DS wants to do sixth form "for the experience" and doesn't even need a levels.

[PrinceCharming80]

DS wants to end up in the police. He's a smart lad. There's a public services course at the local college that I thinks for things like the police but he says it does focus a lot on the army and that he just really doesn't want to do it he wants to go to a local sixth form joined to a school, he is smart but didn't receive any As in GCSEs (I'm not fussed, I'm very proud of his grades) and wants to do a levels, for the heck of it (his words) he says he wants to meet new friends and just learn a bit more before he actually goes down that whole chosen careers route as he would just like to build his confidence up and learn more about life. I'm just worried that he is going to find them too tough but then get a bit too attached to this experience and then spend 3 years getting a levels he doesn't need IYSWIM? When maybe he could be doing public services or something a bit more related to his chosen career.

I'm just not sure how I feel about this. I saw 2 threads on here recently about a levels and I thought they were helpful but none were exactly to my son's experience, so wanted to see what people's thoughts were! Thank you

The police still have a graduate entry scheme though don't they?

He says he definitely doesn't want to do a degree. However, he wants to do is A-Levels and lots of volunteering and wants to take at least a year out after a levels to just spend his time earning some money and volunteering with lots of places, as he knows that's what the police look for. I think he has it all figured out but he seems to think that if he fails (he always uses the 'if he fails' comment and it worries me that he won't be dedicated) he'll just do them when he is past 19 at the adult classes I don't know why he keeps assuming he'll have to do that. Where as with the BTEC he wouldn't need to even consider all these years retaking.

I 'only' got one A at GCSE. I still managed to get four A Levels, a degree and a Master's. You may be underestimating him.

Also I wouldn't assume A Levels won't be valuable when it comes to joining the police. Don't many candidates go in at degree level now and go into fast-track?

I thought the graduate thing was only for London?

I really don't understand why anyone would not want their child to follow the path that offers the widest future choices.
Maybe he's realising that picking a career at 16 isn't actually a good idea, maybe he's thinking that if he can pass his a levels he is bright enough to do a degree and will apply to join the police as a graduate.
I find your negativity quite depressing.

He's very young to decide for sure he'll go into the police. He wants A levels to expand his horizons. That shows he's a sensible forward thinking young man. Please support him.

X post with Tater

Maybe he's planning to go to London.

I would go down the A level route , once you have them they can open the door to other options in the future . He may well change his mind about the police over the next couple of years , but the qualifications will mean that he can keep his options open .

Has he thought about what he would like to do in the Police ? There are so many and varied areas now that need quite specialist expertise , where do his interests lie ?

I thought it was coming in that all police need a degree? Think I read it on here but might be wrong. Might only be a foundation degree maybe?

My brother did the public services BTEC, he really enjoyed it - they seemed to spend a lot of time on residentials, camping etc. However, it was very much sold as 'what to do if you've done badly at GCSEs but want to continue education' although this was a couple of years ago so hopefully that attitude has changed. It is very forces orientated though.

Sod's law, he doesn't work in public services - but he's hardly an oddity in that.

Will a BTEC enable him to go to university if he chooses to?

X-post with loads of others.

Agree it's best he has the biggest range of options in case this isn't what he decides he wants to do with his life.

Do you feel he pushed himself to his limit to get those GCSEs or could he push a bit more? If he's motivated, there's a lot of growing up that can happen in 2 years.

Agree it's best he has the biggest range of options in case this isn't what he decides he wants to do with his life.

Do you feel he pushed himself to his limit to get those GCSEs or could he push a bit more? If he's motivated, there's a lot of growing up that can happen in 2 years.

You're not 'entitled to 3 years for A levels'. You're funded now for 2 years. If students have to repeat year 12, the 6th form/college will not be funded if he sits the same subjects. Nor will a new 6th form be funded for the same subjects if he leaves one after Y12 and tries to join another! If he re-sits Y13, they will receive a lower amount of funding. They don't have to let him re-sit.

i've got family that got mostly Bs and Cs and ended up dropping out of A Levels as the jump was huge - the advice about discussing the switching out options in a year is good, I also think your DS needs to get better informed about the level of the work, rather than making back-up plans for failing them, can you say that to him? That said, he's very young and some people get more engaged and work harder at A levels and do better than at GCSEs, that could be him. He also has plenty of time to get onto his chosen career track at his age.

I've heard a rumour that the public service course is pretty much not even looked at when joining the Military, not sure if its the same for the police.

My daughter got C's and D's at GCSE level. She got a D in her AS course (dropped) and has just come away with an A*, A and C at A-Level.

If he wants to do A-levels, let him, he can always drop them and switch after a year anyway.

Anyway, congrats to him on his results and career choice, you must be really proud of him !

And has he actually found anywhere that runs 'adult classes' for A levels? They don't exist any longer (funding cuts again).

Don't forget he will only be studying a couple of A levels as opposed to a number of GCSEs so will be easier. I agree with your DS A levels then some time out in the world. Police force like people to have some life skills such as fitness, working in somewhere like Boots especially pharmacy counter. Working with children even short bursts like holiday club. Hospital porter etc. He seems to be thinking it through very well. If he changes his mind he still has A levels to do something with. Good luck to him.

He should def do a levels if he wants to. You don't need an A to be successful anyway.

I think you should support what he wants to do.

A Levels are useful even if you don't want to go to university. I have a few friends who went that route and have done fine.

Especially since they need to be in education until 18 now anyway. It's worth getting something decent done. A lot of the BTEC qualifications are a bit gimmicky, others are excellent - I did a graphic design one which was fantastic. I think if you're going into a very vocational field they are worth it, but one in Public Service seems a bit odd - I think A Levels will serve him better.

I've met several young people who have done the Public Services BTEC with a view to joining the police, but then for a whole variety of reasons haven't been able to follow that route (a back problem, picking up a criminal conviction or just not getting selected because it's so incredibly competitive).

They are left with a pretty pointless qualification that employers in other sectors don't really value, whereas with a couple of A levels they'd be just as likely (or not) to get into the police, but have a decent set of quals that they would stand them in good stead for a whole range of other options.

I know so many people who have done a levels with B's and C's including my dh who has a PhD now.

Your son's plan sounds very sensible and mature.

Please don't try to stop him broadening his options. A levels are worth so much more than a narrow BTEC.

How hard is he willing to work? Yes, he is at the minimum requirement, and yes, they're tough. However, I've just done my maths AS as a mature student in with a whole bunch of 16-17 year olds. What became apparent to me was it was far, far more about the effort you put in than anything else. The ones in my group expected to do badly were lazy. I don't expect their parents saw it, and maybe not even the lecturers at times - but I could see the huge difference in the effort the A-B students were putting in compared to the others.

There is 5 hours of private study suggested for each and every A level, on top of lessons. Many students were doing an hour on homework, at best. I reckon 5 is the minimum you need. If he can really commit to this, he should do fine. But if he goes in with those GCSE grades, "forgets" homework, texts under the table in lessons (oh, yes, much more common than the teachers realise) and does the bare minimum, he'll come a cropper.

In short, I'd support him to do A levels but make it very clear it's going to mean hard work and no slacking. If his main aim is to meet new friends and socialise, he'd be better looking for a different way to do it.