Any help appreciated pls!
My DD started Year 12 at at a great local sixth form with Biology, Psychology and Classical Civilizations. She's doing well in the latter two but despite loving Biology and finding it fascinating, she just can't memorize enough of it, in enough detail (she's doing Eduquas which some have said might be a hard one? Apparently it prepares them really well for Med School?). All the students in her class are aiming for Med School - she is not as she is more interested in nursing/midwifery or healthcare (and she wouldn't have appropriate grades also).
Here's the problem - she is working three times harder in Biology to get poor grades at each test and is in tears regularly over trying to learn it. It is now bringing down the grades in her other two subjects.
She voiced her concern to the Biology teacher (who is really lovely and very encouraging) in November, who reassured her she would be able to get a good grade in Biology if she kept at it. Whilst we really appreciate her support, she doesn't see the tears and upset at home. We felt that swapping in November to Medical Science or Health and Social Care could give her the best chance to gain her best grades and take some of the pressure off. She was convinced by the teacher to keep going. (And also she likes the subject so wanted to keep trying).
However, she has this week asked college if she can swap (she feels she's reached the end of the line with Biology). However she's been told college policy is that students can't now swap until May? I totally get that swapping late in year 1 (Jan) must be very frustrating all round for colleges and teachers. Also that there may not be places on new courses. Do you think the May cut off might be linked to Mocks and then students changing after this if needed?
If she changes in May she'd take the new subject for May, June and July, plus 2 A levels as normal. However Year 13 she'd have to join Year 12 for the new subject, Year 1 and Year 13 for the new subject, Year 2, plus 2nd year of 2 A levels. This feels like the equivalent of taking 4 A levels work-volume wise surely? Which she'd not have been allowed to do at this college as her grades were 6's and 7's with two 9's. (And we'd not have wanted her too either!).
So I think what they are actually saying here is not change in May - but actually she'll need a third year ...? Which is disaster as she has found it hard to make friends as everyone else was from very local feeder schools. We are waiting for an answer from divisional heads at the college to see if they might let her change now- but it not being policy, we are none too hopeful..
Anyone else been in this situation? x