Options 16+ for bright girl who will fail most/all GCSE's.

[minifingers]

Wondering what happens to students like dd now that dropping out of education isn't an option. She is likely to leave without maths or English. Her school won't let her stay on into sixth form and I can't imagine any other school will want to offer her a place given her school record (not just not working, but disruption, poor punctuality etc).

How do we go about trying to find an appropriate college place or an apprenticeship? Is there any particular organisation we could approach who would be able to help us explore the options?

I know that there are masses of foundation level BTEC's. I taught in FE years ago on a range of vocational courses. DD is bright and easily bored and I can't imagine her lasting 10 minutes on the type of entry level courses I used to teach on.

I am looking at apprenticeships for her, but then the thought keeps cropping up - why would anyone want to offer an apprenticeship to a student who's proved themselves unable to follow rules or consistently get into school on time?

I write as a careers adviser You should get some careers advice for her, (I would say that, wouldn't I?) either through school or the local authority, as you need awareness of what's available locally. A good adviser will help determine her strengths and interest areas and match them with local opportunities. Not all advisers are good mind you.

If she doesn't get maths and English A-C, most apprenticeships would be out of reach but not all, as you note. To bridge the gap if she wants to do something other than childcare/ social care, she could do a traineeship, which is extended work experience with extra maths and English, or a pre-apprenticeship, which is usually about 3 months long and can lead straight to employment in some cases. This is where local knowledge comes in handy. Colleges sometimes offer them in construction, accounting and other fields.

Start applying for apprenticeships through apprenticeships.org.uk from spring 2015 and scour the websites of local large employers who may offer apprenticeships.

Consider random options at college that she hasn't followed in school such as hospitality, gardening, construction, that would offer a different perspective and practical skills. It's good to have a college course offer for peace of mind as finding an apprenticeship in a short time frame isn't guaranteed.

Well, off her own back she's applied for an advanced BTEC in health and social care at an FE college and has an interview next week.

She seems to think that her 'target grades' - all A/A*, will be assumed by the college to be her 'predicted grades'. I can't get her to listen when I tell her that it doesn't work like that.

She only needs 4 'C's for this course, and maybe she'll get these just by turning up to the exams (she's very bright) despite the lack of work.... One can hope.

I hope so minifingers. You have to ask her if she'd be willing to do the less advanced course (level 2) if she doesn't get 4 Cs. The college would probably offer that, but she should apply for another course at level 2 so she has a back up. Does she have any career ideas?

Great that she has taken some initiative, hopefully it will give a purpose to her year 11. Please don't impart your view to her that turning up to an exam will be enough. Has she done any continuous assessments or coursework elements, there may be several papers per exam and if she hasn't studied the syllabus she won't be able to simply blag through.

Good Luck. :)

Boarding school somewhere that would let her do 7 good GCSEs within one year?

My DS started a level 3 course this September. He had to get 5 A-Cs including maths and english. Failed english but was still accepted on course at one college but not another. A few friends have had similar experiences so am wondering whether there were a lot this year who failed one or the other.

Not to say that this will be the case next year and I am sure you won't be telling your DD anyway but when the time comes I wouldn't panic until the college says no.

And Favouritepants - shame my DD didn't have you as a career adviser. All hers managed was since you have your minimum wage part time job you might as well stop there. I know that she could try and make a career out of it if she is lucky (and works hard) but that is not how it was phrased - more of a 'you have a job so not just stop there'

OP - hope all goes well. Good luck!

Greengrow - dd wouldn't agree to boarding school. Even if we had a spare 20k to pay for it.

Meant to say, thanks to everyone who posted with helpful ideas. Dd keeps me at an arms length so it's hard to advise her - she won't follow advice either if it's given directly, so I have to drop these things in conversationally. Gosh it's so hard.

Ask her what she wants to do. Don't let the education system dictate what she does. Once she hits 18 she can do an access courses or anything she wants - it's not easy for all students but there will be far more important hurdles to get through in life- so keep it in perspective.

Read so many stories in the British papers about young students committing suicide due to pressures from school/home- the state is responsible for those deaths- we should look at ways of alleviating such pressures not mounting them idealistic education standards.