontsnob]

Sorry to hijack, but Imperial, why are you discounting teaching? I made a career in design then went on to teach it. So you are speaking tosh (in the nicest possible way of putting it!) there are also plenty of careers in photography that don't involve being the next Martin Parr.

[Fontsnob]

And OP, David Carson has no formal design education and is one of the worlds leading (and rich) designers. So don't let your son give up on what he wants to do!

[ImperialBlether]

I am a teacher myself, so I'm not discounting it on those grounds! I just meant, if you take out showing other people how to photograph, it's hard to make a living by actually being a photographer yourself.

[Fontsnob]

Ok :) sorry, always a little touchy about the old 'those that can do' saying.

[onetoomanytoo]

heleninahandcart ( love the id), although you and your son are disapointed and upset at the moment, things will get better,
my dd had a horrid miserable time trying to do her as at 6th form, no help from tutors, half the time no tutors, and at the end of it, she along with 52 other kids in her year were told bye bye, she got 3 passes, dd and e, but still booted, at the time we were in despair, but, a year on she is half way through a btec and is predicted to get distinction in all areas, she loves her college, so much so, she is to be anambassedor this term, she will then go on to uni to do her degree in her chosen field, then possibly her masters.

her college have been surprised that she is doing so well as the report from the 6th form they sent predicted she would fail in everything,
says more about her 6th form then about her i guess.

what i am rambling to say is this, don't give up, there is more than one way to get to uni, talk to your local college, they should be having open days around about now,

best wishes for your son's futre, and don't give up

[claricestar]

I work at an FE college, teaching BTEC level 3 Art and Design, and every year we get a few applicants who have had to leave sixth form due to not making the grade at AS level. That year spent at sixth form really helps develop maturity and study skills and I find that when they come to us for their "fresh start", they tend to do very well and move on to good university courses. I also have half a dozen students with dyslexia each year and support is given whether or not they have a statement.
Most FE colleges will have an open day after the GCSE results come out....get your son to go along!

[MoominsAreScary]

Maybe a college environment well be better for your ds, I did much better at college than I did in the 6 th form. They had more support in place and were far more helpful. Maybe it would be a good idea to ring around and see what they advise.

[anon2011]

I really don't see the problem with this. Your son is unlikely to accheive academic excellence - will those qualifications benefit him in anyway? I think he should be realistic and aim for something he has a chance of succeeding in.

[toddlerama]

Have PMed you re. his interest in Law.

[heleninahandcart]

Thank you on some very specific suggestions of alternatives and its good to know that others have found their own route to getting where they wanted. I am following up and will look at FE colleges/other types of courses.

Anon2011 your view goes against the experiences of the many posters who had similar setbacks and still achieved.

[maighdlin]

my school "asked" me to leave just before i sat my AS levels. I was severely depressed during lower sixth and had missed loads. I was glad to get out of the place but as i have become older and more cynical i think they probably asked me to leave as they thought i wouldn't have done well in the exams and would have affected their high statistics so best to get rid of me, they got rid of me 2 weeks before the exams. now im nearly top of my year studying law so fuck 'em. Our school were so proud of their alumni that they have a special board with notable alumni and another board full of press clipping of previous pupils. When I'm NI's first female chief justice (prays) I will not let them put anything up about me as they had fuck all to do with it.

[ImperialBlether]

Maighdlin, what do you think they should have done, just out of interest? If you had missed a lot it's likely you would have failed. Do you think they should have let you have a go? How do you feel - do you think you would have been better off having a last ditch attempt at the exam?

[GeneralCustardsHardHat]

I'm dyslexic and had similar after my GCSE's (although i got 11 A*-C grades this wasn't sufficient for my school!) in that I was told that my grades were too poor to be allowed into the 6th form to take A-levels. I fought with my parents to get them to let me in, and i ended up dropping out part way through lower sixth, got a job to tide me over to the next academic year scraped through a college scraped into uni and dropped out in the first year. Wish i'd listened to school and stuck with my first job, i'd be in a much much better position now than I currently am career wise.

Don't rush into a decision this week. There are options and sometimes 'dropping out' can be the very best thing you can do.

[gingeroots]

Similar position to OP and others .
DC struggled through sixth form and booted out in very underhand way ( nil dialogue with parents ) weeks before A2 exams.
I actually think that if you're in the system ( struggling with A levels because of lack of advice re more suitable qualifications like B Techs ) then a low grade A level IS WORTH SOMETHING and you shouldn't be made to feel like rubbish .
How would the teachers - or any of us ,never mind angst ridden teenagers - feel if after turning up to work for 5 years and doing your best you were told "Goodbye and out ,you're not up to scratch " ?

Schools not very inclusive are they ?
Probably not poor teachers fault ,league tables and here in London ,Academies falling over eachother to get "good" results .
But something really wrong here - maybe FE Colleges better than sixth forms ?

[gingeroots]

So ,no you are not being unreasonable .

[heleninahandcart]

Quick update. DS has just got a place at another London school to re-start or continue depending on how they assess him. Ok, its dog rough, but great pastoral care and outstanding results given the intake. They also select exam boards that use more coursework rather than exams and have a lot of success with University entry via National BTEC (a kind of 'enhanced' which I didn't know existed). Only 2 places were available and they were 'impressed and delighted' with him. DS is determined to get to University to prove himself, its the only thing he has always wanted and I've realised that getting there and achieving ANY standard of degree will do more for his self esteem and happiness than anything else. But at least we have considered all the alternative options, thanks to your good advice on here. Here's hoping.

[proudfoot]

Good luck to your DS OP. He sounds a lovely lad and I hope his hard work and determined attitude will really pay off for him at the new college :)

[gingeroots]

Oh well done ,both of you .
Have PM'd you to ask name of new school !

[jugglingwiththreeshoes]

Really pleased for you both, to hear your good news. The new college sound much more helpful and supportive.

[mummymccar]

OP glad your DS has got a place in a new school. My DS got good GCSE results but was then asked to leave school when she got DDE for AS. She went to college & did another 3 ASs but changed subjects (thinking that was the problem) she did even worse the second time around. Throughout it all she said that when she got into the exam hall she just froze & couldn't remember anything, no matter how hard she'd revised. We were a bit doubtful because she'd got such good GCSEs but when we went back and looked at the scores it was the GCSE coursework that had won her grades. She'd nearly failed every exam but got A* for all coursework. She changed to a BTEC which was coursework heavy and passed with distinctions. She is now at uni and on track for a first. I hope that this hasn't harmed your DSs confidence, this experience doesn't mean he won't fulfil his dreams.

[hellhasnofury]

I have a DS who had an awful time at school, left feeling a failure and hating the education system. He went on to a local college to study a BTECH and came out with a fantastic grade. At school he was earmarked as lazy despite the fact he has a dx of dyspraxia, dysgraphia and Aspergers, like your DS he has an outstanding IQ. He just finds it incredibly difficult to get his thoughts on to paper. At college he was treated as an equal and an adult. His grades climbed from a predicted Pass/Pass/Pass to Distinction/Distinction/Distinction.

Hopefully the right setting will help your son to achieve the heights he can.

[CardyMow]

Scribes ARE provided at Uni - my Dbro has AS, is at UEA doing Nat science, he is able to write, but even HE can't read it when he's finished (also has muscle probs). They offered him the choice of a scribe or typing the exam. He chose typing, but the option IS there. UEA have been very good, he is having to retake his second year due to fucking up on coursework - (basically was handing in projects that would be top top marks, but very late, and marked waaaayy down for being late - perfectionist AS tendencies).

But there ARE things they do at Uni to help - so DON'T discount Uni.

[spiderpig8]

I know what it's not what you want to hear but they are just being realisic.