Advice needed - bereavement and A levels

[champagnetruffleshuffle]

DD17 is due to take A levels this year. Due to a very close, recent bereavement there is a very good chance she won't feel able to return to college. She is studying physics and chemistry OCR. The college say they will support her to study remotely and just come in for required practicals - if she can manage that. Back when I went to college it was possible to retake in the autumn. Also, someone has suggested to me that she could take the exams on her own when she is ready, due to the situation she is in at the moment. Can anyone with knowledge of this advise me please?

I don't think there is such a thing as autumn term resits any more so if she doesn't take them this May, she will probably have to wait until May 2026.

Private resit colleges are super-expensive - find out if your local college does them or whether she will have to repeat Yr13 at school. if she's self motivated, online or self study might be an option but it's a long time to keep at it.

Thank you, I wondered why I couldn't find anything about autumn retakes online.

The college have advised it's either this summer or next, but I haven't managed to speak to someone yet. Neither seem a good option at the moment, but it's best to know where we stand.

My dad died when I was in. year 12. I wish I had taken the time out and repeated the year. I was in no frame of mind to continue. Is this an option?

I also read that Robert Webb’s mum died when he was in sixth form and he repeated a year.

If neither is good could you possibly have her resit it privately?

Thank you Universal. That must have been so hard for you. I really appreciate your advice.

Repeating year 13 is an option, however we would likely need to try and find a different college that offers OCR, she will struggle to return to her current college because she went there with the person that died.

Yes that is a possibility, I'm just researching now Ph3. I didn't realise it was an option until now.

What does DD want to do? My oldest DD was 17 when DH died. She found solace in study and did very well in her exams as a result of focusing to block everything out. She needed the break the year after. At the time she insisted on pressing on and going straight to uni, but that was a mistake. The immediate exams were fine but I wish I'd pushed for a year out. She says though that she needed to get away from our grief which was too much. Younger DD was the opposite, she fell apart immediately and took a lot of time out and fell behind. A repeat year would have made sense. It's such a terrible time OP, I wish you and your family all the best.

I'm so sorry you all went through that.
DD head is all over the place at the moment, understandably. People are encouraging her not to throw her A levels away and she doesn't want to, but doesn't think she could cope with this May/June.
It is so hard to call what is right, I wouldn't want to lead her either way. As you have sadly experienced, it varies from person to person and her well being is my top priority.
She liked the idea of sitting in the Autumn, it's such a shame she can't. I suspect she will end up taking them next year.