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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To understand why DS feels his college course is a bit of a waste of time?

61 replies

Collegedogdays · 03/10/2019 16:22

DS completed two years of a BTEC level 2 tech award. He was due to get a distinction but the last minute changes to awards they did meant it was a merit. Still good and he was pleased.

What we did not know was because it was a tech award it would count for nothing in relation to entry requirements. He had a rough time in year 10 and 11 with some issues with another pupil and got no where near his predicted grades so just missed the GCSEs he needed to go onto the next level.

He was due to start on a Nursing Cadet programme but because he bottomed out on his GCSE he is on a level 1 BTEC as a result with maths and English being retaken which is fair enough.

The problem is they have merged the level one Health course with the level 1 childcare as there were only two level 1 childcare students.
Despite the vast majority of the kids wanting to do adult healthcare they have made all the optional subjects all childcare related.

So far DS has
Coloured in nursery rhyme pictures.
Watched pre school kids television.
Played at the park.
Made play dough and sensory bags
Cut pictures of toys out of a magazine
Designed a toy.
Played with Lego.

Even the health care related subjects that they are doing are at a much lower level at the moment than what he has already done.

They have also made any work experience nursery related which I know is not a waste but many of the kids want to be adult mental health, sexual health workers, counsellors and such.

He feels totally demoralised and dumb and I do not know what to do. :(

Aibu to not see the point in the tech award if it counts for nothing?

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 03/10/2019 16:29

Am I correct in thinking that he took it at school alongside his GCSE's? Usually schools offer them as an additional subject alongside 7 or 8 mainstream GCSE's.

If so, then it's not correct that that it counts for nothing but to gain entry to a Level 3 course he will need at least 4/5 other GCSE's (depending on the college) .

My ds is taking 9 GCSE's plus a Level 2 Btec in Dance (actually the teacher has swopped to a different qualification since last year's debacle. It will count as a GCSE for entry onto a BTEC Level 3 in the same way as his music GCSE will, but withouth the other subjects (English, Maths, Science) it won't in the same way as his GCSE music won't stand alone.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 03/10/2019 16:30

That will be the member of staff teaching it. When they mixed toe 2 courses it was the childcare teacher who took it on. He needs to talk to the HoD and to tell them clearly that he will be leaving, screwing up their retention stats unless they get this sorted. He could add that most of the others in his class feel much the same!

If they all got together to write an email it would show how pissed offf they are.

That and, although I am out of date, I am sure it is still possible to mix classes like this and differentiate with handouts and coursework. The work placements need to be addressed too!

And the level of work sounds most worrying. Could you go and talk to the HoD/COurse leader agin. Make sure that this is right. As I saiid, I am out of date, but it doesn't feel right.

Comefromaway · 03/10/2019 16:33

So, did he not gain enough grades to do another Level 2 course. Level 1 (at our local college anyway) is for students who failed to get 4 GCSE's at Grade 3 or above.

Comefromaway · 03/10/2019 16:35

I just checked the entry criteria at our local college

Level 1 - below 4 GCSE Grade 3
Level 2 - 4 GCSE's Grade 3 and above (btec Level 2 counts as 1)
Level 3 5 GCSE's Grade 4/5 and above (btec level 2 counts as 1)

Original poster
Collegedogdays · 03/10/2019 16:44

Comefromaway Yes sorry he completed it at school. We knew he would not get level 3 but he did think they might at least try him at level 2.

Yes it is definitely a Childcare teacher who is now taking the majority of the lessons. There are already people leaving and kids who have been booted off for not turning up to her lessons and I do not really blame them.

Yes the lesson levels are crazy. I mean I could understand it slightly if it was on a pure childcare course alongside academic development lessons but one of the kids wants to work at a sexual health clinic and is colouring in pictures of Little Bo Peep...
Even on a level one most of the kids have got 2s and 3s at GCSE level. (You had to have level 2s to get on the course) so surely they can aim it at least a bit higher!

OP posts:
Tensixtysix · 03/10/2019 16:47

He might as well go straight out to work!

Original poster
Collegedogdays · 03/10/2019 16:50

Comefromaway He only took five subjects (free school). He was predicted all 4 to 6 but as I said had some major issues in late year 10 and 11 at school which school safeguarding had to get involved in regarding another pupil.

In the end.
He got a 3/3 in science
3/2 in English
2 in Maths
2 in History
Level 2 BTEC

OP posts:
Pieceofpurplesky · 03/10/2019 16:53

Unfortunately there has to be a cut off with grades. Further education money is being cut and lots of classes are being axed/combined.

LIZS · 03/10/2019 16:54

Why is it not at least a level 2 course? Maybe he would feel retaking gcse is a better use of time and keep more options open ( or Functional Skills Numeracy and Literacy). Tbh I would not have thought him eligible for a funded level 1.

Original poster
Collegedogdays · 03/10/2019 17:04

I do not know LIZS.
I actually asked twice and was told his BTEC did not count at all so had to do level one.

OP posts:
SilverChime · 03/10/2019 17:14

The optional subjects will have been chosen based on

  1. What the teacher (probably the only one available) has a background in and is able to teach.
  1. What’s the cheapest in terms of resources required and easiest to organise.
  1. What they already have teaching materials for.

Teaching any of the other optional subjects would require paying someone for the hours required to produce a whole new set of teaching materials, paying the teacher enough hours to get up to speed on the new topics, acquiring the necessary resources to teach them... they aren’t going to do that no matter how much you complain.

Original poster
Collegedogdays · 03/10/2019 17:16

I do understand Pieceofpurplesky but if we had known before commencing the course that it would be merged in this way we would have chosen a different college.

It also feels bit rough that someone who has completed 3 or whatever hours a week of a subject for two years is having to repeat most of the work they have already done (but in less depth) when the other kids on his course have no knowledge of this subject at all.

Does anyone know what happens if he turns 19 before the end of level 3? Is it still funded or will he have to pay?

He will start
Level 1 at 16
Level 2 at 17
Level 3 at 18 and will turn 19 in year 2.

OP posts:
Livehopelove · 03/10/2019 17:16

I'm with LIZS - he could retake his core gcses. And have a look at the entry requirements for Nursing Associate - it's a new(ish) entry into the NHS, effectively a way of adding a layer (the idea that all nurses had to have a degree has finally been seen as too rigid and not A Good Idea!) and it will open up a wide range of options down the line for him. Perhaps investigate at your local NHS Trust? Good luck!

SilverChime · 03/10/2019 17:18

Why is it not at least a level 2 course?
A level 1 BTEC in Technology won’t get you onto a level 2 BTEC in Health. It’s different subject, I presume he has to start from scratch.

WhatTiggersDoBest · 03/10/2019 17:19

To be fair if the teacher is a qualified experienced teacher they should be making resources/planning lessons/getting to grips with the course they are now teaching (and being paid to teach) and if they can't teach the listed course, they shouldn't have been employed to do so.
I'd complain to head of department, although it sounds like the department is "keeping it in the family" to even consider giving this teacher the course she's not even trying to teach, so going higher up might be worthwhile. This sounds frustrating and patronizing and I'm not sure nursery placements will count as experience in a healthcare setting to go on to do nursing.
If this can't be resolved through the college, could DS get an apprenticeship as a HCA and use that as a springboard to get into nursing so he has direct experience?

SilverChime · 03/10/2019 17:20

we would have chosen a different college
You still can. Look for a different college and ask if he can enrol late. He’ll gave some catching up to do but it might be better in the long run.

WhatTiggersDoBest · 03/10/2019 17:21

Also you said you would have chosen a different college if you'd known... can you call the other college and ask if they'll take him as late entry? They will have had drop-outs too and they might let him join as we haven't reached the end of the first half-term yet. ;)

WhatTiggersDoBest · 03/10/2019 17:21

@SilverChime X post sorry!

bookmum08 · 03/10/2019 17:23

Sounds like he would be better re doing some of the GCSEs. What subject was the Btec in?

LIZS · 03/10/2019 17:23

As long as he is under 19 on September 1st that year would be funded. Beyond that he could apply for an Advanced Learning Loan. What was his previous btec in? Level 2 is gcse equivalent so as long as he is working towards English/Maths at same level he should meet entry requirements, some start level 3 while still working on gcses.

PumpkinPie2016 · 03/10/2019 17:26

That does sound a bit rubbish! Is there another local college where he could look for a Jan start to do health and social care plus his English and maths resit?

Or, can he look for a job and do a qualification alongside plus his english/maths at evening school? Sometimes nursing homes will take staff who haven't done a qualification but who are willing to do it alongside. That way, once he has that and English /maths he could apply for nurse training.

SilverChime · 03/10/2019 17:26

To be fair if the teacher is a qualified experienced teacher they should be making resources/planning lessons/getting to grips with the course they are now teaching

WhatTiggersDoBest often in further education the teacher is paid only to deliver the provided lesson, not to create or prepare it. It’s a cost saving exercise which allows them to pay teachers less. Instead of paying for 1hr prep + 1hr teaching, they just have a bank of ready made teaching materials that they dish out, and the teacher only gets paid for the 1hr teaching.

ghostyslovesheets · 03/10/2019 17:32

As long as he starts level 3 at 18 he should be covered until completion

He might be better off looking at BTEC L1 science? with maths and English - he might struggle to get on a straight GCSE program with 2's in Maths and English - are they doing functional skills as well as GCSE?

PaulGalico · 03/10/2019 17:35

If it is a option I would find a different FE provider and talk to them - you would probably just have time to move him. He needs his maths and english - this should be his main focus. If it is an option get him a tutor (you get far fewer Maths and English lessons in FE than school). College will need him to be full time to get funding so if he is going to stay at the college you need to start talking to his tutor/head of programme area and be persistent. Talk to them about a different placement - see if you can make some initial contacts.
Yes, once he is 19 he will have to get a learner loan. Once he gets Maths and English his options open up - apprentiship, level 3, Access (post 19).

LolaSmiles · 03/10/2019 17:41

I'm still confused about a school only doing 7 GCSEs/level 2s. Even free schools are assessed and judged under progress 8.

Whether his tech award would count for profession to level 2/3 depends on the subject it was in, as vocational subjects are only really relevant for the next step in that area. I'm surprised he's on level 1 as that's the equivalent of GCSE D-G in old money. Some FE colleges do push students for an additional year to get more funding and money (eg we've seen clearly level 3 students be advised by the college to do level 2 when there looking at 8 grade 6s + we are a post 16 provider so know the FE is taking the piss).

I would have a look at another college, but also think he'd be better off doing some level 2 and improving his GCSEs. If he is wanting a career in nursing or healthcare then he probably will need 4/5 in maths and English (NHS says 5 grade Cs or above and this year I'm aware of some universities wanting 5s)