My daughter has ADHD and we have supported (totally had to revise every aspect with her listening!) throughout her GCSE. She is expected to come out with very good results.
The question is should she stay at school with all her friends but will probably get mediocre results because we can't continue paying for tutors etc or go to college and do a extended diploma BTEC.
My main concern is friends as her whole friendship group are staying at 6th form.
She is not very forthcoming about making a decision and is burying her head as always.
Any advice? Thanks
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Stay at school or go to college? Help!
Manchestertimes · 27/06/2022 00:01
seramu · 17/07/2022 09:18
Sixth form college teacher here. From what you're saying, your method of working with her doesn't sound sustainable at A level. If your daughter is coping with GCSEs with tutors and you structuring / supporting her revision, then it doesn't sound like it will work at A level, without her becoming significantly more independent.
The benefit of the BTEC is that the work is ongoing, rather than the final exams. Yes, it will mean making new friends at college, but unless your daughter struggles with making friends, then she is likely to make new friends fairly quickly. It might be tricky until Christmas. I find most students have settled by then.
Good luck with whatever you decide
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 17/07/2022 11:08
A 6th form teacher advocating college ? now i have seen everything
seramu · 17/07/2022 09:18
Sixth form college teacher here. From what you're saying, your method of working with her doesn't sound sustainable at A level. If your daughter is coping with GCSEs with tutors and you structuring / supporting her revision, then it doesn't sound like it will work at A level, without her becoming significantly more independent.
The benefit of the BTEC is that the work is ongoing, rather than the final exams. Yes, it will mean making new friends at college, but unless your daughter struggles with making friends, then she is likely to make new friends fairly quickly. It might be tricky until Christmas. I find most students have settled by then.
Good luck with whatever you decide
EduCated · 17/07/2022 13:59
What’s odd about a 6th form teacher recognising that A Levels aren’t the best type of qualification for every student? Do you want them to pretend they are?
thistimeiknowitsforreal · 17/07/2022 11:08
A 6th form teacher advocating college ? now i have seen everything
seramu · 17/07/2022 09:18
Sixth form college teacher here. From what you're saying, your method of working with her doesn't sound sustainable at A level. If your daughter is coping with GCSEs with tutors and you structuring / supporting her revision, then it doesn't sound like it will work at A level, without her becoming significantly more independent.
The benefit of the BTEC is that the work is ongoing, rather than the final exams. Yes, it will mean making new friends at college, but unless your daughter struggles with making friends, then she is likely to make new friends fairly quickly. It might be tricky until Christmas. I find most students have settled by then.
Good luck with whatever you decide
seramu · 17/07/2022 14:18
@thistimeiknowitsforreal
"I guess it`s my past experience that teachers in school/6th form were always indifferent to college and tended to turn their nose up to it."
But I work in a sixth form college. Not one that teaches BTECs, though, Here, you'd have to go to the FE college for that. But I do teach A levels. In fact that's all I teach! My advice is based on seeing lots of students who scrape their GCSEs then really struggle with A level. It is a massive step up for many. So if they need support with GCSEs, there's a strong possibility they'll struggle with A levels.
However, lots of colleges let you swap up to 6 weeks in. So if the OPs child starts A levels, and finds out it's not right for them, chances are they'll be able swap after a few weeks if it's not working out.
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