English and maths grades

[Lanbury]

Apologies.... looking for a place to vent
So my son is severely dyslexic (EHCP and
All that) but super clever with machines.... can mend anything. We went to look round a college and the chap we saw said he was talented and offered a place on a higher level engineering course... yay! So then the paperwork.. oh, you haven’t got English and maths? “No” (I can mend your car but can’t write you an essay on how I did it) .... sorry, we retract our offer, good bye.
Wtf???????

Can he not take Functional Skills alongside?

Thanks for your reply. He has everything in the EHCP but they don’t want to know... it’s a case of “computer says no” I am furious!!! It’s not like he can’t achieve with the practical (it’s a practical course ffs) but the entry grade requirement says pass at English and maths gcse so apparently that’s that!! I am actually wondering if they’re discriminating? It effectively ends any chance of post 16 education in an area he wants to pursue

What Liz said. The entry requirement is for Maths and English passes. Functional skills, either at the same time, or in their own for a year, would open up that course opportunity.

Unfortunately if you can't get certain qualifications then yes routes are closed. So he needs to get the equivalent. Don't give up - might take him an extra year, but if you can get his EHCP needs met whilst doing FS it's only one year.

But it may be he cannot qualify in the course unless he meets the minimum requirement. What level is it? Could do a level 2 first with the English and Maths/Functional skills level 2 then progress as and when he gets them? An EHCP will not bypass the requirements unfortunately, and a future employer will expect them.

Could he get an apprenticeship in a garage or similar? There must be some way he can progress to do practical work without essay writing. Have you spoken to a careers advisor? Maybe they can assist him. My son who is outstanding at most sports, swims for our large town, plays cricket at county level, was Aquathlon champion for our county in 2019, ice skates, does archery, trampolines and plays both tennis and table tennis to a good standard. He is good at Science and Maths but severly dyslexic and I worry he won't pass English. He wants to do Sports Science but no matter how good his Sport and Science is I worry he won't get in without English.

Yes, it’s a real barrier. The course won’t just be practical work - there’ll be written assessments, modules on health and safety, and other aspects that require a certain level of literacy and numeracy skills, and colleges know from experience, that students without those skills won’t pass.

Students who don’t pass are a big problem for colleges as funding and Ofsted judgements are directly related to pass rates.

Level 1 courses should be accessible to him, maybe even Level 2 (increasingly not though, I’m afraid), but not Level 3 yet.

My advice is to find a Level 1 (or 2 if they’ll take him) and work his way up. He’ll be expected to do Functional Skills or GCSE Maths & English alongside the main course. Most of his fellow students will be in the same boat.

Thanks so much everyone, we’ve met the barrier in that he has been doing exactly what you’re kindly suggesting. He was accelerated to level 2 doing motor vehicle studies (along with functional skills) and dare I say, he outshines the other students with practical ability (he watches loads and loads of YouTube videos on how to do things) he’s fully restored a vehicle on his own etc as a home project .... He wanted to switch to the Level 3 in Engineering but he’s just never ever going to get the magic English and maths grades - ever. Even though he gets round things by using tech to find the answer he needs. I know there’s no magic solution as the whole school career has been a fight and the system sucks when someone’s future is literally shagged before it starts because of poxy exams fortunately he has got a PT job and I’m actually thinking that he will do better literally learning what he needs off YouTube and working his way up the old fashioned way. His employer really likes him but there’s not much chance of progression long term. It’s just frustrating that everyone is seen as a statistic and the system focuses on what he can’t do rather than what he can. His whole student life has been tiring and demoralising!! Anyway, I won’t rant any more!’ Thank you for listening to my frustration!!

I know a lot of self-employed tradespeople who concentrate on the bit they’re good at and employ someone to do the admin. Perhaps that’s the route for him?

Thanks Hedda yes, tbh it’s the route he wants to take... self employment. It just leaves him in limbo and effectively wasting time if he’s meant to be “in education” until 18 yet they won’t let him access the bits that would actually be of benefit. but you’re right, I think a rethink required. Might just be that he goes to work and builds a client base (he has a bit of a business going now as he’s always being asked to mend neighbours lawn mowers, strimmers. bicycles etc) and maybe I go back to the LA and he goes to college a day a week for the functional skills? I don’t know. Just find the whole thing so demoralising and I’m sad for him when I know he has the talent for the hands on stuff and even the college recognised that, until that is, they saw his paperwork!!

maybe I go back to the LA and he goes to college a day a week for the functional skills?

I think that would be a very positive thing to do. You never know, he just might get one or both by the end of a year.

And the requirement to be in education or training does include part time study, so he could work part time, building up a small business, alongside going to college.

As an aside if he does struggle with written instructions, make sure he is still going to be able to get a driving licence in due course - will the written test be a barrier?

Thanks titchy he’s been studying the FS for a while, any progress is negligible. It’s a weird one as the dyslexia actually stems from him having had a stroke as a baby, so it’s almost like a specific processing part just doesn’t work, yet he’s super clever in other areas he’s never really likely to pass any literacy exams. But yes, he has a reader and a scribe for all the exam questions he does at the moment and the same access arrangements would apply for the driving theory too. He uses voice/speak tech to text and email his friends and to search on the net, but usually watches YouTube to get I do on specific things - I’m actually amazed at how he manages to get round things on a day to day basis and if you met him you would never know, again, so frustrating that the practical ability is let down by having to write about it.