Help - Is it possible to restart A Levels/Sixth form?

[HastyPasty]

Hi, hoping someone can help as I am struggling to find an answer... My son started A Levels at 6th form college in Sept, one is Maths and it is not going well. Aside from the distance learning the college has been using from the start not working well (locked out of lessons, left off lessons etc) he finds finding his tutor unapproachable and is really overwhelmed. I did hire a private tutor but that hasn't really helped and I can't afford it indefinitely.

Anyway we explained all of this to the college before Christmas but they will not let him switch A Levels despite him having a good knowledge of the subject he wants to switch to. He is becoming more miserable and lost by the week. So to cut a long story short, am wondering if he could just restart 6th form in 2021, either where he is or somewhere else, and if that would affect funding? I am not working due to having to home school and was zero hours so have no income and DH does not get paid a lot.

Any advice or pointers would be much appreciated and thanks for reading!

Yes you can repeat Y12 by restarting different subjects in September. My understanding is that dcs qualify for 3 years funding for post-16 education up until the point where they have "completed" their courses.
In practice though, some sixth forms may not accept students that are repeating Y12.
I would try approaching the current college first to see what they say.

You need to speak to thr college As often they only receive funding if it’s under very special circumstances.

you can do it ... don't know how but I know a couple of others who have done it ...

Key is that all kids can be funded for THREE years post 16 so that is available to him.... ie one more year than most people get

Keep trying - and Good luck!

He needs to speak to college, it is a funding issue, they get 3 years but I believe they cannot just resit year 12 with the exact same subjects at the same college. He may have to look at starting at a different sixth form.

It may be that he chooses completely new subjects and is able to start again at the same sixth form, some are more lenient than others. Only by contacting them will you know how to move forward.

I restarted year 12 at the same school; I kept one of the existing subjects but otherwise all new. It was a while back so I can't remember the specifics of the process but there were no issues with me doing this. I was also eligible for financial help which continued until I finished my A levels. I'd just speak to the school and see if they allow it. Good luck to him!

My son did. It is possible

Yes it is perfectly possible.
I used to run short courses at an FE college to give direction to all sorts of 16/19 year olds. Your son is not uncommon in picking the wrong options.
Get him to have a look at other schools and colleges in the area. What does he want to do?

Just picking up this thread as in exactly the same position.... its Maths for us also!
My daughter is at sixth form college. If the college wont let her restart she'll have to move to a local school. Then she'll have kids she knows in the year above which she feels uncomfortable about. @HastyPasty what has happened with you since Jan?
Thanks

Watching with interest, you will see I’ve just posted about how my DD Is struggling particularly with maths, but I’m think she wishes she too could start again but also doesn’t want to be with all the kids she knows in year 11- including her sibling!

I think under the current circumstances that anyone in Y12 should be permitted to restart. Let's not forget what these kids have been through, secondary education abruptly stopped in March 2020, no GCSEs, exam results and algorithm fiasco, starting college, partly remote lessons, periods of isolating, 3 more months of lockdown and remote learning. You can see why it's a write off for many.