Son, GCSEs, nervous breakdown incoming

[DungareesTrombonesDinos]

My 16 year old has struggled throughout his education journey so far and this resulted in him getting a grade 2 English Language GCSE and a U in Maths on Thursday. We are still really proud of him as at one point we thought he wouldn't actually sit any GCSEs. Hes been at a PRU and they were amazing for building relationships with him but not so good at the education side. Hes come away with an encyclopedia of AQA units like making fish fingers sandwiches (no im not lying) but Colleges wont accept 200 certificates.

He has an EHCP (dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, Irlen and I suspect dysalculia) and we originally put down for a multi skills trade course so he could have a taster as he he 0 idea of what he wants to do. College put him in for a level 2 bricklaying course and he hasn't got the grades - he needs 2 grade 2s.

College have essentially said its tough luck and he can do art (no interest), sport (no interest) or some random sounding course with no qualifications. They've said they wont just let uim retake GCSEs, hes got to be on a course. Ive put him down for the waitlist for multi skills - might be December or never.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and come through it with a plan??? I honestly thought we were done trying to work out a plan for him and I am so stressed Im not sleeping. He appears to not give a shiny fuck but I know his self esteem will be even more ruined when his mates start College in September and he doesnt....

Sorry for the essay and thank you for any words of wisdom.

If he has an EHCP, you need to get on to his caseworker at the LA - they have a legal responsibility to provide suitable education or training for him. You will doubtless need to make a nuisance of yourself to get any contact from them.

Who at the college have you spoken to? It might be worth going higher up. Definitely see if the LA can help too. However, while placements are named within section I of the EHCP and the college must admit, that isn’t the same as saying they must admit to specific courses. Specific courses within colleges aren’t named in section I of EHCP. Although if section F is good, in practice, sometimes it may have to be a specific course or a specific type of course.

It also sounds like DS’s EHCP could do with improving, particularly around PfA provision.

I would keep the trades route alive. From what you’ve said, it sounds like he needs to feel good at something again rather than being told what he can’t do. Have you come across any alternative providers doing practical courses locally?

I think he is moving from one education setting to another and the reason for not allowing the resits was they have to be done alongside a course, but they dont appear to offer a course he is interested in at a level he can access, as level 2 entry criteria were too high.

Hopefully a level 1 multiskilks will become available and the boy can do his level 1 and then level 2 functional skills alongside it.

can he do an apprenticeship?

Yes. And the mum is very stressed about what to do and how to come up with an alternative plan and seeking help with that process..

People are suggesting useful things like alternaties such as supported apprentiships, or whether other colleges have a foundation level or that there's a lot of movement so the muti-skills might come up quicker than thought and how functional skills might be better than gcse. To help.

I agree with previous posters: If he has only done Entry level 3 English and mathematics he should be on a Level 1 course. He will meet the entry requirements for that. Do FS Level 1 alongside that and then next year Level 2.

Or, as someone else suggested, go straight into retail. If he is personable, willing to work / do as he is told and intelligent (in practice) that could be a good path. Some do not require GCSEs, e.g. https://www.tesco.com/careers/en-GB/early-careers/apprenticeships/stronger-starts?srsltid=AfmBOopcFLzyAS7vYW9JmzaQDKlU7kewTW8oHQZZ7OXMbP7gbtQvkMt5 .

Sorry for not reading the full thread, but there are level 1 courses in Horticulture, catering, bricklaying and carpentry to name but a few. He may need to go for a level 1 for a year then a year at level 2 then two years for level 3. As he has an EHCP then he is covered until he is 25. Good luck. He is burying his head in the sand because he feels awful hence the bravado but there will be something out there for him. There is level 1 animal care too.

You say he's bright, so what is he good at?
He may be very clever for abstract thinking, and not for the practical things people are trying to get him to do.
What does he enjoy? What do people around him work with? What are the careers and jobs in the family?

I'm wondering if he might have some hope if he goes completely the other way: programming, pure maths, music theory, economic theory, things like that.
He may be great at something like that, but no one around him knows about these fields, so they can't see it.
Trying to get an ADHD person with discalculia, dislexy and etc to do an apprenticeship in trades may be a recipe for disaster.

But under 18s can’t go into the workplace full time any more, in England at least. Government decree. Education until 18 now, and if it doesn’t suit you, tough. A disaster for many, like my son.

I feel for you, OP

Btw, passing level 1 functional skills and a level 1 course wasn’t enough to enable my DS to progress to a level 2 course, so beware. He arrived at secondary school and was measured as having an adult level reading age, and now he’s about to do a second level 1 course and is thoroughly demoralised. And his college have stopped offering functional skills (endless gcse resit fails for all!) so I’ll be paying privately for level 2 this year. Fun fun. He just wants a job!

Yes they can, they can work 40 hours a week but no more than that and can't work between 10pm and 6am. But all jobs want experience anyway!

But under 18s can’t go into the workplace full time any more, in England at least. Government decree. Education until 18 now

In theory, they can, but also need to be receiving ‘part-time education OR training’.

In reality, as long as an employer claims that they are training the young person with ‘meaningful employment skills’, it’s covered.

There was a bit of a controversy a few years ago, when a load of ‘teen influencers’ were quitting education entirely after Y11. They were able to do so because they had their agent/PR write a letter to the influencers’ LA explaining how their client had a big enough following to likely make a decent career out of it and how they would exploit guide them into progressing their career. Obviously, with the new SM ban on teens, teen influencers are (thankfully) de facto banned, but I also know of a case where a restaurant did similarly to a young lad who was employed as a pot wash, and the LA accepted it with no further explanation needed (whether they should count that as ‘meaningful’ training is another matter entirely).

If you have ADHD and are getting Us, what is the point in talking about anything to do with another academic course of any kind.

ADHD doesn't mean you can't get a good exam result in itself. There are kids with ADHD who do get As.

The underlying problem is the inability to do academic subjects.

It's pointless saying anything different and apparently saying this is not understanding ADHD. (Which is ignorant in itself).

He has an EHCP, so you should be being supported by his EHCCO. They will have a lot more knowledge of smaller and more bespoke provisions to send him to rather than just the local college. These should support his interests and help him to gain Maths and English. They could also fund private tuition for the Maths and English if this is felt to be an optin that suits him better.

Of course there is a point of continuing education at the right level for the individual young person. ADHD doesn’t change that. Neither does not getting GCSE grade 4s.

Just because some with ADHD are capable of As (presumably talking about A levels since GCSEs in England are graded in numbers), doesn’t mean all with ADHD are, and yes, that can be because of the YP’s ADHD, but even if someone isn’t capable of As, it doesn’t mean another course is pointless.

Contact the senat team at your local authority, he should be able to access the course you want through the EHCP process even if they are 'full' to other candidates. If they are still saying no, then look at what your local offer says, there may be a different type of college available (we have one specifically set up for those with EHCP. I know it can vary according to postcode. Sendias may also be able to help you identify where he can go.

This

And the College know this. Hence him not be able to do retakes. It would be a waste of his time. I know it is difficult to accept that but the college is doing your son a favour. They have extensive experience and this policy (applicable to ALL students) will be based on that experience

Thanks, this is helpful info. But as you say, everyone wants experience so my DS is screwed and heading towards being yet another NEET, because he simply can’t get through his maths and English 😞

Anyway, not my thread, sorry op, and good luck x

If he has dyscalculia, and hasn't been able to pass gcse maths, how would he manage to take pure maths?
I thought to take programming and economics also required a good maths grade.

Some people with adhd prefer a job that is more practical than a desk job. They are moving more often.

Don't forget adhd, dyslexia and I assume dyscalculia can impact people in different ways. They are not linked to intelligence levels, so people with the conditions will all have different intelligence levels, in the same way that those without the conditions will.

Sounds tk me that OP's son maybe didn't get the right support/teaching for his needs. Multi trades nay be exactly the right thing for him because he can learn some practical skills, instead of having to demonstrate his ability in a written exam. Skills he would learn could lead him into a career that suits him.