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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Original poster

Starting y12 - vocational courses support threasd

51 replies

TeenMinusTests · 02/09/2021 08:10

Anyone up for a thread for those off to college (or apprenticeships) and not doing A levels?

My DD2 missed all of y11 due to MH issues, so I am just hoping she actually makes it in regularly. DD1 did a BTEC at a different college but that was 6 years ago now,

OP posts:
eatthatfrog · 02/09/2021 14:22

Hi
My dad is about to start aBTEC level 3 in sports science at college as that’s where his interest lies. He did very well in his GCSEs and also got an EPQ but was not interested in studying A levels very excited and poking forward to starting Btec

eatthatfrog · 02/09/2021 14:22

Autocorrect should be ds not dad

FatOaf · 03/09/2021 09:49

Autocorrect should be ds not dad

But "poking forward" wasn't an autocorrect?

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 08/09/2021 19:32

Right. Induction day tomorrow...

There must be more than 2 of us (or 3 depending on whether Fat is here for the laughs or a DC Smile)

OP posts:
Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 12/09/2021 07:39

Am I going to spend the year talking to myself?
DD survived her first 2 induction days much better than feared, and made a friend.
Timetable looks reasonable.
Trying to get our head around 'synoptic assessment'.
Full practical day every Monday.

OP posts:
bfmhgmum · 13/09/2021 19:31

Hi
Posted above under previous member name, eatthatfrog. I will proofread this message a bit better as not rushing.
DS doesn’t start college till next week as staggered COVID start. Has completed connect to college work and done blind teams induction and received a timetable but not sure if he has options or extra circular to add

Comefromaway · 15/09/2021 14:08

I'm a year ahead of you. Ds is in his 2nd year of a music Btec and is currently looking at uni/music college courses.

If you had told me 4 years ago he would be applying to uni I'd have laughed at you.

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 15/09/2021 14:16

Feel free to join in Come , the more the merrier.

DD has crashed today. Timetable means no college on a Wed. She's exhausted and stressed. We sat down to look at one of her assignments and she couldn't cope. Hopefully her stamina will improve.

OP posts:
Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 23/09/2021 08:48

@bfmhgmum Hope the first week is going well.

We have moved DD from her Level 2 course to a 'level 1 work based' as the pace and demands of the level 2 were just too much for her right now.
Still haven't got a complete timetable for her. I think normally people doing L1 work based aren't also retaking English & Maths GCSE (as mainly would be doing functional skills), but this year there are 3 or 4 of them but they haven't set the classes/timetable up yet.
She does have 2 part-practical days per week (so more washing for me). This week she has done dog walking, puppy hugging, and making a bird table!

OP posts:
Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 23/09/2021 08:51

@eatthatfrog Is sports science like your DS expected?

OP posts:
bfmhgmum · 23/09/2021 09:39

@TeenMinusTests

I am also eatthatfrog -old name

DS has done one day and now has covid so if well enough will sign in to lessons. He did enjoy his first day and likes his tutor so hopefully next week will be better to go back at the moment it look as though he only has 3 days in college. So lots of time for extra study I said

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 23/09/2021 09:50

Oh sorry, you did say.
That's so unlucky getting covid so soon.
Difficult to sign in to practical sessions though.
I'm really hoping DD gets a chance to be in solidly and get settled before any isolations happen. She has been vaccinated, and outside of college we as a family are doing very little mixing.

OP posts:
mauisummerblu · 27/09/2021 13:41

Can I join you here?
DC is in college with BTEC Level 3 in Business.

I need some advice. He has to re-sit English, does he need to do it in his former secondary school and what is the correct website to register please? Edexcel is the examining board.

I have not read the entire thread yet, but will gradually do.

Any advice and support will be much appreciated.

mauisummerblu · 27/09/2021 13:47

Just read all posts, my DC feels like a loser after not getting a 6th Form from his former secondary school, he did not pass English language. I think the school lowered their grades as the predicted were higher and actually some kids got higher grades and got really good offers for A-Levels. I am not saying we did not "mess up" too and did not go the appeal road as it could have mean that their grades are even lower.

DC enjoys college for now, two days they have in the college, 2 online.
I am worried again that sitting at home most of the week with no control will do harm more harm than use.

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 27/09/2021 14:39

He's not a loser, A levels aren't for everyone.

re English. With DD, college are putting them in this summer. I think if she wanted to resit in November they'd probably say go back to the school. Does that help? (I think all schools have to allow resits this November for free, but I could be completely wrong.)

What do you mean 'no control'? If he is doing 4 days college, then it is quite usual, if they have capacity, to try to get a part time job 1 or 2 days a week. If he is doing business, maybe he can find some admin or reception or similar work somewhere?

Was it only Eng Lang that stopped him doing A levels, or generally a lower set of grades? DD has a friend who is doing A levels on grades that make me think she shouldn't, but it's not my business.

If he works hard from the off with the BTEC he can get good grades and still get to uni if he wants to. Do you understand how his BTEC works (units, having to reach criteria for each unit to get Pass/merit/Distinction, plus exams, leading to overall grade?)

OP posts:
mauisummerblu · 27/09/2021 19:24

Yes, he is not a loser, he feels like one. Overall grades were lower than expected and the school did not agree on us discussing, unless appeal.

I really hope it is a lesson learnt for him and he will work hard and make the most of it.

whatnumber · 29/09/2021 19:48

I'll join too thanks.
I was with you on previous GCSE threads Teenminustests so glad your DD is going to college.
My DS is doing business Btec and it's a lot more work than expected. Already had a large assignment set with 2 week deadline.
He is working part time too so feeling stressed this early on is making me worried.

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 30/09/2021 09:38

Welcome what Smile

I do feel that the BTEC people aren't very good at getting over the reality of their courses. What sort of assignments are set, what sort of skills are needed.
DD1 needed good research skills which she really struggled with.

Can your DS cut his hours temporarily while he gets into the swing of things?

I had to pick my DD up early yesterday as she wasn't coping. Her anxiety is meaning she is struggling to eat at college and I hadn't pushed her to have a big enough breakfast (big mistake on my part) so everything overwhelmed her.

On the other hand she cuddled some cats on Tuesday Smile

OP posts:
mauisummerblu · 04/10/2021 12:54

Does any of your DCs re-sitting GCSE?
Have you used any of the independent course providers like this one:
www.icslearn.co.uk/landing-pages/gcse-resits/?_bt=469370895501&_bk=%2Bresitting%20%2Bgcses&_bm=b&_bn=g&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIscrcldKw8wIV-IFQBh21kwrfEAAYASAAEgI9DvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I was thinking that he should re-sit next year, but our former private tutor is insisting that he does it this November at his secondary school and he is very reluctant about it.

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 04/10/2021 14:38

DD will in theory be re-sitting both next summer.

I think the case for resitting this Nov would be only if you believed they should have been given a 4 in the summer (or close enough to be worth a punt). 4.5hrs for maths exams and 4hrs+ for English is quite a lot.

What is the private tutor's reasoning?

DD's not up to any independent work right now, so i don't know what will happen. If a DC is at college I'd go with their teaching rather than independent.

OP posts:
mauisummerblu · 20/10/2021 12:35

The reason our former private tutor gave is that it will be saying on his GCSE 2022, not 2021. DC is good in Maths, but got only a 5.

The college is slightly letting us down as they said DC qualified for Business BTEL Level 3 and now they are not offering him English courses. Also, his Business tutor "hasn't got time" and wants to tutor online on Friday, when DC was supposed to be in college for the whole day.

Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 20/10/2021 18:47

Oh I see. So he wants to resit maths to try to get above a 5?

College can't not teach him English Language if he didn't get a 4+, it is part of funding requirement.

It sounds a shambles!

OP posts:
mauisummerblu · 21/10/2021 14:05

@TeenMinusTests

Oh I see. So he wants to resit maths to try to get above a 5?

College can't not teach him English Language if he didn't get a 4+, it is part of funding requirement.

It sounds a shambles!

Yes, he will eventually re-sit Maths privately, but if you say it is part of the funding requirement I am awaiting the Director of English to advise why is he not teaching him ...
Original poster
TeenMinusTests · 21/10/2021 15:05

For English Language or Maths, if they didn't get a 4+

  • if they got a 3 they have to be taught GCSE
  • if they got a 2 they are taught functional skills

I've had 'discussions' with DD's college, because although she got 3s, she isn't well enough for a full timetable, and I'd like her not to be pressured to retake both this year.

OP posts:
mauisummerblu · 22/10/2021 12:44

They explained that he has 4 in English Literature, so he does not need to have GCSE tuition. I am still not giving up.