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.

One of my DC was offered a L3 BTEC with a 3 in English and another L3 BTEC with a 3 in maths.

The one without English went on to pass in the autumn if his second year. He's about to start an Advanced apprenticeship in something he really wants to do, and will pay well at the end of the apprenticeship, only asked for a 4's in English and Maths- so there are apprenticeships out there not asking for 5's.

The DC without Maths is due a 4th attempt this summer, but already has an unconditional place at university studying an arts course.

The issue is that a Level 3, even in Sport will require a level of maths understanding. They will need to be able to draw and interpret graphs for example.

The entry requirements for BTecs are nationally prescribed and include GCSEs, however, if you pass the lower level with a merit, you can move up. So if you pass level 1, you can move on to level 2, and then you can move on from level 2 to level 3. Nobody is excluded because of their lack of GCSEs but progression is slower and moving up depends on results at the lower level.

As far as I am aware, this is completely independent of results in maths and English, but it is a Government requirement that you continue to study these until 18 unless you have reached the required standard of either GCSE or functional maths.

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.

I'd be surprised if you find the answer to this in MN, where it's just unthinkable that any child can't pass Maths GCSE - in reality I have a friend who is a mortgage advisor who has a degree, but never passed GCSE maths, and a friends husband is a graphic designer, and never passed Maths GCSES. It seems in some jobs if you can wing it onto a degree course you might get away with not having Maths. I had heard student finance was going to stop being given to people who don't have English and Maths GCSEs. It's prompted DD not to take a year out and incase funding conditions are changed in the future.

For your DS, I'd look at courses which don't require too much maths - a Media BTEC can lead on to lots of things, not just a Degree in Media Studies, and so what if college so start him on a Level 2? It's not unusual for teens to spend three years at college, and even do a level 2 in one subject, and then a level 3 in another. It's not a race.

It's also possible that people can manage functional maths and English ok for a job, and may understand a lot, but just cannot answer enough GCSE questions to pass the exam. Due to GCSE syllabus and exam format.