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

I questioned this at my sons college. After doing a level 2 plumbing course, if my son was to do another level 2 at college it has to be in a different subject,not construction.

My ds will take a year out I think. He passed the practical exam but failed the theory by a point and says he probably hasn't passed the maths yesterday.

This is very detailed info and it will apply to other colleges too https://stcg.ac.uk/students/fees-and-finance/students-aged-19-and-over

As long as it’s not the same course and he is 18 or under at the start of the course then it is free. That link from pp says the same.

So could he do something like multi trade or decorating? If he can't go on to do another course im not quite sure what he'll so. He feels he's wasted 2 years. All his mates passed math and english so can do apprentiships. He started his driving lessons now to help him get jobs etc. His goal was to finish level 2 and go back to do multi trade so he can add more qualifications to his belt. I thought they could do as many courses as they wanted until they 19.

It’s limited by funding. Someone couldn’t keep repeating the same course and college get funded.

Except for GCSE English and maths.

pick a different trade. Plastering or carpentry or brickwork could be options. Or complain to the college due to the lack of tutors. See if they can make an exception. But have an alternative in mind in case. Approach the local careers service too. They should be able to guide you to options.

Not read all have to admit. Work in f/s in Apprenticeships. At our college if you have a GCSE grade 2 in English and Maths that is enough to get on a level 2 Apprenticeship.
BUT learners have to continue to work towards getting F/S maths and English and attempt the F/S exams before they can go on to complete the apprenticeship.
A level 3 apprenticeship the learner needs to achieve level 2 F/S if they start at 18 or 19. After that the new rules say they don't need them.
F/S like someone said can be sat numerous times and throughout the year. There are also special rules that can be applied for ALS learners. The ALS dept at college should be giving support.
Unfortunately the F/S maths is still difficult to pass for many as the learners often struggle with understanding the questions.
You should not have to pay for the exams. Even if he doesn't attend college full-time in future he could do an adult course.
I am unsure how competitive the plumbing apprenticeship is but even if he is lacking some of the practical stuff others would be applying with nothing relevant.
Ask the Careers and guidance dept to help with CV interview practice, the apprenticeship team should have ppl who can advise too. Your son deserves a chance, but the college is lacking IMO.
An email to someone very high up might help?

Sometimes what you think are two different courses are actually the same but different options. So DD's Level 1 in Animal Care was actually 'land based studies' or something that also in heory included horticulture and floristry. So she couldn't have switched to them for another year at level 1.

I've spent the best part of an hour trying to ring through to find someone to talk to. Finally found someone. My ds has enrolled onto multitrade but they've put him on level 1. Not sure why I didnt know until he told me he signed the form and it said level1. They said if he passes maths or English not both he can get an apprentiship but there is non around even his friends who've passed maths and english are struggling to find one. My ds had said he's been messed around so much that plumbing is mo longer for him. He's worried the next course will be the same but I've told him give it a go and see where we go. I've spoken to ds about functional maths and english but he just has no interest anymore. If this doesn't work out he's hoping to find a job somewhere. I feel so sorry for him. He's started driving lessons in the hope of traveling for work if needs be.

That doesn't sound good. Why can't he do a level 2? (Guessing there isn't one and it goes to individual trades?)
Sounds very disorganised.