to ask you if you have done any distance learning? and who is a good course provider?

[bejeezus]

I need to do an A Level.

The 3 providers that come up most often are ICS, the OpenStudyCollege and Oxford Tutorial College..

Does anyone have any experience of these or other providers? Good or bad?

I did a sociology a level with ICS a few years ago and managed to complete it (and get a B!) within 6 months so it is definately worth a go!

They send you a lot of paperwork but you do have to do a fair bit of legwork yourself, although I think if you are undertaking a distance learning course you expect that!

They have online tutors to answer questions but I never felt the need to use them - the test questions they set you at the end of each 'chapter' are quite useful as they will mark them for you and give you an idea of how you are progressing, which is helpful :D

Oxford Open Learning.

I've done most of a sociology a level with Oxford, the support is good from the tutor and I've enjoyed it.
The only issue that I've had now is that I'm ready to take both the AS and A exams but where I live there are no schools or colleges who will accommodate external students and the private ones recommended to me want £1000 per exam!!!

thats all

xtremepie 6 months??!!!!!! wow! thats good news-I want to do physics in 12 months

missnormal £1000?! I cant afford that-that seems extortionate-is that normal/average? Id better look into that before I pay for a course

ok, I'm going to do that annoying thing were I don't answer your question but ask you somethin else :)

Why, specifically, do you want to do an A-level.
IMO the OU is almost always the better option.
(but I know nothign about physics)

What area are you in? Some years ago I sat Biology as a student in a tutorial college near me in London. They let me do the practicals over the course of a Saturday. I was a external student. I just turned up for the exams.

I can't either, which is why I haven't sat the exams yet!! I understand though that your location may have something to do with it.

Missnormal - there is a tutorial college in Notting Hill that charged quite a lot less than this, but no practicals, no language tests, no coursework (you make arrangements with the exam boards for this), although marks can be carried over from a previous exam session.

OP - The National Extension college in Cambridge had their own facilities to sit exams with them if you did their distance learning courses. But that was about 15 years ago.

David Game College in London is offering A levels at £70 a unit in the January 2013 series. A tutorial college in Ealing used to allow external candidates too.

gah! sorry I didnt mean to write thats all, I meant thanks all!

sarky im doing an A level because Iwant to do a PGCE for secondary school. I have a relevant BSc and an MSc and 7 years professional experience as an engineer but I left school at 16 and never did any A Levels

I need to do it to improve my subject knowledge-basic principles etc

cook Im in Bristol

missnormal it'd be cheaper to travel out of your area to a place which charges much less for the exams? would it be affordable then?

how about this?

OU

"The Certificate in Physics would be useful, for example, if you are required to teach secondary school physics but your background is in another area of science. This certificate course is endorsed by the Institute of Physics as providing sufficient content to support the teaching of secondary school physics to A-level. It is also endorsed by the Institute as providing sufficient content for those seeking to be physics specialists on entry to PGCE studies."

Hi there We have moved this thread to education
Best of luck with the exams.

Ah thanks for looking that out for me sarky I'd love to do an OU course, that would be perfect. They are definitely thought of as good course providers aren't they?

It's really expensive though-looks like it would cost nearly 4k!! I couldn't afford that website says there are funding options so ill email them. I'm SP on tax credits so I may be able to get some help. And if A level exams are 1k and I think you need to do 3 or 4, that is about the same huh

Thanks

how very very frustrating.

I have just spoken to the OU about financial help;

If you live in Scotland or Wales, fees are waivered!!!! If you live in England it is £3750!!!!

There is no loan available to me because I have studied at a higher level previously

Have friends who live in Wales. Should I consider fraud and pretend that I live at their address????

No!!!!! If you live in Wales, the Welsh LEA equivalent pays your fees - It is NOT fee-free. I doubt they'd pay fees for someone not registered on their electroral role or paying council tax!

oh yes titchy electoral role/council tax!

i wouldnt have really done it - just gutted I cant afford to do the course

Hi
Sorry if I've made things worse :(
I had no idea it was so expensive for a single course.

you could always move to Wales :)

What type of engineering did you study / work in OP ?
If electronics or similar your degree may be relevant to teaching Design technology (systems and control) or teaching ICT if computer software engineering. Some schools offer BTEC Engineering courses so your degree could be useful after you have done the teacher training.
City of Bristol College used to offer a flexi-study option for A levels and GCSEs where you studied by yourself using distance learning materials, met with a tutor and joined in practical classes where needed. Am not sure if this is still available though.

thanks crazy have just phoned City of Bristol o enquire about that-person I needed wasnt available-Ive left an ansaphone message and sent an email.

There is presently a funded short Subject Knowledge Enhancement course that you can do shortly before the PGCE begins, once you have a place on a PGCE course. I am just a bit scared that funding may be pulled by this supid government and it may not be available next year- ALso I would like to do something a bit more extensive, so my knowledge is robust. I may not be left any options though.....

Im in the mechanical design team of a Building Services design team...but I REALLY want to teach GCSE and A Levels...Im really passionate about girls in science (dont tell the boys!) Also Ilive in a deprived area, and I dont think many teens/ pre-teens have aspirations in science. Id like to try and encourage that. I dont have so much enthusiasm for post 18 year olds

sarky my friend has been trying to persuade me for ages! seems a bit extreme

no chance you can get straight onto a PGCE this year through clearing?

SKE should still be avialable next year....

no sarky ive been just a bit too late; the SKE starts next weekand you cant get a place unless you have a conditional place on a PGCE. I was farting around deciding whether i wanted to do Physics or Biology and havent applied yet-oh well,cant be helped

i hope so titchy

I might do distance learning and not do exams- just soIhave the knowledge (with no proof) then fingers crossed there are SKE courses next year

TBH it sounds like a bit of time with some A-level textbooks would be enough if you can then go on to do the SKE next year.