To think my DS is completely stuffed

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my DS has 5 grade 7s and 4 6's at GCSE.

he missed out on acceptance to his grammar school for A level ( by one point) and we now have no place for him to study A levels.

He had a conditional offer from another school. He has the grades, but I found out yesterday that he never actually accepted this offer ….

I have contacted every state and private school in the borough and close by and no one has a space, we have appealed a grade at his grammar school. (But I hold out little hope for that)

What can we do? He has. No space for A levels . And no one has to help us, he’s just on his own ….

He'll definitely get into a college. My school would welcome him with open arms for most subjects with those grades and we aren't precious about being 'full' - more students = more funding. If you're in a high performing area maybe that explains schools not taking him but colleges will.

As for school leaving age in England it's another government shitshow - he has to remain in at least part time education until 18 but no one has a legal obligation to find or give him a place.

Don't panic just yet. There is movement with the schools/colleges as many of them (if you are in England) will not have had their enrolment days yet. Students will change their minds about which courses they want to do, however, I be going back to the grammar school and the place that gave him the conditional offer.

She is appealing the grammar school place but they will be oversubscribed and there won't be much hope.

I'm shocked you left him to accept a place too.

What does your DS say OP? Your post is all about what you've done to find him a place, but what outcome does he want? It sounds like he's not overly bothered about sixth form so how about college or an apprenticeship? I live in Hampshire where we don't have sixth forms in schools, the students go to college, so it always seems strange to me that 16-18 year olds are staying at school. If he's not a lover of the school environment, he might enjoy being at college where they're treated much more like adults.

Where do you live OP?

Any idea what he wants to do?

It does seem a bit harsh to keep him out of the grammar, but obviously they need space for new 6th form entrants, which probably helps to keep the school fresh.

I guess it is a bit early for a year out?!

I went to a sixth college, tbh it might have been better to go to a school.

Contact your local authority if you’re not getting anywhere with schools. They have a legal duty to find him a ‘suitable place’.

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/career-choices-at-16

@YouJustDoYou

Aren't you supposed to still be in education/training until 18?

No. 16 in the UK.

You are incorrect I’m afraid. It’s 18!

Why did you leave a 16yo to accept the place?!

As others have said there must be a college option nearby.

"Aren't you supposed to still be in education/training until 18?*

No. 16 in the UK."

As someone whose children 'dropped out' of school at 14 and received a token of education (5 hrs a week) from the LA until they were 16, I would state that what the Government says and what it does are two different matters.

However, with respect to OP, colleges would be a great option.

Like all the pp said, sixth form, or FE colleges are the way to go. And contacting your LEA.

Hope he gets sorted, bloody stressful. And don't forget, it's the grammar school making his grades seems sub-par, when of course, they're not! That's a bloody good set of results and shouldn't set him back one bit.

Keep trying, I managed to get Ds1 a 6th form place on the Friday before school restarted after he had a change of heart.

Are you sure his original place is no longer available to him?

Most colleges do Alevels or he might want to do a level 3 course which is equivalent.

What do you mean he disnt accept the place?

That's your job! You're the parent. This is the first big, sort life altering practical thing with a deadline that they need to do. You dont just leave them to do it on their own. You check.

You can leave them to do, but then you confirm it to make sure. Or you have them do it when you are there, just to make sure.

You're going to have to get him to start applying to colleges now.

Soundbar some 16 year olds are very independent. My DD chose the schools for sixth form she wanted to go to, the only input we were allowed was to get her there. She collected her exam results, instead of phoning us, she got onto her chosen school (had more than one possibility), accepted the offer and make other arrangements (chose a school out of county!). She's now at uni, we've never seen her Personal Statement.

OP, I might sound harsh, but this shouldn't be all on you, he has to make an effort to sort this out. If he's got the grades required for his chosen sixth form, might be worth him contacting them and making it clear he's focused/it's what he wants. If not, he'll have to look into apprenticeships and college courses. I know you're concerned, but it'll work out.

College, he'll have no trouble getting in with those grades.

I agree with @SoundBar

Hang on, you made a 16 year old responsible for accepting their own school offer? Why would you leave him on his own to work that out?

I also agree with this who say he obviously does want to go down the A Level route, and perhaps felt you were pushing him into them. Work out with him what he wants to do and go down a college or apprenticeship route. He has good grades and will achieve anything he wants.

You need to find a 6th form college, they’re an excellent place to do A levels and very underrated

First of all, congratulations to your son on his excellent results! I'm frankly astounded that his own school won't let him stay, despite him having excellent results

Keep trying with the other state schools in the area. I work in a school with a 6th form and there is always movement at the start of term.

Contact the local authorities as well -they should be able to help you.

Are there any colleges near by? If so, contact them -they will be most likely to have places.

Also (sorry if you have done this!), can you look a little further afield? Obviously, he needs to be able to get there but looking slightly further away may help. Nearby city that he can train/bus to?

Keep at it. Keep pestering schools about places and get in touch with the LEA and local colleges. Something will come up - all isn't lost!

If you can tell us where abouts in the country you are, people may be able to make further suggestions.

Does he want to do A levels or would something vocational suit him better? It is very easy to get stuck on the GCSE-A level-degree track without taking time to stop and think if that is the right route.

If something vocational is of interest then FE college would be well worth investigating.

My DSon in law went the degree apprenticeship route and is now an engineer with no student debt.

Can't he just return to the school where he did his GCSEs? (Scottish, this system is totally alien to me, children here do not routinely change schools at 16).

Go to your local college today as they are still enrolling and ring the National Careers Service for other support maybe an Apprenticeships. It is not too late!

He has excellent results.

The grammar school is probably out of the equation, so what does he want to do?

I'm surprised you left it up to him to accept a place at 16. I'm all for giving them responsibility, but this was important and you should have supervised him.

Have you considered boarding somewhere out of your county? If you can afford them, there are excellent boarding schools which might still have places

Did he do his GCSEs at the grammar or has he been at an 11-16 school until now? I work in in an 11-16 school and we do a lot to help our student with post-16 destinations.

Go back to the school where he took his GCSEs and ask for their help. They will not want a NEET on their post-16 destination data and they will help you.