Sixth Form closing… where next?

[Inspectorflange]

My 17 year old failed his maths and English GCSEs so had to stay on into the sixth form to retake them. He wanted to stay on originally to take A levels in sports science but because he had to resit his math and English didn’t get to choose his subjects. He was put into the travel and tourism class which is a BTec.
Anyway, now the school have suddenly decided to close the sixth form and he’s really confused about where to go next.
He still wants to do A levels but does he have to apply to a different sixth form at a different school? Does he apply to a college?
His plan was to resit the maths and English then start A levels in his chosen subject in September, but that’s not happening now.
We spoke to his teacher but they’re not really interested anymore seeing as the sixth form is closing next month.
Any advice?

Is he sitting his re-take GCSEs this year?
Each sixth form will have it's own policy about admitting DC from the year above into year 12, so it's worth phoning local sixth forms and explaining the situation, and asking the question. Have a look at the grade requirements for the a levels he wants to do and if he meets them give them a ring.
He could also apply to local colleges, with the same process.
If you don't mind saying what area you're in people might be able to give local suggestions 😊

Is his T&T a level 2 or level 3?

A levels sound a push if he failed both Maths and English first time round, what were his other GCSE grades like?

He might be better with an Extended Diploma BTEC or T-Level.

He didn't 'have' to stay at the 6th form, he could have gone to college.
'He was put' sounds very passive. Was it a point of doing whatever the school did rather than an active choice?

Look at colleges.

See how he does in his GCSE resits. Go from there.

Nooo that is leaving it much too late! Colleges and sixth forms will have filled their places by then and he will have much less choice of courses.

OP - look out for open days at your local colleges and sixth forms and both of you go to them, talk to staff about what courses they have that would be of interest to your DS. Some 6th forms will have already closed their enrolment but colleges will still be recruiting.

He can always take a year out! Better than rush. OP doesn’t indicate how successful his GCSE resits are likely to be. We need more facts from OP.

I know age and A levels is a factor so you may be right in that time is if the essence. But, without the pass in the GCSE resits A levels may not be an option.

Ah he can't really.

He has had 1 year at 6th form, doing a course he doesn't want to do at we're not sure which level. That's 1 year.

If he has a year out that's 2 years gone.

That only leaves 1 more funded year, which isn't enough to either do A levels or do T-levels. Which isn't enough as they are 2 year courses.

Unless he has an EHCP, but there is no indication of that.

OP I presume he is on a Level 2 BTEC if he is resitting English and Maths. It is unusual to go from Level 2to A Levels, usually students progress onto L3 BTEC or T Level from L2.

L3 BTEC is equivalent to A Levels so they can still go to Uni if they wish, but the course is structured into modules with a high coursework element, and the exams are shorter and more focused and held throughout the two years so easier to revise for. This suits some students better.

If he struggled to pass GCSE English last year (no judgement here, my son also found it hard) then A Levels are likely to be a stretch.

You need to look at the other sixth forms in the area.

some will be attached to schools and some will be stand alone colleges.

look on their website and contact them to find out their policy on English and maths resits. Some sixth forms won’t take students who don’t have English and maths.

you need to work out where he wants to apply to and have two possible options - one for if he passes his English and maths and one if he doesn’t.

taking a year out is also an option. A year out is not a funded year so he would still be able to apply for level 3 courses after it.

But the funding is based on age. Funding for A Levels and BTECs is for 16-19 year old (or 25 with an EHCP). After this you are classed as an adult learner, you can still study them of course, but you may have to pay exam entry fees. There are some grants and bursaries available for adult learners.

His GCSE results from last year are mostly 3s and we’ve been told he’s “passed” his English resit so that’s probably a 4. He thinks he’ll get a 4 in maths too.
I like the idea of a year out but he’s worried he’ll get left behind.

This makes no sense. <very confused>

No way would you do A levels with mostly 3s at GCSE, and how could he know he has passed his English already (unless he did functional skills, or actually resat in November??)

So from the comments here I’m guessing he needs to forget about A levels and look at L3 BTec? He’s not academically minded at all unlike his sister, but he does know that he definitely wants to do sport.

So he basically has no GCSE passes, and he may or may not scrape Maths and English passes on resit?

Yeah, A-levels are not in the frame. He is not equipped to cope with them academically and won't get accepted for any.

I phoned his teacher last week because I wanted to make sure we had the correct exam timetable. When I asked about his English exam she said he’d already done it and passed. He’s only got exams in maths and Travel and Tourism.

There is sport btec, and also outdoor pursuits.
Why have you been so poorly advised??

Apply to colleges now for 2025/26. Don't leave it, most will have already closed for applications.

https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/courses/sports-coaching-and-development/

https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/courses/sport-fitness-and-personal-training-btec-level-3-national-extended-diploma/

For example DDs college runs these ^^

I think you need to check what on earth English he has done!

Yes and get on and apply. Better now than August.

I think I’ve been poorly advised because my son is extremely quiet and so he’s not very forthright when approaching his teachers. The school never offered careers advice sessions which they did last year when his sister was there. The decision to close the sixth grade form only happened a few weeks ago and I don’t think the school are particularly interested anymore.

Right then plan of action:

. Find out from school exactly what English he sat and when and what the result was.
. Is he resitting maths gcse, so has done a non calculator paper already, and 2 papers after half term? If not what is he sitting?
. confirm doing level 2 travel and tourism, are all assignments done and passed, what is outstanding?

. Identify all local colleges within 1hr travel from you
. For each college, what sport related courses do they run at level 2 and level 3. Write down entry requirements for each.
. Talk with DS and with him get various applications in, maybe ringing and speaking to the college first if possible

I’d look at college for a level 3 BTech.

My daughter struggles massively with exam based stuff like GCSEs but is absolutely flying in her BTech - is in her last year at level 3 and is on track to finish with distinctions

She’s massively dyslexic and has some other SEN and BTechs/diplomas really suit her style of learning as it’s mostly coursework based

Our local college has a fab careers advisor, I assume most colleges would have something similar, who can advise on next steps, what he wants to do after college, etc. I’d make an appointment and go from there.

Also re theTravel and Tourism. What grade is he expected to get? With poor GCSE results he may need a Merit in T&T to get on to a level 3 course.

Yes he’s done one maths exam and has 2 more to go. I have absolutely no idea what grade they expect him to get in T and T. Communication is always me ringing or emailing or texting them. Thanks for advice regarding BTecs. My other teens have only ever followed the A levels path so we thought that was the right path to go this time. Clearly not unless you’re pretty academic.