To think my DS is completely stuffed

[logincard]

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 ….

@Morethanthis71

Ah just read all your posts OP, the school he is currently at is legally obliged (if in England) to give him a place in their Sixth Form. He might not have the specific grades for the specific courses he wants to do (although he has a good suite of grades) but they cannot refuse him a place.

This simply isn’t true. They are entitled to set their own admissions requirements for the courses that they offer and they don’t have to admit him if he doesn’t meet them.

That’s a high-workload set of a levels you’ve picked there- given he ‘missed’ the enrolment info, perhaps they think it’s too much and would offer him a less intense set?

His current school are being v inflexible which is unusual in a sixth form. Make of that what you will.

Missing by one point... What does that even mean?

@DotBall

Pick three!

OP - I can see biology ,chemistry and modern European history on this very helpful list?

[quote logincard]@MadameMinimes I do appreciate it but they do not offer A levels in Biology, Chemistry or History.[/quote]
Richmond College does.

If you don’t want your son to go to a college just say so, because there are several PPs going out of their way to help you.

Yes agree, I just looked at the same website as everyone else and Richmond College including biology, maths, English literature and history. They have open enrolment from 18 Aug (so, today).

How far away from you is that OP - could it be a reasonable commute (an hour + is reasonable for a 16yo IMO).

Can you bus him into somewhere like Westminster Kingsway in central? Or a home counties college? Not ideal but worth a punt if doable? I commuted to WK from bucks (35 miles!) as a young mum so would think possible for a carefree teen. Quality of teaching was actually better than the top 20 grammar I left but different demographic so lower results. I left with 4 As though!

@titchy

Yes I get the feeling it's Tiffin (I assume) or nothing. Given that she hasn't looked very carefully at colleges... (Westminster city, godalming, Richmond, esher are all decent options.)

Esher is full, ( and has a long wait list) Richmond ( as you will see if you look at the buttons does not off the A levels he wants) Godalming will take 90 mins to get to. We may had to do that. Please don't accuse me of not trying. Im asking for help and advice - like where I can go to ask where is still not full... not more criticism....

He (and I ) didn't especially want him to stay at Tiffin as the catchment is so wide he has had few local friends. He wanted to go to a local school 6th form. Academics isn't everything, he needs to have at least the option of a social life. or maybe not. If he travels to the other side of London or an hour away that option is gone.

@YouJustDoYou

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

No. 16 in the UK.

This is true in practice. There's no teeth in the law to try to make them stay on for another year. All that happens is phone calls from council.

Important point is lad wants to do A-levels.
OP is in SW London.
I'm having trouble believing that nowhere in London (or further south, Guildford?) has a suitable college with A-level places.
Are kids in SW London not allowed to attend college outside their own borough?

They do.

My screenshot didn’t attach but they list all theee of those subjects on their website.

[quote logincard]@MadameMinimes I do appreciate it but they do not offer A levels in Biology, Chemistry or History.[/quote]
??
Yes they do - I've just looked!

@MadameMinimes

My screenshot didn’t attach but they list all theee of those subjects on their website.

The screenshot is visible 👍🏻

Unless I’m looking at the wrong Richmond college they have a special 6th form centre and do the a levels your son wishes to do

well my message was a massive cross post and I guessed at likely subjects but I wasn't far out. OP Richmond College as we have all said offers history, biology and chemistry and if he has 7s in those at GCSE I would say he is good to go.

@logincard have a look at the FE and sixth form colleges here, you can search for those local to you :

FE and Sixth Form colleges They are all accepting applications now, but be quick!

I had this prepared in case what happened to you happened to my DS. You & he will be fine.

@Hercisback

His current school are being v inflexible which is unusual in a sixth form. Make of that what you will.

Missing by one point... What does that even mean?

GCSE grades are worth points. Many 6th form use the point system to allocate places. A minimum of 6.0 or 7.0 points to gain entry to A levels.

Richmond do the A Levels he wants and, even if they only did 2 of the 3, it's better than him doing none.

It's his fault he's in this situation so he may need to compromise a little...

My ds may have just missed out on A level maths and sciences at his school (they're still deciding .

I've just rung a nearby college and they do the same subjects but will accept him so we're going to enrol there instead. I had no idea they did normal academic A levels

Surely number one step is to get a place at Richmond today for the best/closest match of A levels that they offer?

Then continue the search to see if you can find something 'better'.

Don't fall into the same trap as your son by not accepting a fallback place if it is available.

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

Is there a reason you are being told there is no space for your son at ANY school in your area, when others are being accepted? He has good grades, better than others who have been accepted onto A level courses, so it seems strange.

And no one has to help us, he’s just on his own

As is everybody else. Just like when you apply for primary school and senior school, it's up to the parents to help their children get a place. You have already been able to contact schools on his behalf, and indeed can contact colleges too, so not sure what other help he would need.

@logincard there are plenty nearby Richmond (it's my area too). Kingston, Isleworth, West Thames ... search the link I posted above

What about Btech?

Your local comps will have sixth forms that will happily take him, if you will happily send him.

[quote logincard]@MadameMinimes I do appreciate it but they do not offer A levels in Biology, Chemistry or History.[/quote]
I don’t understand.
They list these subjects on their website.