Return to school after missed GCSEs

[HelloHellebore]

Following prolonged bullying in her previous school, our DD has developed a mixture of mental health problems (PTSD, OCD, anorexia). She changed school at the start of the GCSE course, but has now missed essentially all of the second GCSE year and won‘t sit any exams this spring. She’s still in a clinic, but assuming she makes enough progress to attend school in September, does anyone have any experience how best to proceed with education, without GCSEs?

DD doesn’t want to redo the last GCSE year because she will have to start from scratch with friendship groups. I don’t think the school will let her start A-levels without any GCSE’s. The school actually isn’t keen on her repeating the GCSE year, and seem to think BTECs are a good solution. Unfortunately these seem to have a lot of coursework, which is something DD is currently struggling with.

Anyone been in a similar position? How have other children proceeded where they missed a critical school year?

My DD took GCSEs in hospital school attached to an adolescent psychiatric unit - she had a range of mental health issues alongside ADHD, ASD and GAD. We successfully applied for an EHCP, which funded a place in a smaller, nurturing independent sixth form alongside various therapies. She did really well and is now at uni, living independently, planning for the future… we didn’t think it would be possible when she was taking her GCSEs. I would really encourage you to apply for an EHCP.

@TAmum123 Wonderful that your DD has made so much progress! Hearing stories like yours give me hope that it is possible that our DD will be able to get where she wants to be too.
DD is currently attending clinic school, but it’s really minimal, and I can’t see it helping DD cover her missed schooling.