Sixth Form College Offer Withdrawn.

[MummysALittleDisappointed]

NC due to my attempt at keeping my anonymity on MN.

DS applied for Bromley College Orpington Campus and was given a conditional offer (GCSE results); DS was really happy about this and worked really hard on his GCSE exams. He wants to do A levels for Psychology, Sociology and Economics. After that, he wants a University place and then wants to become a teacher. I'm bursting with pride as you can imagine. I'm a fairly uneducated person, single parent and have only had jobs, never a great career, so to have a child want to teach is brilliant in my humble opinion and I've been as supportive and encouraging as I possibly can be. I want for him to succeed and be happy in his work.

I've had a letter (as has DS though he has not seen it yet), withdrawing the offer due to Government changes during 2014/15, thereby cutting out A levels in these fields (and others I assume). They can offer catering and hospitality or media studies 'instead' but I very much doubt this will help him to be an economics and psychology teacher in the future!

I'm really upset and angry for DS and I know that he will feel more than that and extremely let down.

I've had a look on the websites, trying to find alternative colleges for him, but there doesn't seem to be any for all those subjects and I don't know what to do for him. He hated school and didn't want to do sixth form in a school, hence the college application. I'm at a loss as to where we go from here.
Has anyone got any ideas or suggestions please? we are in the Dartford (sort of iyswim) area.

[JaneParker]

Why do these schools for GCSE and sixth forms not go for facilitating subjects? It is so unwise unless the children are not really cut out for university and teaching.

Try to make sure his A levels are facilitating subjects (a google search will show those). What are his other GCSEs? Surely there are some traditional subjects in there he can pick which the universities will like and so will schools when they come to hire him later? Can he not do things like history, English, geog, a language? Those are the ones people value.

[daphnedill]

I disagree with some other posters about Economics "A" level. My dd got an "A" at GCSE maths (so she was OKish) then started "A" level Maths and dropped out of the course just after Christmas. She was then doing three "AS"s and flunked one of them. At the school's suggestion, she dropped the subject she'd flunked and did AS and A2 Economics in a year and achieved a B. She didn't find her lack of Maths a problem.

She then went on to a Russell Group uni, choosing Economics as a subsidiary subject. She found that her lack of Maths "A" level restricted her choice of modules, but she still managed to get a 2.1.

To be honest, I'd be more concerned about the balance of subjects. If possible, the OP's dc would be better to choose at least one traditional subject, such as history or geography, especially if he wants to teach at secondary level.

[MummysALittleDisappointed]

Thank you all. Ds is going to make some calls tomorrow. Hopefully, he'll be encouraged enough to keep at it. He says he's still keen to go into teaching which is great! :)

[Ionacat]

I would ring round all the schools/sixth forms that he could reasonably get to and see if any of them have places. Lots of them will have information on which subjects they offer at A-Level on their website for example Kemnal Manor which is on the Orpington bypass does Economics and Psychology and has no closing date on its website. Unfortunately as most of the schools have sixth forms, most students wanting A-Levels will stay on so the colleges tend to offer the vocational subjects so a school sixth form is probably the best option. They will also know which courses are running. He won't be the only one in that position so start looking tonight and get ringing tomorrow.

[scottishmummy]

He's fortunate to have supportive mum.now he needs to get good information
It's great he wants to study,and achieve.that needs to be channelled

[titchy]

He DOESNT need A level maths to teach, or to do economics a level! A B grade at gcse plus some determination should be fine.

A BEd, rather than degree plus PGCE is really only a suitable route for primary, but might be of interest to him.

[dustyspringfield]

also, it might be worth boosting his confidence about uni by booking on to an outreach event at a uni local to you, especially somewhere where they run the right kind of course for him - and I don't just mean traditional open days where universities tout for applicants.
This kind of thing:
www.ntu.ac.uk/community/outreach/secondary/index.html
I agree, aiming for a BEd course may be a great plan.

[TheFirstOfHerName]

If it's the idea of teaching that inspires him, then a BEd might be the way forward. He would not need Maths A-level for that. Some universities like two subjects out of Maths, English and a Science.

Or he could forget about the Economics and concentrate on the Psychology alone, which as other posters have pointed out, is possible without Maths A-level. Some knowledge of statistics is needed, but the Maths for this might be offered as a catch-up undergraduate course.

If he is really passionate about the Economics, then he will have to get over the dislike of Maths.

[Applefallingfromthetree2]

Universities not valuing these subjects? Where is the evidence for this?
Maybe the combination of subjects could be better (to include Maths for example) but each of these subjects is pretty challenging. My son got a place at Cambridge and one of his A Levels was Sociology. Agree Media Studies not a good idea though.

I wish your DS good luck OP.

[dustyspringfield]

This might end up being a good thing, as it seems from some posters that the college he was going to might not be the best springboard for uni? The most important thing to hold on to is that your ds is passionate about becoming a teacher, this is really great, and should be a brilliant motivation to find a 6th form or college and do well there. Loads of youngsters don't have a clue about careers at this age, so he is doing well.
I agree, your ds should be encouraged to research options himself - and research it together with you too. What you could also do for him, if he lacks confidence in his current school, is push hard for a good, long careers advice session. Also see if this might be available at 6th forms elsewhere that he might be applying for - or an informal chat with subject specialists might be just as helpful if you can access the teachers. It might help to have a parent asking for the advice session on his behalf. It's always worth an ask.
It isn't too late to alter plans about colleges and A-level choice, there will be a way to find him a great place to do A levels and become a teacher. What he needs ASAP is good advice on what A-level choices to make given his planned career. There's always more ways than one of getting there, but it would be good for him not to set up unnecessary obstacles due to lack of information,
It must be very daunting if you haven't been through this system yourself, but you have as much right as any other parent to help get the best education for your DS. Good luck!

[titchy]

I suspect teaching in a school is rather different from being a student in one...... For one he'll have grown up and matured quite a bit.

[narries]

Most sixth forms and sixth form colleges( and FE colleges) will not have stopped taking applications. Mine certainly doesnt. Besides most make offers dependent on GCSE results.

A lot of prospective students do not get these and so there is a mega flurry to re assess and get palces after results come out.

I work in a school ( sixth form) and I know our school will take a number of our own students back who may not passthe GCSE's required ( because we know them). I alsoknow we will get a lot of other kidsapplying who didnt make it on one or orther GCSE grades for the more selective grammars near us.

I also know our HoD sixth is taking applications even now before exam results are out. At this time of year he may well feel kind and make an offer to a possible student such as your DS ( OP) - a boy who has been messed around, and offer a place unconditionally now - on predicted grades. We can do this because we know we can make up shortfall in GCSE in our As year.

I know we are not unusual. I do not know your area. Get on the phone and ring round tomorrow.

[scottishmummy]

Yes he needs to get over the hate school thing,given he'll work in a school if qualify
Vast majority info is online,he can do independent research,go visits,he's old enough

[BalloonSlayer]

To be honest he needs to get a grip and get over his "hates school and doesn't want to do sixth form in a school" thing because if he wants to be a teacher, just where does he think he is going to be teaching?

Sixth forms in schools are very different to the lower years, I'd expect that he would be just fine in a school sixth form as long as it was a different school to the one he has been at.

TBH I think you might have dodged a bullet with this college - "We have therefore decided to withdraw from delivering A level courses as almost 50% of our AS students do not progress to taking A2 qualifications." In other words "we are crap so we've given up trying." I used to work in a College close to where you are (not been mentioned on this thread) and it was appalling. I'd choose a 6th form any time.

[titchy]

Scottishnummy you needs maths and English to gcse not a level to teach.
OP I wouldn't get too hung up onRG universities or facilitating subjects. A degree from a former poly, sneered at by many on MN, will still enable him to take a PGCE.

I agree economics A level does involve a reasonable amount of maths, but if he's done the gcse and enjoyed it he's probably motivated enough to do it without maths a level. Likewise there are plenty of universities who would accept him on a Psychology degree with his chosen combination.

A third subject that can broaden the subjects he could teach would be useful rather than sociology, maybe Desig and Technology, or Business Studies?

If his degree is in a different subject to the one he wants to teach there are Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses in certain subjects he could go on.

The main thing right now is to get on the phone tomorrow to all school 6th forms, sixth form colleges etc that he'd be prepared to go to, explain the situation and hope one of them is sympathetic and able to offer him a place.

Good luck.

[scottishmummy]

He can take a lead on this,he's old enough to go online,make calls,gather info
Any career choice is about preparation,research and getting right fit between him and institution
Of course your worried,your his mum.now he needs to get proactive

[ChickenFajitaAndNachos]

He sounds a hardworking boy who has had rubbish advice. It will work out for him.

[narries]

Lets get it straight. In England - for a degree in Psychology (cant speak for economics) the requirement is usually GCSE grade C or more in Maths and English. You do not need A level, not even for an RG university ( not that RG universities are any more than a hyper self promoting marketing company for some universities!).

For psychology the important thing you look for in a degree is BPS
(British Psychological Society) Graduate recognition or registration. Other than that choose a university your DS likes or a place to study he likes or which is convenient.

Serveral universities I know of are far better at Psychology and more highly thought of in that subject than the majority of Russell Group.

I will repeat for the record. You do not need traditional subjects to apply for a degree in Psycholgy. Most university courses will accept most subjects and most like psychology A level althought they do not require it necessarily.

You do not have to take maths and biology or English at A level. You can present with anything. I had a student last year go to Exeter (RG) on Psychology, Philosophy and Ethics and Art.

To train as a teacher in England you will need to do a course or route which gives QTS. That is usually a PGCE ( there are other ways but this is the simplist!) For this you need GCSE Maths English and Science and I think now they require grade B in maths and English but any school who takes your DS should be able to advise on that and run the necessary GCSE courses for the qualifications alongside A levels for him. Any college worth its salt will do that.
You do not need A levels in those subjects

Forteaching your DS will need a National Curriculum subject to train as a teacher . Oft times now RE seems to be the favoured subject but an A level in a traditional subject (ONE ONLY) will see him through that. Then (because a PGCE or QTS, by whatever route qualifies you to teach pupils not subjects), your DS will be able to immediately change over to his chosen subject - be that Psychology or Economics or whatever.

There are other ways of skinning the rabbit for teaching but I wont go into them now.

[MummysALittleDisappointed]

I think it's all quite stressful! I'm having palpitations just thinking about it all and reading your comments on here!

[MissMillament]

Cross posted with others, I see, but a B in maths will be fine for teaching and despite what some have said on here, not every university requires it for psychology. Economics a little trickier perhaps but go to the universities direct and ask them what they require rather than relying on some of the assumptions on here.

[MummysALittleDisappointed]

Be back later on. Thanks again!

[Floralnomad]

My DS is starting with teach first in September ,to do any teaching qualification you have to pass a maths and English test , you go to a test centre to take them and the maths is not easy .We spent an evening doing the practice papers online and the maths itself is ok but the time restraints make it quite stressful.

[MissMillament]

For secondary teaching he will need a C in GCSE English and Maths. The college sounds awful, OP, and tbh your DS should be looking at it as a lucky escape as they do not sound as if they were good at supporting their A level students. Is there a teacher at school that he gets on with who might be able to give him some advice on other colleges locally? Does he know where he might like to go to university and which course he wants to follow - joint honours economics/psychology perhaps or something else? It is always worth contacting one or two universities and asking about entrance requirements for the subjects he is interested in. Tell him not to despair, there will still be places available on A-level courses. Do you know what his predicted grades are - this will help you decide where to apply? Tell him not to rule out schools completely - a different school may have a completely different feel to the one he is currently at.

[AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves]

Best he knows now that Economics and Psychology involve quite a bit of Maths rather than find it out partway through the A level course! He's got time to re-think things. What about primary school teaching? He could do a B.Ed.