What is going to happen to those kids who can’t pass

[Deedeedocket]

My dd has ASD I have not been able to get her engaged with school. School have given her one day a week in school. She didn’t go in at all during first lockdown.

She isn’t going to pass her exams, she just isn’t. What the hell is she and all the other dc they struggle so much going to do? It’s really getting to me. I’m trying to keep a roof over our heads, trying to engage her with schooling, working from home. I’m at the end of my tether.

How old is she, and what would she like to do in future?

She doesn’t know. She has applied for local college to do A Levels. But if she doesn’t pass then that won’t be an option.

She is Year 11.

Colleges often do a GCSE catch up course, would this be possible? Or can you get her to focus on just five, after all, I image that's all she needs to do A Levels?

She will hopefully be able to resit?

I am sorry you are at the end of your tether. We are all going to have such a lot of ground to make up when things start to calm down.

At least your daughter has a mother who cares about her which is going to help her deal with whatever happens on results day and afterwards.

I don’t think she has the capacity to resit. She says what’s the point in her trying she may as well be dead.

The purpose of exams is to sort out the people who can pass from the people who don’t. There would be no point in exams if a significant number didn’t fail. There are year 11s that fail every year.

There are then many options. You need to be looking at sixth form colleges. Many have multiple levels of entry, ranging from ‘life skills’ fir students with severe learning difficulties, Right up to A levels.

When she has her results, she should arrange an interview and find out what is on offer for her.

There might be courses like catering, or electrician training -or other vocational courses. Or maybe a retake year, or a Btec, level 2(I’m guessing?) in media/ science/sport/ health and social care. Etc

I’ve worked in sixth form colleges. We had a policy of always offering an applicant something, even if it wasn’t the level they were hoping for.

They could then advance in subsequent years.

Don’t worry too much. She is still entitled to 3 years education after this. And with her SN, and with Covid and everything. She has a good case for arguing for more than that

Would the school support her to repeat year 11 OP? My DS fluffed his exams as he just went to pieces, he repeated the year and he’s now in 2nd year of a red brick uni. It’s so stressful but they can catch up.

Ok, so in that case look at college courses that will allow her to just resit maths and English. She'll have to keep resitting those until she passes or turns 18. Why not see if she wants to do something vocational with maths and English next year, then start A levels the year after. I know the college near us have a range of vocational courses like that with all sorts of stuff from animal care, beauty to brickwork and plumbing! It's been a horrible time, who wouldn't like to groom goats whilst resitting maths & English, then back on track the year after?

The school have been hugely unhelpful so far. I don’t think she would go back a year she is pinning everything on the fact she leaves this year. Hates it.

What does she want to do OP? Is there anything she particularly enjoys?

Her interests are very singular. Gaming and drawing mostly.

Year 11 is horrible in the best of years. Schools seem to place so much emphasis on passing 9 or more like your whole life depends on it, so bear in mind she's probably been hearing that a lot.

There are loads and loads of different things to do, just because she doesn't do A Levels next year doesn't mean she won't ever. Students can get 3 (sometimes even 4) years of sixth form funding.

What about some kind of media/graphic design/animation course with maths and English alongside?

Will she actually be sitting exams this year? I thought they'd gone to teacher assessments again this year (though I may be missing some nuances for the devolved nations).

BTEC Level 3 courses can be good options for students that are less academic but still reasonably bright. They have a more vocational edge, more coursework, fewer exams, and typically lower entry requirements. They're accepted for most subjects at most universities BUT for the more competitive / academic courses (engineering springs to mind) they can sometimes require an A Level alongside it.

Colleges will need to get sufficient bums on seats this year, as in every year, so you may find some more flexibility.

I'd speak to the school about what grades she's currently working towards as that will give you an idea of what is to come.

I employ some people who didn’t do A levels. I wish people would give more appreciation of BTECs etc. Find a local college that does a course that inspires her. She will be much happier in the long run.

How was she doing before school closed? Did she do mocks? Have school given predicted grades?

As others have suggested it may be worth looking at local sixth form colleges and discussing courses that support her interests alongside maths and English.

Her predicted grades are ok (or they were pre -Covid) All above 4 except for a couple. However, she isn’t engaging with online schooling. I have a parents evening next week to discuss.
She just doesn’t seem to care, she is so depressed says what’s the point she may as well be dead. I’ve raised all this to the school and begged them to take her in but they won’t do more than a day a week.

BTEC digital games and animation course at a local college.

Could you maybe speak to GP and get a referral under the vulnerable provision? Might be with it if it’s affecting her MH.

youngminds.org.uk/

She sounds depressed. It’s very hard on this age group.

I will speak to Gp particularly after her outburst tonight. I’ve just looked at the college in next town and they do a good course and they take lower GCSE grades. I know there are options for her, she scares me she is so dark and feels so useless.

I would definitely look at the BTEC route. There are all sorts of different courses that are possible with these, including media, art and computing, possibly even gaming and it is course work that is important with these - no exams involved, which would take a lot of pressure off your daughter. It might be a good idea to start with level 2. Obviously, if she doesn’t get maths and English she will have to retake them. Some universities have courses in designing computer games - this might be her niche. As you might imagine, such courses are popular with people on the autistic spectrum. Also, colleges and universities often have more resources for students with special needs than mainstream schools.

@Deedeedocket

Her predicted grades are ok (or they were pre -Covid) All above 4 except for a couple. However, she isn’t engaging with online schooling. I have a parents evening next week to discuss. She just doesn’t seem to care, she is so depressed says what’s the point she may as well be dead. I’ve raised all this to the school and begged them to take her in but they won’t do more than a day a week.

No one knows exactly how we will be asked to assess yet, and we won't until 22nd Feb.

Obviously it's not ideal that she's not engaging with remote learning but it might be that there is some room for the use of mocks/assessments in deciding on a final grade.