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 ….

If this is England, gov.uk says you can leave school at 16 but
You must then do one of the following until you’re 18

• stay in full-time education, for example at a college
• start an apprenticeship or traineeship
• spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

But despite this legislation there is no enforcement.
Both my dc left before they were 18.

Ds actually wanted to stay on at his college course and despite getting a 97.5% average on all his tests and assessments he could not do the final level to qualify as he didn’t have GCSE English. (No wonder we are short of trades in this country Only one person in his entire year in college studying this one trade had the requisite numbers of GCSEs to get to the next level despite them all passing level 2 and this one person was older and had A levels and decided to go to university instead of doing the final level)

The entry rules at the colleges in our area changed and the only thing he was supposed to be capable of the following year was level 1 in anything but having gone straight into level 2 and passing with flying colours level 1 was just stuff he already knew so walked out and no one asked him to go back
Dd left at 16 to become self employed and again no one said anything
At the time I did call the education authority to ask if you could just leave education and training at 16.
They quoted the legislation but said there was no enforcement of the rules so you can be assured that they will not find a beauticians course for him to do as they aren’t fussed what he does.

Would he be able to go on the train to Surrey? Plenty of sixth form places available in schools still

OP you’re in London. There will be loads of colleges that do A-Levels. Have you looked into any?

Is your MP any good? Might be worth contacting them?

Some good advice here and nodtick's advice is great. As you are in SW London there may be options for schools in. Other boroughs. Esther college(6th form) is SW London and does A levels and normally has spaces. Also there are private schools in SW London, with slightly lower requirements, that could be an option but an expensive one eg St James.
Sorry you are in this position as it must be so stressful

@lastqueenofscotland

There are some colleges in south london… admittedly not loads st Francis Xavier in Clapham, Merton, Esther, Coulsden

He may have a bit of a commute but better than not doing a level!

Esher College is close to us but they are completely full. with a waiting list, No chance there

Is boarding school an option?

Reigate College is pretty big and only a bit further round than Esher

@3WildOnes

There are literally loads of sixth form colleges that you can get to from SW London. Lambeth college, Esher college, Kingston college, Richmond college to name just a few. All of them do A level courses. This is a complete non issue.

Kingston College and Richmond College do NOT do A levels (ant longer. Back in the day they did, I did MY A levels at Kingston Collage they do NOT now) . I'm glad you are so sure this is a complete non issue. I can assure it is a very big issue from where I'm sitting. If you have nothing useful or even factually correct to say, then please move on

He can always travel out. In London there will be so many options as he has good grades.

OP. Is it just private or grammar 6th forms you/he are interested in? Is there any reason (SEN for example) that restricts how far he can travel?

Also, get him on some waiting lists. I'm sure there will be dropping out/changes of plans etc right from the start of term, if not before

I find it hard to believe that there are no colleges of FE offering A levels in London.
Only 6th form colleges attached to schools.

He may need to travel outside your immediate area - that’s obvious.

He'll either;
Need to travel
Take a year out and resit

Make sure he's on wait lists

I thought Richmond College in Twickenham did A levels. There will be a lot of movement yet as people have accepted several offers. There is no deadline for deciding so right up until enrolment in September there will be places becoming available. Have you tried Turing House School - it’s a brilliant school but only just setting up a sixth form so possibly not over subscribed. Those grades would be fine and it’s highly recommended.

Have you applied to Richmond Schools. Their sixth forms are relatively new and the less popular will have places. Try Teddington School, Christ's School, Hampton High, Twickenham Academy, And all the others. Put his name on the waiting list for them all. At the start of term some students will not turn up for a variety of reasons. The waiting list moves quickly

Definitely a lesson learned for your DS- in that if he had either accepted the other place or worked harder and achieved the grades necessary for the grammar, he would have a place.

Ime it is unusual for DC at grammar schools who apply themselves to be getting a number of 6s at GCSE.

Your only option now seems to be to keep contacting schools and colleges.

Are there any private crammer colleges about? Not sure what they are called. Can you afford to pay if there are?

He doesn't need to re sit FGS He has very good grades, it's just that the superselective Surrey 6th forms have incredibly high entry criteria.

My son has just done his A levels at one, and you needed an 8 for the sciences and for maths at GCSE to do an A level in it.

I second Turing House, also Richard Reynolds. Ask to speak to the Head of Sixth Form in each case and plead for a place. Some school sixth forms have a high drop out rate as students hold offers at a number of institutions. You will get a place somewhere I promise but choose your preferred institution and go in person with your son. He has very good grades and I know sixth forms will want him.

I agree they are good grades

But as you point out not good enough for surrey

It's a sad day when As and Bs aren't good enough!

I thought Richmond offered A-Levels www.rutc.ac.uk/courses/sixth-form-centre.html

@YouJustDoYou

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

No. 16 in the UK.

It’s 18 in the UK and has been for some time. Surely the LEA has a legal duty to supply a place?

@wewereliars

He doesn't need to re sit FGS He has very good grades, it's just that the superselective Surrey 6th forms have incredibly high entry criteria.

My son has just done his A levels at one, and you needed an 8 for the sciences and for maths at GCSE to do an A level in it.

Actually that's not unusual.

For maths, FM and Sciences an 8 can be standard entry criteria.

Richmond College do NOT do A levels

Their website says they do.

Get his name on the waiting lists and come the start of term the phone will start ringing.