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Original poster

To ask if a 23 year old should be starting a levels

59 replies

User700800 · 30/12/2017 15:35

Ds1 who has an ehcp is going to start a new college on September. He's been at home for three years prior to this and we've recently got him an ehcp. He wants to do a level three course but obviously these our two years and he would be 25 when he finished. I've suggested an access course to him However he says this will be too much work.

OP posts:
titchy · 30/12/2017 21:54

Curryworst you can not gain entry into a U.K. University without a level three course.

Not true - you can enter university over 21 without L3 qualification. You do however need to demonstrate your ability to pursue degree level study - e.g. online courses, employment CPD, portfolio.

Not relevant to your ds but a common misconception I'm keen to correct!

Didn't know you could get EHC plans as an adult though.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 30/12/2017 21:56

In my college the college wouldn't get funding for someone over 19 who was studying A levels, but they would get it if they did an Access course. That would be the deciding factor for the college. (Different if it's night classes.)

BackforGood · 30/12/2017 22:28

The SEN Code of Practice now goes up to aged 25 titchy (since the Children and Family Bill in 2014). It is quite unusual to get an EHCP as an adult though, if not had one (or it's fore-runner - a Statement - beforehand).

Bambamber · 30/12/2017 22:57

I've started doing it online now as working full time and have a baby. But from before, there was a few mature students and age differences never were an issue

Ohyesiam · 30/12/2017 23:03

I went to uni at 29(without a levels).
There's more than one way to skin a cat.

HeddaGarbled · 30/12/2017 23:13

MyBrilliantDisguise EHCP over-rides that - students with EHCPs are funded up to age 25.

OP, I think there are arguments on both sides for this issue. Can you ask the college what their typical age intake is for the A levels? Access courses tend to be a bit older than your son, often a lot of mums. They can be super supportive of students with learning difficulties, but maybe not so good if he is relying on them for a social life.

LegallyBrunet · 30/12/2017 23:53

Not necessarily HeddaGarbled When I did my Access course there were six of us. One was nineteen, one was in her forties and the rest of us were all in our early twenties. It was very supportive because of the small class size we all got to know each other very well. However I do think my intake was a bit of a fluke as when I spoke to a tutor at my interview their usual intake size for my particular Access course was normally between twenty and thirty.

QuestionableMouse · 31/12/2017 01:25

Youngest on my access course was 18, oldest was mid fifties.

I'm 32 and about average age for my course at uni.

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 31/12/2017 01:42

I turned 40 on my access course. I was with ages 20 - 60ish. Mix more younger than older I'd say. We all got on, had a right laugh and worked hard and were very supportive of each other.

CaptainApollo · 31/12/2017 01:55

I’m doing an Access Science course right now, just turned 40, it’s great! There are students the same age as my eldest (19) and students older than me, we all get on really well and support each other outside of classes. I also did part time A levels at FE college aged 22 (YEARS ago!), again great mix of students. I would imagine that A levels or Access would be fine for your son in a mixed community college type setting rather than a sixth form college. Good luck to him whatever he chooses!

Tantpoke · 31/12/2017 02:55

curryworst you are talking absolute rubbish. You very much do need A levels (or an access course) to do a degree.

OP it is never to late to study in life. I'm sure there will be other mature students in your DS position when he goes back to study and if not well the 16 / 17 year olds will be fine. He has nothing to worry about other than studying and passing his exams, the time will fly by.

I wish him all the best

zigzagbetty · 31/12/2017 08:20

I completed an access course while working 39 hours a week and found it easoer than the A level i completed at 18. I was told as an adult I wouldn't be able to do A level course as a mature student.

titchy · 31/12/2017 11:38

You very much do need A levels (or an access course) to do a degree.

Read my previous post - you are incorrect.

(Interesting re EHCP up to 25!)

titchy · 31/12/2017 11:45

Derail sorry...

To answer OP - an FE college is likely to have some older students, although if there is no other provision for school leavers locally it may well be 16/17 yo heavy - but phone and ask.

Access courses are designed for adults returning to study after some time out (depending on the course might include study skills or maths for example) - there won't be any such support in an A Level course, though the college might have extra provision in this area. And he might not need it of course.

Regardless of his pedagogic needs and which course is more appropriate, you / college / course also needs to accommodate his other needs - i.e. What the EHCP is for, and it may well be that the A level course better suits that even though someone in his position would normally be better suited to Access.

CurryWorst · 31/12/2017 11:57

curryworst you are talking absolute rubbish. You very much do need A levels (or an access course) to do a degree

You really do not. I did neither. I think I know my own experience, thank you very much.

Also I didn't mention access courses, so you are wrong twice.

CurryWorst · 31/12/2017 11:58

Curryworst you can not gain entry into a U.K. University without a level three course

Yes, you can. Easily. Lots of people do it.

Gwenhwyfar · 31/12/2017 12:03

"I was told you can't do A levels after a certain point these days. "

Not true. A friend of mine did biology A level at around 40. He was doing a phd in chemistry at the same time.

Gwenhwyfar · 31/12/2017 12:04

Yes, some mature students can gain entry to university without A-levels, but it depends and it's not possible for everyone.

PaperdollCartoon · 31/12/2017 12:08

I went to college to do f/t daytime A Levels at 21, in classes that were almost all 16/17/18 year olds. It was a brilliant decision. I then went to uni at 24 and have progressed quickly in a professional career.

I suffered mental health problems in my teens that meant I wasn’t able to complete my education, I did a GCSE whilst doing my A Levels as well to catch up.

It didn’t cost me anything because it was that you didn’t have to pay for a first level 3 course until you were 24, but I don’t know if this has changed in the interim decade.

How did I find being with younger people? Fine. I’ve always looked young for my age so didn’t stand out as much as I could, I got on well with people and made friends to hang out with.

I had friends at uni who’d done access courses to get onto the course as older and working, and they were definitely better prepared for uni than those of us who’d done A Levels as they’re taught and assessed in a way more alike to university study. But A Levels stand alone in a way access courses don’t, and I don’t regret doing things my way as I think my CV looks better now with A Levels and degree on like ‘normal people’ for want of a better word.

PaperdollCartoon · 31/12/2017 12:10

Should add I only needed 2 A Levels to get onto my course (academic BSc at top ten uni) due to my age and life experience, rather than the 3 others needed. I did 2 A Levels and 1 AS.

dingdongdigeridoo · 31/12/2017 12:19

I think an access course will be much more appropriate for him. It’s a supportive environment, and most of the learners on my course were mid 20s, with a handful of people in their 30s/40s. They went on to some really good unis too. Studying everything from English to law, and there are many different pathways depending on which degree you want to take.

LIZS · 31/12/2017 12:22

Even as a mature student it would be sensible to take a level 3 or access course to get into good study habits if you have been out of education for a while. I think he would pay fees, possibly subsidised, and need an Advanced Learning Loan which is available from age 19 now (used to be 24). Depending on the career he is considering an apprenticeship might be an alternative route to getting a level 3 qualification and work experience.

alletik · 31/12/2017 12:22

Until the summer, I taught in a large FE College.

There are no age limits on doing A levels (other than what the individual college dictates). My eldest A level student was in in her 50s. Most of our adult students chose to do the access course, though.

Also, if you are a mature student then you do not need to have a level 3 qualification to go to uni. It is done much more on individual merit - relevant experience etc. Although, many universities may like to see some kind of recent study, but this could be Work based qualifications.

Two examples that spring to mind: one a mature students who went without L3 qualms but had been working in graphic design for some time, had a great portfolio and applied to do a graphic design degree.

Second example, someone who went into nursing having previously worked in management. She had done Work based quals, but no A levels as such.

alletik · 31/12/2017 12:23

That should be quals - bloody autocorrect in on my phone!

LIZS · 31/12/2017 12:24

Another alternative might be a foundation year for degree entry.