Stepson failed a Level

[vickibee]

basically he has not been allowed to continue into 2nd year and has failed the first year, clearly he is gutted and I really feel for him. He has 7 GCSEs at grade C but is not very academic minded. We don't see a lot of him but would like to offer our help in what to do next. We have suggested an apprenticeship route but he is so down he cannot see the wood for the trees. He has missed a year cos he had a back operation and is 18. His dad tried to expalin that it is nit the end of the world and he can still make somthing of his lfe, it doesn't help as all his friends are off to Uni. Any ideas what we can do to help him carve out a path instead oj just bumming areound?

What were the A levels in?

Lots fail a level with higher gcse. They are not easy daughter was able to restart doing different ones. What about btec at college.

English, sociology and biology.

Are there any specialist careers advisors for young people that can help him better.?

Try to get him to speak to someone at a local FE college, lots around our way are still registering people for this year. They can give him more advice, and often offer a wide range of opportunties. And if he's still 18, he won't have to pay fees, you only have to pay once you have turned 19. (and they are cheaper until 25 I think).

he lives with his mum about 50 miles from us so we are not much help. He is very passive and does not push himself forward. I don't think he will have to pay fees anyhow as his mother is in receipt of benefits. We thought our maintenance would come to an end finally but it appears not. I wish he would come and live with us, I fear his mum is scared of losing benefitm entitlement if he secures work and is holding him back. Shae has already said she is thinking of getting a one bed flan leaving DSS homeless?

I agree with jessabel. BTecs, which are assessed on coursework, can be brilliant for students who don't perform so well in the exam-based A Level.

Studying BTecs wouldn't be a barrier to University, either, if that's what he wanted to do. If he's worried about being older than everyone else, you can tell him that many students take 1 or 2 'gap years' or change their mind about courses - my ds and a friend's dd, to mention but two!

This might be useful -
university.which.co.uk/advice/can-you-get-into-university-if-youre-studying-btecs

thanks - he said he wanted to study journalism at uni so perhaps there is a BTEC in media or similar? His confidence is shot and I so feel for him

A college fairly near us offers Creative Media Production (Journalism), BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma. A BTec Level three is studied over 2 years and is the equivalent of 3 A Levels, so accepted by many universities. I believe you need 5 GCSEs to get on to a BTec course.

I hope your dss finds a suitable course near him. Many students in our area travel a fair distance to get to the good colleges! Would he be planning to go next September, as most colleges will have started back now. Don't know if you could still approach them about late entry for this year?