To ask how she can become a pediatric nurse with no GCSE's?

[AuntieNurse85]

Niece 16 who I have fostered for 2 months and will foster for the forseeable. Didn't go to school for past 2 years as mother was neglectful and was more interested in boyfriends and alcohol than driving her to school which she couldn't get to alone. Niece has coped amazingly well with this and is keen to focus on her education despite having no GCSE's. She wants to become a pediatric nurse and is very passionate about it and says it's all she wants to do.

She has a place on an "Entry to Care" foundation course at the local college where she will take English and Math's GCSE alongside studying health and social. Originally we read that she could progress from foundation to Level 1, 2, then 3 and either get an apprenticeship in the subject or that uni's will accept her having completed Level 3. However niece has been looking online (As I said, she is v v passionate about it and I'm so proud of her. I want to make sure she takes the best route into it.) and has said that the vast majority of uni's are demanding 5 GCSE's and at least 2 A Level's. And apprenticeships apparently are scarse and require more and more each year and she's saying she doesn't want to work hard only to be turned away from work in 4/5 years because the requirements have changed.

So, what's the best route through? A friend has suggested scrapping the Health and Social care foundation and instead having her study 5 GCSE's this year. However college only offers GCSE courses to 16-18 students who've already took the exam and failed. She's only being offered English and Maths there. The foundation college course is only 3 days a week as well and me and niece both agree that those other 2 days need to be filled up with studying. I want her to get those 3 other GCSE's (esp a science) but I'm not sure the best way. Is she best of staying on the course for E+M and using the 2 free days a week studying for 3 others? If so how can we sort out the 3 others? Or is it worth scrapping the course (my friend has described it as a dead end course and says college is lying about finishing level 3 being enough for her to get into uni/an apprenticeship when she has no A levels) and having her spend the next year studying 5 GCSE's intensely and then progressing onto A levels? She is v clever and determined so I have no doubt she'll pass. Would like to request nobody replies saying how she shouldn't bother because "the NHS is unstable" or "the pay is shit" as we've both dealth with it in real life and I don't want to hear it. This is her dream job.

Advice much appreciated. As I said earlier, I want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to help her achieve her dream. I don't feel she should have to settle for less. Not sure if relevent but feel someone may ask, I work full time in an office and am also a single parent to a toddler who is in nursery. Finances aren't great but I can scrape together a fair bit for studies.

I would definitely echo other posters and say to check the universities admission criteria

Paediatric nursing however is very competitive so be advised that although a university may state they take functional skills as a substitute for Maths/English GCSES, with applications being quite high for this degree I think they will be more likely to opt for an applicant with GCSE (which I know she is now working towards)

Can you also look into some volunteering for her so that she has something else to make her stand out on her UCAS personal statement?

Another option is to apply for adult nursing, do the three years and then some universities do the 18 month add on course for paediatrics so that she could be dual trained?

You sound very supportive! And best of luck to your niece!

You can get into nursing on a BTEC level 3 but as far as I know you need GSCE in Maths and English too.

DS2 is a nurse, he has A levels. It wasn't the norm on his course for students to have taken that route.

If I were her I would research to find the University nursing degree course or apprenticeship that she really wants to do (or is practical for her to attend given distance from home and finances), contact them to explain her situation and ask for exact entry requirements and then do whatever is necessary to get onto that course.

The suggested foundation course may be one way into nursing but it might restrict her to certain universities/courses and also may end up taking longer than GCSEs/A levels. Definitely confirm with the chosen Uni exactly what they will accept before starting anything. Going down the traditional GCSE A level route might be slightly more awkward now but will probably give her more choice in the long run.

I don't know how easy it would be to do GCSEs at her age but surely she can't be the only one? Evening classes perhaps?

There are lots of routes into nursing and I agree with pp to phone universities and ask about admissions. Access courses and foundation degrees provide helpful stepping stones to those who don't have standard qualifications.

Also be sure to mention her unique circumstances as this will very much help her in gaining a place.

SS haven't actually been involved overly. She ended up moving in through her choice with my brother (niece's dad) 6 months ago and her mum couldn't really do anything. My brother is suffering from long term injuries from an accident last year and is out of work and in a lot of pain. I ended up having niece many nights simply because he was housebound. Eventually she just ended up with me full time but there's been no conflict. Her mum hasn't really bothered and my brother says his injuries take over his life and he couldn't dedicate the time and money to helping with her education etc. My brother lives just down the road and she visits him daily and she'll occasionally go down to her mum's. A SW does catch up with her every now and again but there's never been a care order. I'm not "legally" fostering her but she is registered at my address.

A friend of mine did the same access course as me (Health Science) and is now in her final year of Uni to become a pediatric nurse, I'm not sure what age you need to be to get onto the Access course but it was only one year. (Most of us had rubbish GCSEs or none)!

I would definitely speak to the college (and local authority of needed) about GCSE resits and stress the care situation as exceptional circumstances - as if she can do them this academic year and get 5 passes, she could do a level 3 Health and Social Care course / BTEC science or similar.
I would also push it as if she is bright, she could become bored and unmotivated doing the entry level course.
Definitely look at evening GCSE courses too - they may be listed as adult education options, and are usually a year (well, 36 weeks).
Finally, if you are near London, Birkbeck offers a certificate of higher education for subjects allied to medicine - it's a level 4 qualification, there's an interview to get on it but some of my cohort went on to do nursing, occupational therapy and SaLT degrees.

We know a girl who got into a good university for nursing having followed the BTEC route. She was a member of the St John’s Ambulance which gave her extra credibility as an applicant. I wish your niece good luck

I have had friends, and I had an offer to study child nursing in London, who have gone onto nursing with a BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care which counts as 3 A levels.

Universities will usually put up A levels as the main entry requirements as they are the most common but by looking through uni websites thoroughly, you will find other entry requirements that are accepted to study child nursing. For example, King's College London accept a DDM in the BTEC which is meant to be equivalent to 2 As and a B in A levels. But that's when she's passed her GCSEs.

English, I believe, isn't just one GCSE. It is usually split up into two; English Language and English Literature. Most students have these two as a separate GCSE even in the new system. Some colleges and school may opt for over 16s to do the English GCSE that gives you one GCSE as they combine English Lit and Language together. You'll have to enquire about that to the college as some do and some don't and also I may be talking about the pre-GCSE reforms a couple of years ago. Not sure if it's changed.

Maths is one GCSE and Science can be two or three GCSEs. Double Award Science would give students two GCSEs whereas Triple Science would give students 3 GCSEs. Double Award Science is fine for anything really; most students have double award science.

Maths is 1 GCSE, Science is 2 GCSE, English is 2 (or 1 depending on college).. and maybe one more subject to make it 5 GCSEs if English is counted as one by college.

You could have her study these independently (or with the help of a tutor) with the exam specification so DN knows what to study to do well in the exam and do the exam in a school as an external candidate. Schools allow this but they do usually have a deadline for the fees and signing up for the exam. You could do that for other subjects too but beware you would have to pay for these exams.

Well you have to pay for all external candidate exams*. Sorry if I made that unclear

In her position I would take her English and Maths GCSE's and a level 2 Health & Social course, then at 18 or 19 enrol on an access to health course.

Or take the GCSE/A Levels. I'm not sure, there maybe a school who lets her retake Year 11 as they will be near enough the same age if she's summer born or someone who has been held 'back'.

It is hard to access GCSEs apart from English and Maths post 16 but not impossible.

This website at a uni local for me shows that you can do a foundation year then progress onto the degree course with non traditional qualifications - eg BTEC and without science GCSEs.

www.derby.ac.uk/undergraduate/nursing-courses/nursing-adult-bsc-hons-foundation/

Children who are officially fostered do get some consideration of their circumstances when applying for university so it may be worth looking at this formally before she applies (I know that’s a while off) - for example, A boy who has been long term fostered by my sister has a university conditional offer but with a written confirmation that he can get a grade lower in each subject and still be accepted.

I think you need to speak to her college. She is a child in care, so her needs must be their priority. They should therefore accommodate her. Unlike students who failed an exam, your niece's educational progression has been disrupted through no fault of her own.

I think that 5 GCSEs would be a good idea. It would be a huge boost to have 5 A to C grades under her belt. She can then decide the best options after that, but A Levels may not be necessary, as many universities off one year access courses.

She sounds like an impressive young lady. Her determination will serve her well.

Btec level 3 is equivalent to A kevels. Universities offer on UCAS points. Each qualification equals a number of UCAS points. An extended level 3 Btec diploma will give enough UCAS points to get into uni as long as she achieves Distinction or Merit. Merit is equivalent to a C grade. Distinction an A grade and Distinction * has more points than other qualifications. Extended Diplomas give three grades so really she needs to be aiming at DDM or DMM at a minimum. What she should do is take her maths and Eng GCSE alongside a couple of level 2 Btecs such as health and social care and applied sciences. Then she can do either three subsidiary Btec ( essentially kile 3 a levels) in Applied Sciences, health social care and one other, suggest something to do with children. Or do one Extended Diploma in either applied sciences or H& soc care. There is a lot of ignorance and snobbery surrounding Btec. I would advise against any level 1 course if her literacy and numeracy are ok as they are very basic and below GCSE level.

I would do the five GCSE's then A levels and maybe try and get some care experience-volunteering somewhere. Even though it's adults a day a week in a care home would help. It would help her gain confidence and give her some experience to draw on at interview.

I know there are other ways into nursing but the traditional route means she won't have limited uni choices. Paediatrics is more competitive so she needs to be a strong candidate.

Another potential source of info is home ed groups. Many home ed students take more unconventional routes into further education and they may know of courses you don't. They can also probably help with taking science GCSEs as an external candidate/ways to study gcse science.

Something else it's worth looking at is her doing some relevant volunteer work. Something like St Johns Ambulance volunteering can help show her dedication to this area. It can also be a lot of fun and be a way to socialise with some people who are potentially on similar paths. Certainly there were a few nursing students signed up when I did it many years ago.

As she will be going a few years late she may be classed as a mature student, they often get into Uni with alternative qualifications. I agree though that getting 5 GCSE's will be useful. Some jobs will require these even if you have a degree (odd I know). Any evening classes nearby?

As a private tutor and qualified English teacher, I can tell you that it's very difficult to do GCSEs post-16, other than English and Maths (English is only one GCSE post-16, forget about Literature). Vocational qualifications are really the only route at this stage.

Whilst in theory you should be able to pay to sit exams as a private candidate, none of the schools and colleges within a 30 mile radius of here, actually allow it. My private candidates have all had to travel to exam centres in London.

Health and social care at level 2 IS the equivalent to at least 3 GCSE's. Plus she will have English and Math.

She'll be ok.

Work experience is really important though.

Im alot older than your niece, but i got into northumria with an access course and key skills maths or something like that what ran alongside access. Can your niece not do only english and maths gcse alongside the heallth course. Also look into nursing cadets at some trusts x

Not sure if it's been suggested already, but what about starting as a HCA? In my role I offered 16 apprenticeship places and all of the group have qualified to Level 3. Two of these are now doing the Trainee Nurse Associate posts, which will see them rotate between secondary and primary care, sending them up the ladder to becoming a nurse. I know the route is long, but they'll get there eventually. Plus it gives them the opportunity to decide if it's really for them.

Flying archer has given good advice. Alternatively, if she’s still on good terms with her former school, might they let her redo y11? I know that our school would definitely try and help anyone in a similar situation. It’s also true that if she is officially a looked after child universities will be very keen to do as much as possible for her.

If she is motivated and bright, I think your idea of her doing the entry to care course plus English and maths at college 3 days a week, and then studying at home two days a week for two or three additional GCSEs is a good one, because it gives her the benefit of a structured educational experience but also keeps her options the most open in terms of her future (both for nursing and in case she changes her mind!).

She could self-study for the GCSEs and you could find a local centre for her to sit exams at, but I think it would be better if you could find a way for her to be a bit more supported in her self-study - so perhaps a tutor or an online school. I have no personal experience but have seen people on Mumsnet suggest Wolsey Hall online school.

You don't say if the entry to care course is one year or two. If she can get all of her GCSEs passed in a year, she could either start 3 A-levels next September (if the entry to care course is one year), or take 2 A-levels alongside the entry to care course if it is two years. It should be easier for her to access A-levels than GCSEs because colleges will run them.

Then once she has completed her A-levels she should have lots of options for whatever she would like to do next. I do think A-levels give more flexibility (both in terms of choice of subject and choice of uni) that alternative qualifications.

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/nursing/studying-nursing

lots of info there - if she gets maths and English plus L2 she has the GCSE's (however you would be advised to check with any universities she might be aiming for)

Apprenticeships are around - but they are few and far between and are high level - the majority of people doing then will be current health care support workers - they are unlikely to be widely available in the next couple of years - they still have a minimum entry requirement.

why on earth was nothing done about her school absence??????