To think he shouldn't do A-Levels

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My niece got five 4s and five 3s in her GCSEs. My sister is now insistent that she stay at the school and do A-Levels. I just think she would be much better doing something at college. Shes decided on travel and tourism, art and still deciding a third. She's not very academic and I just think she won't succeed at A-Levels. How will this help her future? Aibu to think that someone with these grades shouldn't be doing A-Levels?

What does the niece want to do?

No idea how the numerical system works.

are you her guardian? Her teacher? A professional careers counsellor who's guidance they've specifically sought on this matter?

No? Then keep your nose out of it, and save your judgement for your own children.

I doubt the school would accept her as an Alevel student to be honest.

I’m amazed the school will let her. Ours requires 6x6’s to do a levels and even then they’re quite specific- to do maths you need an 8 at GCSE. To do chemistry you need a 6 in maths, you can only do physics if you also do maths and to do history or politics you need a 6 in English.

On those grades I agree she may well struggle and a BTEC will be a much better option for her

I don't know your niece of course, but my DD2 was something like you describe. She went to college and, I believe, was much happier there than she would have been remaining at school pushed towards A Levels.

Of course, A Levels can also be done at colleges should the student be so inclined at a later date.

I agree with you.sounds like she would be better with something more vocational.

That’s 5 bare passes. She is unlikely to be allowed to do A levels. She’d actually be better off resitting her GCSEs.

Who is he? Do you mean she? Cannot imagine any sixth form would take her with those grades or him if it is a nephew.

Ultimately it's the school that will decide.

Travel and tourism is an A level? I thought that was more FE College rather than 6th Form College. I'm clearly old.

I'm not trying to judge. She's my niece and I care about her. I want her to succeed in life and I'm not sure this will help.
She says she doesn't know what she wants to do. Me and my sister both did A-Levels and uni and have professional jobs. My nephew also did A-Levels two years ago and is at uni so I think my sister assumes niece should do the same. It's the done thing and college wasn't really discussed before.
School have said they will accept her but only on certain subjects. She needs to choose.

Maybe she has other reasons for wanting to do a levels like stay at her school. It’s the schools judgement to make, not yours, but I don’t see why she should be stopped if that’s what she wants to do.

@NailsNeedDoing she should be stopped because to do anything else is setting her up to fail - they are terrible grades and the A levels will be un-accessable for anyone who scored at that level.
If scholl take her they will be encouraging her towards non-faciliating subjects which have their issues for the next stage.
OP is probably worried about her/his DN being out of their depth from day 1.

I think you are right to have concerns, and it is likely that A levels wouldn't be a best fit. Having said that, the subjects you have identified aren't necessarily typically 'academic'. The travel and tourism qualification may well not be an A level, but rather an A level equivalent qualification which are often more vocational in design. Whilst Art is quite possibly a 'property A level and has an 'academic (as in written component) strand, it is heavily weighted towards artistic ability and skill development and the courses tend to be extremely flexible in order to play to individual strengths, so if your neice is an 'arty' type, she may well be fine with Art a level. Its hard to really advise without knowing the individual.

A lot of defensive answers here. TBH she will really struggle with A levels at those grades, and most 6th forms wouldn't accept those GCSE grades for A level.

DD achieved A* at GCSE for the subjects she took at A level, and she still found A levels hard.

Typo in my title. Sorry.

A level Art is super hard. If she only got a 4 in her GCSE she’d probably fail the A level. The quality that is expected, both in regard to the artwork and the analysis, is extremely high. I recommend she looks at some old A level artwork on Instagram to get an idea of what would be expected.

BTEC Art is a bit more forgiving and there’s no exam. I would look into that. (I’ve taught both.)

No does the school do qualifications other than A level? They won't pass a levels with GCSE grades like those

There is no Travel & Tourism A level so that will be a Btec. It’s likely her other subjects will be Btecs as well.

I don’t know any schools or colleges that would allow A levels with those grades.

I agree with other posters that she is unlikely to succeed at A level with the GCSE grades she achieved. It would be doing her a disservice to push her in this direction. She could still take BTEC subjects which may suit her if she would like a more vocational route.
A levels are a big step up fro: GCSE’s and even those attaining high GCSE grades often struggle with the content level.
It’s difficult for you to get involved as you’d probably be seen as interfering and may be blamed later. I’d just make gentle suggestions like has she seen a careers advisor or the post 16 lead at school, to discuss her options etc. But leave it at that.

I wouldn’t encourage anyone with those grades to do A levels. Even if she could find somewhere that would let her do them (at our place, a SFC, you need six at 4 and above, including two 5s) she might end up struggling and not enjoying her subjects.Too many young people in that position think that they ‘must’ do A levels and commit themselves to a miserable experience. As a teacher I’d be advising her to look at the range of BTECs and CTECs - perhaps she could still find a mix of art and T&T which would make up a 3 A level equivalent. Hope she lands on the right thing anyway.

Sorry I made a mistake. She actually got a 5 in art and a 5 in photography(she took this in y10). I'm pretty sure it's A-level art rather than btec. I asked about btec and was told t&t is btec style whatever that means.

There are a couple of other exam boards now that offer Btec equivalentqualifications.

I agree. If those grades are a true reflection of her academic abilities I think she would be miserable trying to study at advanced level and is likely to get very low grades.

On the other hand, if she didn't work hard or has suddenly matured or developed a passion for certain subjects then perhaps it's worth giving it a go.

Teacher here. I’d say she’d struggle doing A-levels with that kind of ability. YANBU.