Online A levels for 19 year old recommendations and benefits advice

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My 19 year old finished year 13 in the summer at college and got

Politics A
Psychology B
Applied science BTEC distinction

AS maths A

He wasn't allowed to do A level Biology and chemistry as he needed grade 9 in maths and combined science. Didn't really know then what he wanted to do next. Now he has his sights set on a science degree, preferably at a RG uni. So now he needs to do his science A levels. We are now looking for him to do Biology and Chemistry online to get the A levels as no decent uni will look at the
BTEC for a science degree. I think realistically he could walk good grades. He got good gcses after 60% attendance at school for 4 years and his attendance wasn't that great at college. He has socail anxiety due to possibly undiagnosed ASD.

He is looking at Open Study College doing both Alevels for exams next summer.

So does anyone know of open study college online? Is there anywhere else to do A levels as an adult? We are near Guildford.

Also is there anything we can claim? Child benefit, tax credits for me or UC for him? It's going to be full time but obvs online.

Does DS have an EHCP?

2 A levels is generally considered part time rather than full time. So you won’t be able to claim child benefit for DS or have him on your tax credits or UC claim. DS could claim UC but unless he has a fit note and subsequently found to have a LCW/LCWRA he will be expected to look for work.

No ehcp. He had a borderline ADOS at 12 and knew what the social norm replies would be. I did start the process at 16 but he is bright I knew it wasn't worth the fight. He gets extra time consesions. His siblings all have ehcps so I know it personally wasn't worth the fight with Surrey

What college wanted grade 9's to do A-level maths/science?? I have never heard of that. DS's very good state school thinks a 7 is a good idea but there are people doing them with less there. I would have changed school/college though if they were being that ridiculous.

Personally I wouldn't spend another 2 years just doing a couple of A-levels and unless he's looking for work I doubt he/you could claim anything. If I was him I'd just go for a not quite so good uni and keep moving forward.

Godalming college did

Thing is without science A levels he can't really do a science degree

He wasn't allowed to do A level Biology and chemistry as he needed grade 9 in maths and combined science

Wow, that's a bit harsh. At DD's school they didn't require A* in maths for students to A evels in biology and chemistry (DD took her GCSEs in 2016).

The problem with doing science A levels online is that you will have to pass the practical element as well so you will need to find a centre that will let him do the practical work. Also, studying A levels online has a cost element - the cost of the course, the cost of doing the practicals and the cost of taking the exams.

It's a pity he couldn't have gone elsewhere for 6th form where he would have been allowed to take the A levels he wanted (but that ship has sailed).

Just checked the website and it says for Biology A-level 'A minimum of five GCSE subjects at grade 4 or above plus two grade 6s in Science (if separate sciences taken a grade 6 in Biology and Chemistry) plus Maths at grade 6 or above.'

Did you mean grade 6 rather than grade 9?

You can certainly do a science degree with BTEC applied science - what level, what size BTEC did he do?

and it is very hard to do science A levels online, due to the coursework, practical's, etc.

I would suggest he applies to uni and starts his science degree

If it isnt the uni he wants, if there is another course that requires A levels not BTEC, then he can apply to change courses after a year. He might need to start at year 1 again, or he might not.

That is what I would recommend

They absolutely did not require 9s. They require 6s.

Regardless, applying for a degree with integrated Foundation Year would probably be a better option. Some RGs offer them, those that don't he could do one elsewhere then joint after a year.

I just looked at Godalmings entry requirements as that seems mad. Sensibly it’s now showing as 6s required, though that doesn’t help your DS. Has he spoken to admissions at any of his preferred universities re accessing with a btec ? This is helpful on uni guide : www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/can-you-get-into-university-if-youre-studying-btecs

I would think he’s better off cracking on and going to one of the many universities (inc RG, fwiw) that accepts btecs than spending time repeating btec content at a level … ?

Yes, a course with a foundation year would be ideal.

With 60% attendance for several years an EHCP would certainly have been beneficial. You don’t need a diagnosis and being academically able doesn’t matter either.

I'm not sure what he was thinking degree wise but for example if he went to Plymouth University here's what he'd need for a degree in Biology (and their marine studies were considered fantastic even back in the day when they were a Poly if he's at all interested in that). I'm not sure how many points he has but if he doesn't have enough then he could do a foundation year (link also below). I'm sure there are lots of other unis that are similar too.

www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bsc-biological-sciences
www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bsc-biological-sciences-with-foundation-year

Agree a Foundation year leading to degree would be a good route. Or an Access course/btec l3 in Applied Science.

It may be that the OPs son hasn't done the full diploma, but a shorter course BTEC, this is the same depth, but less breadth, so counts as 1 science A level, or 2, but not 3 - this could be the issue with UCAS points

It might be worth going to some open days and asking what they will accept for entry. "Science" is broad though, he will need to be more specific and for some courses Maths might be more useful than Biology, for example, and easier to get.

DD is doing A level Biology online with a company called Oxbridge to start in July and do the exam the May after. She will be doing the Practicals and actual exams at a centre around 45 minutes from here
She needs it to do Zoology at Uni in 2024

I'm not 100% sure but I think with low attendance he was a wildcard with his gcses to do science. In hindsight he should have pushed or gone to another college ( but it's a local feeder for us). We was just amazed he passed everything after going to school less than half his life. Too late now anyway.

He's looking at virology, microbiology or pharmacology type degrees. As he was a school refuser it's got to be the perfect degree or he won't see it through.

I know about ehcps and his three siblings have them. Only one who has very severe needs got them without an appeal. They don't count for degrees so no point now. What he needed back at school was a early diagnosis but that's all in the past now.
His BTEC is worth one A level. So two Alevels, one AS and this btec.
The cost something I will have to suck up but it includes the practical. It's Aqa so fairly normal A level board.
I did a degree in Biology with a C in maths. Times have changed I guess.

Thanks. God to hear its not just us. He wants to start now then sit exams next summer for a 24 start

The Unis we visited did mention the Foundation course, so 4 years instead of 3 but after more research she decided it wasn't the route she wanted to take.
She has a related PT job lined up for the year too

Would be far better to do a foundation year at university. Many offer it

Would he consider an Access to HE in Science , I work as a Careers Advisor in an FE College and have had considerable success with RG IF the student has proved themselves with A levels in non science subjects . Not all RG accept Access ( and not for Medicine or Dentistry ) Unis want to also know the composition of the Access ( so number of Chem / Bio or Pysics units which can differ) . Access courses are full of a wide variety of students but tend to be more supportive and kinder that 16-18 provision

I think a foundation year would be better too.

He is after UCL or Queen Mary's, imperial.

Ok very bluntly Imperial and UCL are highly unlikely. QMUL is feasible. Would he consider doing a foundation year at Surrey - his BTEC and possibly Psychology would probably be enough, then uses his foundation year as entry to QM?

He could get a late application in to Surrey now?