IT BTEC help - so confused

[MrsSnoops]

Hello,
I have a lovely DS who is in year 11. He is bright and has a good knowledge but doesn't achieve particularly well on exams. He is likely to get 5's and 6's with maybe some 7's.

To be honest all we have been thinking about are A Levels as that is the only route I know of and he is planning to do Maths, Physics and CS.
I am not sure how well he will do at A level or if he will get the GCSE's needed to do them, but he is working hard to do so.

His passion is coding and programming. It is what he does in his spare time, he can spend hours doing it and it's what he wants to do as a job.

So today I have seen BTECs in IT and suddenly there is a whole other option opened up to him. He would still be able to do a degree if he wants to, but I am hoping it might be more suited to his skills than A-Levels which are so academic.

I can't seem to find a clear list or information about what BTECs in IT are available. Are there more than one, just one at different levels? Are there different specialisms?

Thanks so much.

My DS did a BTEC L3 in IT, and is now at uni doing marketing. He also has ADHD and I watched for years as he struggled with mainstream education.

He told me that the years he was at college doing his BTEC were the best, the modular structure of BTECs suited him perfectly.

If A levels is what OP's son wants to do he should be OK as long as he gets mostly 6's and 7's .

But OP has said the traditional style of learning doesn't suit him.

If he’s getting level 5’s and above there’s no reason why he can’t do A levels?

It really depends on the subject. I would say that maths is out. Most 6th forms advise against maths A level unless the student achieved at least a 7 at GCSE, and some ask for an 8 or 9. I would say the same for the sciences. Most 6th forms won't allow the student to take physics without maths either.

It sounds like BTEC is the right route here.

And I agree that they should be kept.

Hi, we are in the exact same position- looking at the exact same A Levels or BTEC IT. My daughter will get the grades for A levels but has ADHD and it has been hell getting her to get the grades although very bright. Existing 6th firm at school doesn't do BTEC just Alevel so would mean going to college. It's so hard to decide!