Remark needed so missed out on sixth form

[myheartskipsskipsabeat]

My DS missed out on a grade 7 in a subject by 2 marks. This means he cannot study the subject at a-level at the sixth form attached to the school which was first choice. He has achieved the grades in the other subjects he wanted to study so no issues there.

DS is now saying he doesn’t want to go to the sixth form and now wants to go to the local college where he can study all 3 subject choices at A-level.

I have asked for a remark and have been told that it should take a couple of weeks. There is limited staff at the sixth form over the hols and I have no idea how long it will take.

DS is now wondering whether to start at the college where he can do all 3 choices or start at the sixth form and compromise on 1 subject (if he is successful in getting the grade 7, he can change courses to his desired one) but this all seems a bit risky as he might not get the grade 7 after the remark and have no idea how long it will take. The exam board is AQA.

He currently has a place at both the sixth form and the college and doesn’t know which one to choose. I would prefer the sixth form as the teaching standards and results are much better. Both are similar in terms of distance. I feel as though DS should compromise on the subject but I will of course let DS make his own decision.

This subject DS wants to study at A-level is not required for his uni entry/course and he wants to do it because he likes it and no other reason.

Any advice?

Can you speak to the school and ask them to make an exception? I know my school would have allowed it in that fine a margin.

I have tried but they won’t unfortunately

It seems a bit ridiculous tbh if they would let him take the subject if the review adds two extra marks but not without that – it’s not as tho the new mark makes him better at biology (or whatever). You would think the school would use the discretion it has.

@myheartskipsskipsabeat can you say what the subject is? And what subject would he take instead at the school? What does he think about that subject if the review comes back as no change (which about three-quarters do, so it’s quite likely)? if he considers that then would he prefer chosen subjects at college or compromise subjects at sixth form? It’s his choice in the end.

I’d be happy for him to go to college rather than 6th form. It may well be that the college results are lower because they will have students who start with lower results as opposed to the quality of the teachers being less. If he’s happy to go to college, that’s half the battle!

I'd start and stay at college doing the subjects he wants if the school don't know him well enough to kniw he's capable of doing that subject I doubt they're that great. Besides which, college is a better bridge to uni

That's a good point actually. Evidently the college is happy with lower GCSE grades for A level study so yes, the A level grades will probably be lower too. A high 6 tho is fine for A level IMO unless we are talking maths or MFL. Or maybe science.

It’s one of the sciences that he got the 6 in. The alternative choice is one of the humanities that he doesn’t have much interest in

What does he want to go on to do at uni or for a job?

What subject is it? If he doesn’t need it for his uni course I would say pick something else as a 3rd subject instead.

If he really doesn’t want to do anything else then go to the college, it may be as other have said that they get more lower grades because they accept students with lower GCSE grades compared to the school 6th form, not necessarily that the teaching isn’t as good.

If it’s a science then the school probably know from experience that he will struggle at A level. A solid 7 upwards really is the best for success. However if he knows where he can improve and you could get a tutor if needed I would still let him try the A level if he needs it for what he wants to do. Just be aware there is a really big jump on the sciences from gcse to A level

Is the science physics? If so he should probably considering that he should pick something else - it is a course whether those who gain the 8/9s tend to thrive whereas the worked hard 6 and 7s don’t do as well.

Hmmm so an isolated science? Not related to his uni course? That's unusual – if his chosen uni idea is sciency at all, then any science at A level will support it. So I presume his uni goal is not science – in which case a random A level in (say) biology alongside (say) Eng lit and politics is going to be harder for sure than if the biology taken with (say) psychology and maths.

What I am getting at is, if the science A level is genuinely unrelated to the rest of his choices, it might not be the best idea anyway. Are there any other options if he is not keen on the suggested humanity? Something new like sociology or psychology?

This, especially if the more selective school is creaming off the more able students from the local population.

What are your worries about the teaching standards? How do you know they are lower?

Yes this is the frustrating thing. The science he wants to do as no relationship with the other subjects nor is it needed for university/future career hence me thinking it’s not worth giving up a place in an excellent sixth form for.

The college has a much lower threshold for entry than the sixth form. The a level results haven’t even been published for a few years whereas the sixth form is publishing them far and wide as they are so good.

What are people supposed to do while they are awaiting a remark? It’s such a bad system

I would support him to go to the college and do the subjects he wants. He has a clear route to his chosen subjects.

To be fair to the sixth form, even if he had scraped in and made the grade, or scrapes in after remark, he will struggle with that subject.

They set the minimum grade requirements usually as an absolute minimum.

He will do better in a subject he wants to do rather than one thrust upon him.
His individual results are down to his work ethic.

Where do you think hewill ve happier?

Have a look at the school and college on the compare performance gov.uk site. It will list subjects studied and average grades and give a progress score (ideally positive). As others have said the college may only achieve lower grades because they have slightly lower grades going in. He may find he does better if he is in a class with others with similar grades rather than the lowest mark in the class and struggling to keep up.

My DD faced a similar situation last year (she needed an 6 in maths to be able to take biology and she got a high 5) and she just kept calling the department to argue her case. She finally wore them down. My thread attracted lots of people who said she’d struggle with A Level Biology but she’s been getting high Bs and As in all her assessments.

Would it be possible for him to start 6th form doing both subjects and drop one depending on the outcome of the remark?

Clearly the Sixth Form has such good results because it is so rigorous in entry requirements but if he’s been a pupil there with good relationships it does seem harsh to exclude him. Any chance you could raise a complaint and escalate to governors? Go directly to head? Ask his old class tutor or his science teacher to advocate for him?

Sixth Form college quality varies enormously depending on the location; in some areas it’s the main choice but in other areas schools dominate. I don’t know I’d give up an excellent school Sixth Form over this. It is really difficult to get good science teachers and I think the pay is better in schools than FE colleges on the whole.

Complaint ? The school have not done anything wrong! The governors and the head will all have signed off on the admissions requirements for A-levels !

This is really tricky OP. You can hold both offers until at least the first day of term? That gives you and DC a chance to think.

My DC dropped a grade which meant either swap subjects or schools. But none of the sixth forms were his (he had no sixth form) and I always felt the other choice was preferable. He has left all his mates but was determined that is the subject for him. If the schools are not full if he gets his grade up the school might take him even a week or two in?

Wow lots of really useful points here thanks.

I think he likes the freedom that comes with college such as no uniform and being able to come and go as you please whereas in the sixth form they want you in all day.

I will look at that website @ConBatulations thanks. I didn’t think of that.

Yes I agree that if he starts the subject he will probably struggle a little and get discouraged quickly.

@theresnolimits I don’t think he would cope with 4 a levels as he has SEN and would find it all overwhelming but this is a good idea.

He could start at the sixth form but hold off the college place while he decides. The sixth form is oversubscribed but the college isn’t.

Clearly the Sixth Form has such good results because it is so rigorous in entry requirements but if he’s been a pupil there with good relationships it does seem harsh to exclude him. Any chance you could raise a complaint and escalate to governors? Go directly to head? Ask his old class tutor or his science teacher to advocate for him?

What, exactly, would the complaint be based on? There are published admissions criteria, and these were not met. As @Pythag has also pointed out.

One of the reasons that the school will be very reluctant to consider admitting the OP's lovely DS, with whom they have such a good, long-standing relationship, etc etc is that having done so, they would be open to everyone else who was not allowed to continue at the school / enter at year 12 / take the subjects they wanted to, 'just because they only just missed the published entry requirements' appealing the school's decision and possibly succeeding.

I would stick with the sixth form, hope the review bumps his grade up, and take a different subject if not. If he has SEN the firmer structure of sixth form will probably be helpful, and you can look for a university place where he'll be supported.