Are grade 4s in English and Maths enough for college courses?

[Geeancoat]

They are thinking of something a bit more practical rather than standard A levels.

Is a 4 sufficient for English and Maths? And how many others?

Most colleges offer a whole variety of courses at a whole variety of levels, from courses such as skills for life for students who didn’t grade at gcse to vocational courses such as catering (usually offered at three different levels depending n how many GCSEs) up to BTECs and a levels.

Yes there are lots of courses you can do at college with 4s in maths and English. Only way to know what's available near you is look at the college websites and the entrance requirements.

Thank you. We are looking at the min to keep doors open.

It depends on the course, I know that one near me requires a 5 for something like Creative Media. But if it's not anything STEM-y then getting the 4s in English and Maths so that you don't need to resit them opens a lot of doors. I'd aim for 5 GCSEs grade 4+ inc English and Maths if possible.

Yes, but it depends on the course.
You can also do a level 2 course for a year with 3s at GCSE in Maths & Eng Lang and then go on to 2 more years at Level 3. However retaking in college is a pain and resits don't have great success rates so definitely better to pass first time.

You need to look at individual course entry requirements which will be on college web pages.

(There are a couple of threads on the Further Education board regarding BTECs, one an ongoing thread, and one an 'in praise of BTECs' thread.)

So even if they don’t pass other GCSES as long as they pass English and Maths is enough for college?

Depends what they want to do. Some courses at my local college require four passes in addition to English and maths, other courses require fewer.

It depends.

You won't get on a level 3 course with just 2 gcses passes even if they are in maths and Eng Lang.

But anyone can go to college as there are level 2 and level 1 courses, and below them Entry level.

The more and better the GCSE grades the more options there are post 16.

A bunch of 9s you can do anything.
A bunch of 6s some things are ruled out.
And so on.

You need to look at specific college and course entry requirements.

The more GCSEs they have, the more doors open.

Yes, 4s in English and Maths is a great start.
5 GCSEs passes is also a marker for opening up possibilities.

But even without English and/or maths there are possibilities - that will include a resit.

Thank you. We are looking at the Fashion Retail Academy, London Screen Acting and London School of performing arts.

So 5 GCSEs with a 4 including English and Maths is what we should be looking to achieve?

You need to look on the college websites at specific courses and they should have entry requirements clear.

I could imagine those places may also like to see a portfolio or have auditions too.

The Fashion Retail Academy, at least, has a really clear section on the entry requirements for the various levels of courses available, starting from grade 3 GCSEs for Level 2.

Every course within those places will vary too, they will have entry level and advanced. If they can get 5 GCSE’s at 4 and above including maths and English they’ll have more options. Surely aim for the best they can manage, that’s different for each young person but 5 is manageable for most

Thank you.

Does English count for 2 ?Maths 1? Science: 2 ?

Not sure how to support DD when I don’t even understand the system

English Language and English Literature are two separate GCSEs. Science is a dual award and therefore 2.

Great. Thank you

Depends on the course and college

My DD went to college wirh grade 2 for maths and English Lit and Language.

She had to start her BTec at level 2 while she retook English and maths (if she’d got 4s, she could have started at level 3). She then went onto level 3 once she’d passed them - but only did English language as a re-take, literature wasn’t offered.

Does she need to pass both English GCSE?

Thank you. I will speak with DD; she either needs to put the effort now in English and maths or may have yo resit them. I not sure she is aware of this

College ask for English Language

@Geeancoat What year is your DC currently?