Ds in college doing plumbing but college letting him down

[Miracle29]

Hi all. I'm a desperate mum in need of some advice. I'm so stressed about this and so is my ds. He was the youngest at school in his year group. Failed gcse due to school telling me they new he had some sort of learning difficulty but didn't know what and quite Frankley never even tried to find out despite me constantly phoning and being passed around to numerous teachers.

Moving on he chose plumbing as a career and started college. He was then diagnosed with high functioning dyslexia and working memory decifit whilst at college. He gets 25% extra time in tests. He sailed through level 1 without nay problems and really enjoyed it. Then 2 lecturers left and the college couldn't find any new plumbing lecturers for months so the kids couldnt do much practical and were messed about alot. Tasks and assements were put on the back burner and then had to take on different agency plumbers. These new lecturers have had to work their butt's off to get these kids on target again but unfortunately it's not worked. The lecturers are now rushing and struggling to get these kids passed for July. There's been barley any practical sessions. My son struggles with exams and isn't getting the help needed because the tutors haven't got the time.

I feel so sorry for my son it's a career he's chosen and he feels like he's failing yet again. Some of his college friends have apprentiships which he can't get because he didn't pass maths or English. He is resiting again but had failed them twice now. If he doesn't pass this time I don't know what to do. He realistically want an apprentiship. He just needs that chance. Explaining to a plumber that he's level 2 but barley has experience because of the college is hard and these plumbers won't take him on. He is thinking of doing another course if this fails but he has no idea what as plumbing was what he wanted to do.

I did try to ring the college today to request a call back from a tutor to see what's going on but no reply. He's spoke to the lecturers but they promise to do this that and the other but don't and my son is now to the point he's had enough. I'm so worried about what happens after this year is over. Any advice appreciated. Thankyou x

Could he try for the functional skills english and maths instead of the GCSE? If he sits FS Level 2, that is equivalent to the GCSE and will allow him to move on to get an apprenticeship. WEA offer the courses free online, they are more practical based so he might find they suit him better and he passes them easier than he would the GCSE. Functional Skills Qualification in English (Level 2) | WEA

Agree that’s it’s worth asking out functional skills instead of another GCSE retake.

Could he retake the level 2? Have the college said anything about progressing to to level 3?

Hi. I'm pretty sure that level 2 plumbing is just the entry level into a plumbing course or apprenticeship and if your son has the difficulties you describe, it might be really difficult for him to become a plumber.

I sympathise because my younger daughter has a lot of learning difficulties and struggled to do a childcare qualification.

Anyway, I see that he first did a level 1 course, which is really just a taster. Often yp who do a level 1 just get to do another level 1 in a different subject - it is good that he got to do the level 2, but did either of you understand if they thought he could then progress onto a level 3? Or how he was getting on?

Unfortunately lots of yp can't pass levelv2 and leave college with no qualifications. He may be able to use the skills he has obtained in a general building job, or try something else.

Sorry, it sounds like he has been let down.

Thanks for the quick replies. Ds has asked about functional but they said they only do the gcse. Trying to speak to someone myself is a nightmare. When he was diagnosed in level 1 he really took to the tutor who was there he really helped ds and spent time with him. As ds is more visual in learning it really helped but when he left it just went downhill. Last time I did manage to speak to the college they said there's no level 3 just a t level plumbing so I'm unsure what that is. If he could get a plumber to set him on and continue training it would be amazing but explaining his dyslexia and the fact the college have taught these kids bare minimal they turn the other way which I understand. Ds feels he's waisted the 2 years but hasn't given up and I'm so proud of him but I feel so sorry for him at the same time. He's down about. Feels he's failing its awful to watch.

They sound useless. I'd look at getting him enrolled onto online functional skills courses, so hopefully he can get them done before/during summer. A T level is an alternative to A Levels and apprenticeships, so I'd have a look and see if you've got apprenticeships about that he could try once he's got the functional skills before applying for the T level if he learns on the job anyway.

When i last spoke to the tutor who may I add knew absolutely nothing. He said for a t level he'd need both maths and english but for an apprentiship he only needs one gcse but he can't do apprentiship without being enrolled on the course so t level or if he could resit. I might actually ring again on Monday and ask again if he can do functional maths and english but last time it was a no. I don't understand why he can't do that when they know he's struggling. The best thing for him would be apprentiship so I'd have thought they'd help him get there but it seems they pick the best kids and fo us on them.

Whereabouts are you based, OP? Some companies run their own private apprenticeships so whilst he would need functional skills, he wouldn't need to be in college

Where are you based? My partners a commercial plumber and the company he works for they take on apprenticeships and i am sure he told me some don’t have GCSEs
my child is severely dyslexic and likely won’t pass gcses so I sympathise with how hard it is.

This is so annoying and heartbreaking for your DS

Are there any other better colleges nearby or not too far for him to travel to? Maybe near relatives he could stay with perhaps midweek.

i have a really good maths tutor my DD used for her GCSEs who can help him. You’ll have to message me. We also have really good vocational colleges near us but if it’s across the country from you he’d have to pay for accommodation to go, but he won’t be mucked around. They do want 2 GCSEs though for plumbing level 2. I checked.

I also came on to say about functional skills. FE colleges get more funding for students taking GCSE English Language than for those taking functional skills. You need to ask the college if they do not teach and enter students for functional skills, at all, or are they just saying your son can’t study at this level?

As a pp said, you can access these courses on line. You can also sit them several times during the academic year, unlike the GCSE which is only sat in May/June with a November resit.

Reading your posts again, could he move to another college in September, where he could repeat his Level 2 year alongside studying for his functional skills Maths/English?

His current college sounds unprofessional & badly organised. It’s awful that you can’t speak to anybody to sort things out.

Was your son assigned a mentor, a tutor mentor, or anybody with that type of job description? Maybe go down the welfare & safeguarding route in the college. Colleges are plastered with posters & information about mental health & accessing services. You’d be more than justified in saying that your son’s welfare is currently being compromised by the poor performance of the college.

What about a sidestep to say plastering? It’s a skill he could use alongside plumbing. Or brickwork?
Id be pushing college to provide options as they’ve let him down badly.
Is another college an option?

Could an apprenticeship in construction work for him?

Approach the careers service for options too.

Thankyou so much for all your replies. He's progressed better in his English this time and has passed mock exams and the tutor is confident he'll pass this time but it seems to be the exam nerves kick in and he goes numb. Ds has said if he could resit level 2 he will in the hope of apprentiship if he passes English but if he can't resit level 2 he may go into something else. These are the questions I want to ask the college but last time I asked they'd no clue and now I can't get through to them. I was meant to have a parents evening phone call over a month ago and nothing.

There isn't many colleges really with what he wants to do. He said he wants something he could enjoy not just attend something and not enjoy it. He can thought about multi trade or pai ting and decorating. I really feel like the minute they know he has dyslexia and needs more visual and practical learning they just push him back and focus on those who know more. He's not 28 until end of August and all of his friends are 18 some 9.

I am based in Staffordshire. He doesn't yet drive as he thought it may be alot to take on aswell as college exams etc but will be starting soon. He normally gets the bus.

If they put him on a level 1 course to begin with, that suggests that they didn't think he would have the skills to complete a plumbing course. A level 1 is largely for people without gcses. They say you can progress from a level 1 but most yp don't. So I really think you need a good chat with the college to check out your son's potential.

With colleges, you only get funding for 3 years, unless you have an ehc plan, when it can go up to 25. If your son has significant sen, he could apply for an ehc. It's not easy to get one of course but it would enable him to stay in education and other options might be available.

My nephew did a programme for young people after his college funding ran out. It was via a local rugby club. The King's Trust do similar. There are other options if college doesn't work out.

This one is in Cannock if that's not too far, GCSEs aren't essential as they'll help him complete functional skills. Plumbing & Domestic Heating Technician (Gas Route) Apprenticeship – Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK.

Another option would be the army- who have both Plumbing apprenticeships and plastering + painting ones.
Serve as a Plumber in the Royal Logistics Corps | Army Jobs
Plasterer and Painter - Royal Engineers | Army Jobs
They accept functional skills level 2 as an alternative to GCSEs, and provide both the training and the qualification at the end, so even if he decided to leave the army he'd have a civilian qualification. The Plasterer and Painting one has lower grade requirements at GCSE, but both are practical, learning on the job roles. If this is something he'd like to do it's worth him getting in touch as I know they often support people in getting the gcse/ functional skills qualification.

I'm another one in favour of functional skills.

DD did FS Level 2 English after giving up on the GCSE. It was much more straightforward and useful.

This year we are planning to roll straight on from her resitting GCSE maths to FS Maths at the end of July in a last ditch attempt to get a maths qualification.

Once he has done 3 years in college the FS skills courses are free, but if you have funds you can do earlier. (As in you have to be 19 on Sept 1st of the academic year to get it free. Don't ask me why.)

Can't really help on the plumbing apart from the fact the college should pull out all the stops to get everyone to pass. It will look very bad on them if a bunch fail.

I'm having the same problem,son is about to complete level 2 in plumbing and retaking maths gcse this Thursday. Son has struggled through the course,not realising how much theiry there is and finding it hard. Sometimes the tutor doesn't come in and someone else has to cover. Ds says he is unlikely to get the maths and we have looked apprenticeships but like you say they want maths and English pass at a 4. There are only two apprenticeships in a ten mile radius of us which includes four towns so we are now trying to think what he can do.
College say he can do another level 2 at college but not in construction as he gas already had funding for this. All that's left catering ,gym and farm courses, none which excite my son.
So he has decided to take a year out when his course finishes in June and work in his pub kitchen job and may be go back to college in a year. We tried driving lessons before Christmas but with his job and college,he nearly had a breakdown so he has taken a CBT course and we are getting him a scooter so he can travel the five miles via country roads to work( only pass a couple of cars enroute so hopefully safe) to give him independence.

Its such a worry and your son sounds like he really wants to be a plumber. I think at the age of 19 ,apprenticeships no longer ask for gcse mths and English so that will really help so many.
I live in a village where my ds has friends who have dropped out of college and a couple do nothing. I think as long as they do something and have so sort of plan,that's good. All the best OP.

How will he get funding for a college course if he takes a year out? He might be better looking at things like The King's Trust

I am a TA in a College. Obviously I don't know your son's college, but I don't think this will be anything really to do with picking "the best kids". MOST people who are able to pass level 2, will be able to pass GCSE and it is a lot more widely recognised. Therefore MOST people will either stop at a lower level, or will want GCSE. Unfortunately we can only run courses we get funded for and we only get funded for courses where we will reliably get a minimum number of students who want it. We simply wouldn't meet this number for level 2 FS courses because MOST people who get that far will opt for GCSE. Your son can't do it because the college can't run it. Does your son's college have careers advisers or is there a local careers service in your town/city? The careers advisers will be better placed than the tutors probably to know of other ways your son could get into what he wants to do, or other colleges that might do different qualifications.

Just wanted to add can you find another college & ring them for advice. Not all are the same. Would be worth a longer bus ride or train if you found a good one

To be fair to colleges they have had significant real terms funding cuts. I can see it being hard to recruit plumbing tutors when they can easily earn more doing their trade.

If there is an EHCP in place, you can take a year out and return. That is exactly what my DD did.

Anyone who has got a 3 at GCSE is meant to resit the GCSE not do functional skills. It is part of the funding rules.

So then it tends to follow that for teaching and timetable purposes colleges don't seem to bother with FS L2 as it would be yet another different type of class.

I sort of feel it is backwards. Let the kids do FS L2 (which can be sat whenever), and then progress them to GCSE if still time. At least then they can leave college with a L2 qualification, rather than leave college with just the 3 in GCSE.

Which is why, as I said upthread, this year we are hoping to roll straight from GCSE maths resit to FS L2, to give a double last ditch hope of getting one or the other.

Yes but I don't think there's an ehc. I did suggest applying for one if not. My daughter stayed at college til she was 25 with an ehc.

Hi have spoken to my ds and the college and im still getting conflicting responses. The lady from the college said if he fails maths and english and he can go on to do another course and by the time he's 19 the maths and engkish won't be needed so he could go on to do apprentiship without the maths and english. So we thought we were further forward and my ds said he would go back in spetember and do multi trade so we had a plan at least but then I read somewhere that actually if you've done a level 2 course at college already they won't fund another course and you have to pay. Im so confused. He's 18 in August and I always thought college was funded for under 19s.