What if you can’t do maths?

[rainbowsandcloudyskies]

DS is applying for post 16 courses. The courses (BTech) say you will be signposted to level 1 courses if you don’t get GCSE level 4 (some ask for 3) in maths and English. He is working at GCSE level 6 in English but he cannot do maths. He just is unable to deal with maths problems involving more than one step. He does have tutoring but this has not improved his grade. He has been a level 1 (GCSE grade) from year 7 to year 11. The school cannot / are not interested in why he has not made progress. Will he really have to do level 1 BTech to focus on English and maths, when English is already fine and his other subjects are okay? Most of the colleges don’t have level 1 options anyway. What can someone who can’t do maths, do at 16+?
Just looking for advice as my elder daughter went through a simple A level route and I have little knowledge of other options.

@2DemisSVP Thank you.

We are struggling to find courses at local colleges that are accepting pupils with less than a level 4 GCSE maths.

Worth asking a college how they handle it.

My son will be applying to our local college. They have a number of level 2 courses (BTEC, City & Guilds, etc) that can be taken whilst retaking maths and/or English. My son struggles with English so we are also having to consider that he may not get a 4 or above.

What kind of colleges? Sixth form college or FE colleges? FE should offer a range from entry level.

You need to speak to college (and I would recommend you do it, not him in case it’s not a positive conversation as you don’t want to dent his confidence) because every college will do it different based on timetabling and policy as mentioned above.

The likeliest options are either that he can start a Level 3 and study Maths alongside.
Or he does a Level 2 for a year and does Maths alongside, before moving onto Level 3 - but if he still hasn’t passed Maths at that point he’ll still have to do it. It’s a requirement till 18 if you haven’t passed.

What are his other GCSEs looking like? If he has a strong profile he’s more likely to be allowed to do the first option.

I would really push for functional skills - it’s a great qual for students struggling with Maths and if he could pass it this year it’ll save a lot of effort later down the line.

The annoying thing for the OP, is it appears her DS might be capable of a L3 course, but may not be allowed entry without the pass in maths.

Depending on the course he may get offered a level 2 course but will need to keep studying Maths alongside until age 19. Depending on GCSE grade he'll be directed to GCSE or Functional Skills (which is ore approachable). It's a condition of funding for BTEC that students top up English and maths if they don't have a 4.
Yeah we went through this battle with DS1 and English.

NotMe If someone does 3 years at college, do they have to continue Eng & maths in their 3rd year if they still haven't got above a 3?

My son was getting grade 7s and 8s in most subjects but just can't get his head round maths and got a grade 3 in his maths GCSE. The college he wanted to go to wouldn't accept him despite him having more than enough points made up by all the other subjects.

We found another good college that would accept him as long as he re-sat his maths GCSE. We got some private one on one tuition before the re-sit. We had the result recently and he's got a grade 4 now (just a few points away from a 5).

He just can't get maths! It's such a shame as both colleges and universities want to see a grade 4, despite the fact they aren't studying it!

Thank you for all your helpful replies and sharing your experiences.

He is applying to FE colleges not sixth forms as local sixth forms are asking for 5/6 in GCSE maths.

The level 2 courses are asking for grade 3 in maths GCSE. He is targeted to get a 2 and is working at a 1.

His other GCSEs should meet the entry requirements. He is also doing to BTechs equivalent to GCSEs which he is on track with.

Is the functional skills qualification something he does at college or can do now?

@mytummyisrumbling this is how I feel although I don’t think my DS will be getting 7s and 8s, although should be meeting entry requirements in everything else.

It is complicated but I think explained here.

www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-funding-maths-and-english-condition-of-funding

dS is in year 2 of his BTec and in his 2nd year of English re sit classes alongside.

He's going to get a job next year! He already has functional skills English from another college but due to getting Teacher Assessed GCSE grade 3 the government requires him to try and get a 4

Note passing or failing English/ Maths is totally separate to the BTEC or 16-19 course.

NotMe Thank you.

My youngest is SEVERELY dyslexic so we will face all this again when they take their exams. They can't read the maths questions!

Functional Skills cam be done at college or now. However it may be better to avoid any distraction and focus on what is already ahead at this stage. The FS assessments are not limited to twice a year like gcse.

@LIZS Do you do functional skills online? Is it something you can do
in the summer holidays? Sorry- I have no clue…

I think there are online courses but most people would do better with in person tuition.

It may also be more difficult to get free online, which he is entitled to.

Thank you.

Yes I know.

I think that a college would loom at his whole qual profile. If he got high grade in BTEC Sport plus a high grade in other GCSEs Incl English then I’d expect them to give consideration for the level 3.

The college admissions will be able to advise. In the mean time see what/ where the block is. Lack of confidence or dyscalculia?

I realised I typo'd earlier, my DS is doing English resit alongside a L3 BTec, this definitely happens if college are confident of the students ability to do the course.

The course I mentioned required a grade 2 in Maths at GCSE. I got the info off a sixth form college website in Basingstoke.

I've just had a look over the Level 3 BTEC in Sport for you; I teach on the Applied Science and have a fair bit of experience.

This issue with the maths is that there is an expected level of numeracy for some of the units. The anatomy unit for example required the ability to calculate volumes within breathing (multiple different type), the ability of analyse health testing data, understand statistical data, distribution curves, calculating percentages etc. These are also from the mandatory units, and some from exam based units.

If he can't do these calculations (some of them being standard for those with a grade 4 in maths) then he will struggle.

@Whyarewehardofthinking
Thanks for this. I do agree that the level of maths required for sport is probably going to be difficult.

Looking ahead, I’m also wondering what jobs people that can’t do maths can do. Possibly being dramatic but all jobs seem to be asking for maths level 5 as a minimum.