I am a bit lost and confused

[Cinderella1]

My 20yrs old DS is looking to go back to do his A-levels. Background: he has 10 GCSEs mostly A* and As. He did a couple of years of A-levels essentially repeating first year. By then, his mental health really took a turn for the worse (he was struggling even during his GCSES) and he had to give up. Then, after getting better, Covid hit and derailed things further. Now he is finally feeling able to try again but wants to go to a college and is not at all keen on online courses (self motivation from home isn't good). I am trying my best to support him but not sure how to find out any difference between the college's - the ones near us seem not that great. Can anyone please help with some advice on a good college for adult A-levels in/around London. Any tips much appreciated 🙏

Funding maybe an issue. What is his aim? What would his next steps be as an access course maybe better.

Would an Access course be a possibility? He may need to look at FE colleges which accept adults, but he may need an Advanced Learning loan to fund study beyond gcses.

He really needs to ring some colleges and ask for their advice.

Funding isn't an issue - we are ok to help out financially. Will access courses be accepted at most universities?

Some colleges WILL allow 20 year olds to do A levels- depends on the college. He doesn’t have a level 3 qualification, which would have been an issue with funding.

Access courses are widely accepted, but depends on the course or the college. If he’s creative, he may look at the Art Foundation years

@Dotcheck Thank you for the idea but Arts and sports are his weakest subject - English, Maths, History and Sciences - problem is, he doesn't really have an idea what to study but knows for sure what he doesn't...

I would start by contacting his college to see if they would accept him back. Or he may prefer another college for a fresh start.
Access courses are basically made for people like him, different colleges offer different combinations- some over 2 years which is less intense, so may be more suitable in his situation

@Dotcheck Thank you for the help!

Do you know if any have a better reputation than others?

He's only 20 there will be loads of places he can do his A Levels he doesn't need to jump straight to doing an access course

Start by calling admissions at your local colleges that do A levels

Ask if they do intensive 1 year A levels - lots do this, or used to years ago who wanted to retake A levels

www.gov.uk/further-education-courses

I'd start by emailing the admissions at a few universities and see if they'd require A Levels- he may be able to skip that stage

Does he want to go to uni, or does he have a particular career in mind? If so you can work backwards to find a good route.