A levels a year late at a sixth form

[Clementinered]

My DS is going into year 11 having repeated year 10 because of school avoidance (mental health breakdown- ASD high functioning). He is doing his studies online. He is interested in rejoining a school or college for A levels now that he is in a better place so he can make friends, but will be a year older than he should be. He can roll on to do A levels with his online school but before we started looking I don’t know how this is viewed? He would be 17 starting and age 19 finishing. Would any sixth forms attached to a school take him or is he too old for a school environment?

That would be OK in a lot of private schools, but not sure how state schools would view it.

I think school funding goes up to 19 so, in theory, yes it's possible but best to check with your education authority.

With the choice to delay school starts now available, being a year older will be fine in a state school.

Hello, I think it is better to consult with the educational authority.

You can get 3 years of 6th form to allow for a restart so I think it would be OK, probably.

It will be fine. Every year has one or two that are a year older due to health or immigration/emigration.

This is not particularly unusual. Lots of sixth form colleges will have students that are a year ‘late’. Private sixth forms and school sixth forms may be worth contacting directly. I think so many children have struggled in recent years, he certainly won’t be the only one in this position.

My DD is starting sixth form at age 17, the school had no problems with it.

My DD is taking her a levels at 19 due to illness.

Yes! Its been brilliant for DS1, he repeated the first year of sixth from for various reasons (Covid, anxiety, adhd, life events).

he never fitted in with people in his year and now he has a really lovely group of friends, they are all so supportive and nice. He was a bit immature so he is spot on with them. I don’t think he’s the only one…

Thanks everyone and I feel encouraged to start looking for a good fit sixth form for DS.

FE funding is from 16-19 so they potentially get 3 years. I cannot see this being an issue. I know a boy who is repeating year 13 at a local state school with a sixth form attached to it and he is definitely 18 now so will turn 19 during his repeated year 13.

It will be fine. Our DC was in US education system as a preschooler. He was also prem and a late August born. He’s always been in a different year group here. Sixth form college had quite a few students older than him including Ukrainian refugees