AIBU to question repeated GCSE resits instead of alternative college pathways?

[Windyday3]

I have two friends with an 18 year old young person each
Both these DC went to the local school and failed maths and English GCSE
So from there they both went to the local college,did a foundation course and resat both GCSEs
Unfortunately neither passed Maths and English
So neither were allowed to move to the next level of their course.
Both had to start a second foundation course in a subject they didn't want to do and were doing resits in maths and English.
They have both just resat the exams recently
But if they fail again,in September they will both start a third foundation course in another subject they don't want to do ,while they resit maths and English.
This time next year they will both be 19 and will have to leave college.
They both have one more shot at passing and will end up in a years time leaving college with three Foundation courses and . hopefully maths and English GCSE if they pass.
But how does that equip them to get a job??
They will of had three years at college and come out with three Foundation courses,two in subjects they are not interested in .
Neither have an EHCP ,but both have ADHD .
Why is there not a different path for children that can't get maths and English GCSE ???
Why have they been made to waste 3 years doing courses that are not going to equip them for a job , because it's so important they get these maths and English qualifications.
I do get they are important
I'm just questioning why there is not different paths , because education should not be a one size fits all
They will of had 3 years at college when they leave at age 19
That 3 years could of been spent getting them a qualification that would of actually helped them get a job.
Who's benefiting from them both being made to do 3 Foundation courses in 3 different subjects..the children certainly aren't ,as it qualifies them for nothing

There should be functional maths and english equivalent to GCSE options though oddly I think you have to get less than a 3 at GCSE to take them.

The endless re-takes are hard on the kids - I think it about 80% who fail though some of DD2 freinds doing them have got the required level now so some do manage to get there.

If they pass the functional skills (fingers crossed!) then they should be able to do the next level of one of the foundation courses. I don't think they'll be chucked out of college for being 19 or 20.

The should take functional skills maths and english instead.

If the college isn't offering that option they should change colleges, or consider doing functional skills maths and english through somewhere like the £2 tuition hub (often used by home ed families but open to all children)

Most colleges dont offer functional skills.

I tbought there was only 3 years FE fundingnper person?

Neither have been offered functional skills ..only GCSEs are offered for their age

That must be the choice of the college.

My son did a Level 3 Btec and there were several on his course who had done the Level 2 alongside GCSE resits. Any students who passed Level 2 were allowed to move onto Level 3 regardless of their maths/English.

Any student who had passed at least 4 GCSE's were allowed to skip Level 2 as long as they had at least one out of maths or English.

Two young people we know went to university despite never passing their maths.

It's more the fact ,the college will of had three years to get them ready for a job ..and it's qualified them for nothing
It makes me wonder,when people talk about young people claiming UC and not working,I wonder how many don't have GCSEs
And why is there not alternatives for children who can't manage to get GCSEs
They are still capable of learning and being qualified to do a job
It seems a terrible waste of three years ,where college could of spent three years getting them qualified to do something

Where we are local Colleges only offer functional skills for over 18s.

DD was able to access a tutor and functional skills because she has an EHCP and all the Foundation courses were full. She passed English so is now thriving on her chosen vocational course while endlessly resitting Maths GCSE alongside...

Such a waste of time and money.

The whole system needs a rethink
Everyone should ,after three years at college,be qualified to do something.
Otherwise
What's the point in actually going

I hate this system. Ds2 is a natural scientist & mathematician & was looking to go into atmospheric science but has a total block for the English exams. He was totally capable of getting 7/8/9 but quite literally shut down during the exam which he had to retake over & over & over, the tutor was so convinced of his ability they had him redo it every six months - worse outcome every time.

The humiliation & stress of it meant he ended up medicated for anxiety for a short while before we pulled him from his a-level exams for his own safety tbh. He took the first of his maths a-level exams & literally fell 'asleep', unwakeable, the fear of his English exams was now all exams.

And cos he's not diagnosed with anything - no help, there was nothing anyone would do.

I loathe it.

This is so odd. Is it a level 1 or 2 course? If it was level 1, most colleges would allow them to move onto level 2. But to start level 3 they’d need either level 2 functional skills or GCSE’s 5 or above in English/ maths.
I think there’s also level 1 and 2 apprenticeships.

That's awful @Caerulea .really sorry to hear that
The system is letting our young people down

No ..it is foundation course
Without English and maths they can not move past foundation.
Madness

It's a scheduling matter at DD's college.

All Level 3 courses leave Tuesday afternoon free, and use that afternoon so students can do either maths OR English resit.

Level 2 courses leave all day free on Tuesday so students can do both English AND Maths.

its a shame that I think a really high number of kids fail maths and English GCSEs (I think it might be 30% or more) and yet they could do either a foundation GCSE or functional skills yet very few of the schools in my area will do either. It’s very hard for the kids.

It's like they want everyone on the same path , regardless of ability,and if you can't reach that standard,you leave with nothing,no alternative
What good is three Foundation courses going to do either of them

I’m guessing foundation = level 1.
GCSE = 2 and A Level = level 3.
I can only base off where I grew up and the nearest colleges to where I am now…. But it seems really unusual they’re not offering functional skills. Perhaps they could look into a different college if they’d like to continue education in September?

That sounds really bad.

My son't school had a 6th form course aimed at those without GCSE's it was a mix of Functional Skills, work experiene and vocational qualifications.

The college he chose to move to had a variety of courses and there was a definite pathway for those without GCSE's, especially if it was only maths and English they failed to get.

There is nothing near ..and the one they could move to ,it's all linked together so the three nearest all offer the same and are linked

None of the Colleges near us offer Functional skills until you're 19. Up until then it is endless GCSE resits, because obviously doing the same thing over and over again will eventually bring a different outcome...😡

Here in Australia you can't go to the next year if you fail either of those subjects if they keep failing maybe take it as a sign not everyone is cut out for University

Exactly
So college could qualify them for a job ..to learn a trade ..to do something..
But they don't do

This isn't a university pathway.

'College' in the UK is aimed at 16-18 year old, vocational courses such as plumbing as well as academic courses such as A levels

They are both blocked from anything other than foundation level courses untill they have maths and or English.
Maybe with one or the other they could move to the next level..that I actually don't t know ..but without both ,they can't do anything other than a foundation course