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Further education

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

Starting A-levels at 18

9 replies

Festivalpartygirl · 20/08/2022 17:38

Anyones DC done this? DS is part of Covid cohort and really didn’t fair well with amount of time out of school and self discipline to study. He got fairly marked GCSE for the work he put in (no home study) Grade 6 across 11 GCSE’s, he’s a very much pull it out the bag boy and would have faired better cramming and taking exams. He didn’t stay on for A-levels, went to college for NVQ as high hopes of being a plumber but sadly apprenticeships are few and far between and he’s been unable to secure one. He’s at a loss and he’s now decided he wants to do Alevels, college will accept him, I think it a good idea as will keep him focussed and hopefully create more choices. We have said we’ll support him but he’s got to be serious and put the work in, he’s a bright boy, can be lazy, was at an academic school, I have no doubt he can do it if he puts the work in which he’s promised me he will do. I think realisations are coming through, friends off to Uni and he’s got nothing lined up, some on gap years but off next year, any success stories or pitfalls to share?

OP posts:
LIZS · 20/08/2022 17:45

Check funding covers both years, taking at level 3 at 19+ is not normally. Did he get his nvq?

Festivalpartygirl · 20/08/2022 17:46

Yes he got NVQ, College has said funding for both years as he’s still 18.

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Festivalpartygirl · 20/08/2022 17:48

He got NVQ level 2 only

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Emoj · 20/08/2022 17:49

Plenty did it with no problem at the college my DC went to. Nobody thought anything of it really if a few students in the class were a year older, and I thinknthere was at least 1 in all their classes (that's across 6 different subjects).

Molly887 · 20/08/2022 17:51

Very normal- my brother did this and it was fine, went to uni at 20. Nobody batted an eyelid.

GlueyMooey · 20/08/2022 17:55

If the funding is ok and he is keen then it sounds like a good plan. It's not that unusual to do A'levels later than usual.
You might want to have a think about finances and chores (laundry/cooking etc) with him. Will you expect him to pay his way a little?

Festivalpartygirl · 20/08/2022 17:57

That’s great to hear thanks, I think he will be more driven, it feels like the right thing for him to do.

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Festivalpartygirl · 20/08/2022 18:04

@GlueyMooey - yes he’s been told he needs to get another p/t job, just a few hours as don’t want it to get in the way, for his socialising money, and do a bit more round the house, cook dinner etc, we can afford to keep him, I still have his Uni fund put away as that was always expectation for him.

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thistimeiknowitsforreal · 24/08/2022 23:43

Go for it. Surprised he couldn't get an apprenticeship though.

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