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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

180 replies

AuntieNurse85 · 12/06/2019 17:25

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.

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 19:39

to understand qualification see them as steps:

so at her stage - with no formal qualifications she needs to get from 0- a level equivalent - known as Level 3:

it sounds like the course she is on is 1 year level 1 with Maths and English functional Skills Level 1 (equal to D's at GCSE) from here it's:

a further year at level 2 with continuing Maths and English Level 2 - equal to C's at GCSE plus a level 2 is equal to 5 additional GCSE's:

Then on to a 2 year level 3 BTEC which (if the extended diploma) is equal to 3 A levels (120 UCAS points).

(IF she manages to get Level 2 functional skills this year she MAY be able to bypass level 2)

as alternatives she could consider an apprenticeship - with Maths and English functional skills - a level 3 advanced apprenticeship is also equal to A levels but not as widely accepted by all universities.

There is also the access to HE route - open to people 19+ with limited qualifications which is acceptable for University Entry

finally I would look and see if any colleges offer a 1 year 5 GCSE program (some do) which might be a fast track route HOWEVER having missed so much education you need to be aware of the level of work involved.

hope that helps a little

Mynotsoperfectlittlefamily · 12/06/2019 19:54

UCLAN offers a Foundation Entry Route where they look at each case individually and decide if you get a place. There is an open day this month if you can get down and speak to the staff about her best route in. It's a great course that prepares you for the degree level.

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 19:55

I would talk to her college - see if they can assess her and try to get onto level 1 BTEC Health and Social Care - it requires 2 GCSEs at grade 2! If she's bright and they assess her as able she would cope with that - she sounds too bright for foundation - which I think they will be offering because of her being out of education for 2 years

RubberTreePlant · 12/06/2019 19:55

Liverpool John Moores only wants Maths and English GCSE but 3 A Levels? Any way she can get onto A Level's at college next year? Won't be this year as she might as well get English and Maths GCSE's out of the way as early as she can.

No, that's not correct. I just checked it.

They list what is acceptable in terms of A-levels OR BTEC, OR Access course, OR various other options.

You have to click the different tabs marked 'A level', 'BTEC' etc to see what grades, subjects and so on are required for each entry route.

They also list GCSE - OR EQUIVALENT - requirements for English and Maths.

She's about to embark on a vocational qualification route and that's fine. Tutors will be able to advise further.

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 19:57

she's 16 though uni wont be an option just yet!

RubberTreePlant · 12/06/2019 20:01

No, but OP seems to think niece will need GCSEs and Alevels.

titchy · 12/06/2019 20:17

I agree if she's bright and motivated (is she genuinely bright - what were her expected grades before things went pear shaped) GCSE then either A level or Level 3 BTEC health and social care, or Science.

5 GCSEs from scratch in one year might be a bit much, especially as she's been out of education for a couple of years. Could she manage E and M, plus say double science in a year? And add another one the following year, alongside whatever she does at Level 3.

I think you need to argue the case with college if possible. Level 1 for a year then level 2 then a two year level 3 course doesn't sound good for a bright kid - her peer group will be kids who have struggled, or have learning difficulties and could be very demoralising.

Pringlefan · 12/06/2019 20:22

I’m no expert on school quals, but if she’s as motivated as you say I’d be inclined to get her doing 5 gcses.
Does college do seperate english lang and lit? There’s two, then with maths and biol you need just one more. Psychology perhaps? Biol tutor might be able to help with that also.

Pringlefan · 12/06/2019 20:23

I’m no expert on school quals, but if she’s as motivated as you say I’d be inclined to get her doing 5 gcses.
Does college do seperate english lang and lit? There’s two, then with maths and biol you need just one more. Psychology perhaps? Biol tutor might be able to help with that also.

GhostIsAGoodBoi · 12/06/2019 20:23

GCSE English Maths and Science, or Biology and Chemistry separate. They can be done online if not via college.

Access Nursing after.

My Uni (Nottingham) has a large cohort of Access Nursing students on their degree this year. There’s also a lot of extra funding here as she’ll be a care leaver from a non traditional background Wink

titchy · 12/06/2019 20:25

I've looked at the link OP - do NOT go down that route. Foundation Entry Level 3 is pre-GCSE. Level 1 is grades 3-1 ie not pass grades. It will be for students mainly with learning disabilities.

You need to argue for a GCSE resit programme, even though she hasn't actually taken anything.

GhostIsAGoodBoi · 12/06/2019 20:37

I’d say GCSE Maths English Science, then Access Nursing course which is 1 year. Definitely needs Science GCSEs.

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 20:37

the problem with that Tichy is finding a college that offers that - most will only offer BTEC with no GCSE's - or a rare 5 GCSE program (not very common)

it's a nice idea but it might not be possible - and online courses need to be paid for and can be expensive

GhostIsAGoodBoi · 12/06/2019 20:37

Also it’s worth contacting the Universities individually to ask what other quals they accept other than A Levels or Access.

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 20:39

level 1 is NOT for student with learning disabilities! it's for students with no GCSE's - she can't resit GCSE's she hasn't SAT any!
the problem with that Tichy is finding a college that offers that - most will only offer BTEC with no GCSE's - or a rare 5 GCSE program (not very common)

it's a nice idea but it might not be possible - and online courses need to be paid for and can be expensive

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 20:40

level 1 is NOT for student with learning disabilities! it's for students with no GCSE's - she can't resit GCSE's she hasn't SAT any!
the problem with that Tichy is finding a college that offers that - most will only offer BTEC with no GCSE's - or a rare 5 GCSE program (not very common)

it's a nice idea but it might not be possible - and online courses need to be paid for and can be expensive

Figure8 · 12/06/2019 20:40

LEVEL 2 H&SC is EQUIVALENT TO GCSEs AND IS ACCEPTED BY UNIS

SHE WILL GET TO DO ENGLISH AND MATH ALONGSIDE.

THEN SHE CAN DO HER L3

HONEST!!!!

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 20:40

level 1 is NOT for student with learning disabilities! it's for students with no GCSE's - she can't resit GCSE's she hasn't SAT any!
the problem with that Tichy is finding a college that offers that - most will only offer BTEC with no GCSE's - or a rare 5 GCSE program (not very common)

it's a nice idea but it might not be possible - and online courses need to be paid for and can be expensive

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 20:40

level 1 is NOT for student with learning disabilities! it's for students with no GCSE's - she can't resit GCSE's she hasn't SAT any!
the problem with that Tichy is finding a college that offers that - most will only offer BTEC with no GCSE's - or a rare 5 GCSE program (not very common)

it's a nice idea but it might not be possible - and online courses need to be paid for and can be expensive

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 20:40

level 1 is NOT for student with learning disabilities! it's for students with no GCSE's - she can't resit GCSE's she hasn't SAT any!
the problem with that Tichy is finding a college that offers that - most will only offer BTEC with no GCSE's - or a rare 5 GCSE program (not very common)

it's a nice idea but it might not be possible - and online courses need to be paid for and can be expensive

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 20:40

level 1 is NOT for student with learning disabilities! it's for students with no GCSE's - she can't resit GCSE's she hasn't SAT any!
the problem with that Tichy is finding a college that offers that - most will only offer BTEC with no GCSE's - or a rare 5 GCSE program (not very common)

it's a nice idea but it might not be possible - and online courses need to be paid for and can be expensive

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 20:40

level 1 is NOT for student with learning disabilities! it's for students with no GCSE's - she can't resit GCSE's she hasn't SAT any!
the problem with that Tichy is finding a college that offers that - most will only offer BTEC with no GCSE's - or a rare 5 GCSE program (not very common)

it's a nice idea but it might not be possible - and online courses need to be paid for and can be expensive

ghostyslovesheets · 12/06/2019 20:41

the problem with that Tichy is finding a college that offers that - most will only offer BTEC with no GCSE's - or a rare 5 GCSE program (not very common)

it's a nice idea but it might not be possible

GhostIsAGoodBoi · 12/06/2019 20:41

GCSE English Maths and Science, or Biology and Chemistry separate. They can be done online if not via college.

Access Nursing after.

My Uni (Nottingham) has a large cohort of Access Nursing students on their degree this year. There’s also a lot of extra funding here as she’ll be a care leaver from a non traditional background Wink

Pringlefan · 12/06/2019 20:43

I’m no expert on school quals, but if she’s as motivated as you say I’d be inclined to get her doing 5 gcses.
Does college do seperate english lang and lit? There’s two, then with maths and biol you need just one more. Psychology perhaps? Biol tutor might be able to help with that also.