To not support DD with her choice of continuing her A-Level?

[AshleighLake]

This might be a little long and confusing!

My daughter is 18. She was doing A-Levels with her Sixth Form (Maths, Psychology and PE (I think PE was called something else)). She failed the AS Maths, but because her teacher said that she was capable and DD really wanted to do it, she could resit the whole AS year, so go into year 12, instead of just resitting the Maths with the other subjects (only let you if you get a D). She recently injured herself really badly this year (think pins in leg and lots of physio) so she had to drop out of the PE (or whatever it was called) and as it was quite near the end of the year, they said she can sit the Maths AS exam, but she will have to leave after that as there isn't time to pick up something else in replace of the PE and the psychology is a 2 year long course so there wasn't any exams for that.

She got her results on Thursday and got an E for the Maths, she seems overjoyed I mean, I'm proud because she did really badly fail it last year and her teacher says based on the equivalent marks given, she was close to a D. Personally, I don't think that's great. I am happy about how much she has improved, but still not enough to think she should continue it.

I think she should do a level 3 extended diploma in something. DD looked into it and said none of the subjects are what she wants to do, so has looked into the access courses, she spoke to one of the colleges who offer a Psychology & Sociology access course and they said that she should apply for September "but will be fine to do it". She has to be 19 though, so it's for next year. So there is a year of nothing, I personally still think she is better to do the diploma but she says there isn't the subjects available (is that true?) and she would really like to continue the Maths... She does love and says she doesn't care if she gets an E overall, but would like to do it. Her grandmother (who does have a lot of money but we just don't get on) has offered to cover a tutor for the year... she says she will retake the AS and do the A2 modules "as just a bit of fun". I'm really not keen at all.

She does work in a supermarket and volunteers as a buddy at the hospital, but I feel like she could do something a bit more worth while?

AIBU to think this? Please be honest.

TBH I'm a bit sad to hear people say that studying maths is a complete waste of time if she ends up with a bad grade or no A-level. She says she loves it and wants to do it for fun.

What happened to valuing learning for the sake of it?

If she's living in your house and you're funding her in any way then of course it's your business OP.

I think it's bananas to continue with the maths in the circs. She needs to find something that either she will get a reasonable grade in or some kind of vocational qualification that will help her find employment.

@TatianaLarina - she has? She is doing an access course.

I agree with noble - I got an E in AS Maths this year and want to resit again and do the A2. I love it. I guess I'm not the best but it's a hard qualification.

If you're learning because you enjoy it, what's the waste???

I don't I ubdrrstand how you can love something thstvypure getting Es on. What percentage do you need to get an E? That basically means you don't understand pretty much most of what is going on in your lessons

*that you're getting Es in

@WishfulThanking - you clearly don't understand it then. Your comment really is quite rude I was getting Bs in mocks and came out with an E. I understand all of the concepts, I found it hard to apply them to questions that didn't follow the same pattern.

@WishfulThanking also, you need about 100 out of 225...

Around 35 for a 75 mark paper, you clearly do need to know stuff.

And when each question is around 10 marks, if you don't get a bit of it, you can't move on to the next bit.

When she says she's doing the maths just for fun, is she planning on working/volunteering full-time in her year out and doing the maths as a hobby? I think it'd be a waste of time to do nothing but the maths for a year but I wouldn't encourage her to do a BTEC in something she's not really interested. BTEC is two years and Access is one so it's the same difference time wise with the advantage of her having a bit of money behind her if she works in her year out.

She can't start the access course until she's 19. I mean between now and then.

It's a waste to spend a year on one qualification you will do badly in.

For example, if OP's mother could afford a private tutorial college (not saying she can or should) she could do 3 A levels in that time.

What access course is she hoping to do? Is there any studying or work experience worth her getting in meantime. Could she finish Psychology at college for example.

What does she actually want to do when she leaves education?

If granny has some cash and is willing to spend it, would she pay for more of a cram type school?

She could finish maths and psychology and pick up a third instead of PE?

A level maths tutor 2 x hour lessons per week starting this week? She sounds determined to do it. If grandma will fund a tutor it's worth a shot. I'd get a tutor with experience as a teacher and examiner if possible (not a degree student) to give her the best possible chance of the best possible grade.

what about an accountancy qualification through college too? It's maths based and normally 1 day per week or one evening.

If the DC is in FE education, then the expectation is that they live with the parents, and are entitled to child tax credits etc for up to three years after year 11.

So 19 and a bit.

And of course the government also expects parents to contribute to university costs, unless they are poor enough for the young person to be entitled to a full loan.

An adult DCs education choices are entirely their own if they don't live at home, support themselves and don't take any money from their parents.

Sorry, I was just referring to the financial element.

I didn't mean to imply that the DC shouldn't be free to make their own choices.

I got a D at A Level maths. Still got a 1st Class Hons when I studied maths at uni.

Well done nutty. I'm quite surprised anywhere would take you for a maths with a D. Presumably you had extenuating circumstances?

I am a Maths teacher. A Grade E in Maths A-Level is extremely worthwhile and studies have shown that students are statistically more employable with any pass at Maths ( compared to many subjects) because it has so many transferable skills and probably because employers consider it (rightly) to be a challenging course so a pass of any kind shows perseverance and a certain level of ability.

It sounds like she has a plan for the year after, why can't she have a go? She may even get a D! Even if she fails presumably she will have saved some money and got some work and life experience and be ready for her course.

As far as I know on CVs and job applications you just put your qualifications and the date you achieved them, you don't have to say you failed first time or resat the exam etc. there is no 'record' that employers can access with all the details of your examinations on it.

And purpledaisies lots of unis would take someone with a D. I was offered a place at one uni to study Maths with 2 Es as the requirement, it was essentially an unconditional offer as my predicted grades were far higher than this and I was studying for 4 ALevels.