Sixth Form College Offer Withdrawn.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.

Assuming exams in 2016, then none of the three subjects listed in OP have been withdrawn by central government.

If he is set on studying them, he might need to find a different college (as it sounds as if this one has made a local decision no longer to offer these subjects). Are there any others he can reach?

I would think this is more related to demand and funding . ie there weren't many planning to take those courses and the college has decided to apply for funding and allocate resources elsewhere. Definitely worth ringing around now, even if wait listed, as results will change things around and perhaps be prepared to be flexible over Sociology in favour of another more traditional subject like Geography or History.

I think your son has been seriously let down in the careers advice he has been given.

If he dislikes Maths then Economics is not the subject for him. You don't need Economics A-level to get on to Economics courses, but you do need Maths.

Likewise, if he is serious about Psychology, then Maths and Science A-levels are the way forward. Pschology A-level is not required for entry into Psychology courses.

My niece has just graduated with a psychology degree from RG uni and she did English, psychology and law A levels.

For a student interested in Economics and Psychology, I think most schools would recommend the following A-level subjects:

Necessary:
Maths
One other facilitating subject, e.g. History, English, Biology, Further Maths

Optional but possibly useful:
Psychology
Economics
Sociology

I don't know much about the FE sector but am vaguely aware that it's even harder pressed than universities and schools when it comes to funding. It may be that A level class numbers were too low to be viable next year.

OP, I think your son either needs to find another FE college or bite the bullet and switch schools. He should visit a few if possible as it really is very different in the sixth form. Good luck!

Thank you narries that is encouraging.

This is what the letter says:

"I am writing to withdraw the conditional offer of a place at Bromley College to study our A level programme.

Government changes to A levels being introduced from Sept 2015 are turning A levels into a two year linear qualification with an exam at the end of the two years. 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.

We have expanded the number of educational opportunities in vocational programmes at the college at level 3 where we have a higher percentage of learners progressing to higher education and where we excel in the delivery of these courses. These new courses are in areas that include the new Peter Jones Academy for Business and Enterprise, the Hospitality Food and Enterprise Careers College and in media and film studies."

Senua yes! he decided that he wanted to be the teacher that pupils looked forward to seeing in class. He had one teacher that he loved listening to and learning from and he wants to do that with his subjects. I think it's commendable actually that one teacher can make my son want to teach!

By the way. I didn't say that the subjects were being cut, only that the college had stopped doing them for A level.

ah, so their drop out rate is high after AS and therefore they can't claim the full funding for the A level students. tbh it sounds like they have lost interest in teaching A levels as their retention rate on vocational and shorter courses is higher. The drop out rate is not a positive indictment of the teaching standards or support offered to students at the college imho , probably best avoided. Easier to blame the government than look at itself.

It is true that as of teaching 2015 (beginning in September) the specification does change for ALL sciences and maths, including psychology).

However, there is still an AS which can be taken at the end of year 1 if the college so wishes to do so. I am intending running AS for those who are not planning on progressing to A2 myself. However, Psychology usually has a high uptake at A2 where I work. In fact hardly any drop it.

That said, in 2014 intake ( September just coming) the old rules apply.

June sits of AS and June 2015 sits for A2. This is the last teach of the old specification ( for all subjects - and for some this modular approach will continue beyond 2015).

Its clearly that this college do not want to do it. AlsoI would be wary of any collegewho has such a high drop out at AS (not taking A2).

For someone who wants to do A level and go to university , you need a good college with high uptakes at A2 in whatever subjects you want to take and generally. They have said it themselves - they "excel" in the delivery of B techs. So not an academic place at all.

I can tell you this , of all the subjects I have seen my students present with at university to take psychology (and many of my students do go on to university to do Psychology and become Psychologists even) very few take media studies or film (we do them) although I have had a couple present with media and get into a psychology degree at an RG, and none have been hospitality students ( we dont do hospitality as such but Home Ec and Leisure and Tourism).

Like others have said he should ideally pick more traditional subjects such as English, Maths, History, Geography or one of the Sciences. Two from this list and one of the ones he wants to do would be better.

He has not included English as A level.will he need A level English for pgde?
in scotland you need English higher, and standard grade maths for pgde
Does his gcse inc maths?he'll need maths too

Thanks everyone for your input, especially narries for your professional viewpoint.

Ds is very disappointed and had no idea he'd need maths for either of these subjects (obviously given rubbish careers advice). He just won't entertain going into a maths class again. Sadly, it seems that he will have to abandon his path to teach.

I don't know what he'll do, but I know that time is running out for a place in sixth form from September to do anything at all.

Can he retake maths?if he gets right subjects teaching is an option
Is there a career adviser he can see,his enthusiasm needs guidance to chose correct subjects
It's a set back.but not insurmountable if he gets advice and applies himself.good luck

Scottishmummy he is hoping for a B in maths which would have got him a college place, plus the other requirements of course. But he won't take maths at A level which is what I think everyone is saying he'll need.

There's a huge amount of career advice,course advice online.he can start there
If he researches courses,colleges he's interested in,it'll be informative.
He's old enough to not be wholly reliant on school for career advice,given it's all online

Is Bexley College still around? I took my A levels there.
Even if he spent a year studying something else before switching to suitable A levels it doesn't have to be the end of his dream. Now Economics is pretty much out of the equation as he doesn't like Maths what else does he like?

Thank you!! :) I will keep up my encouragement!

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.

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.

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.

Be back later on. Thanks again!

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.