DS not great GCSEs - adamant about 6th form

[Whatnextthen2]

DS got his GCSE results last week, and he tried really hard, but only scraped into 6th form (and needs to resit English)

He got: one 5, three 4s, three 3s and a btec pass.

His 3s include one science (he did double and one passed) and English literature and History.

School have said he can still go to 6th form on the basis that:

1. he has to choose different subjects (he doesn’t meet entry requirements for some he chose) and they think he’ll struggle) they’ve recommended he continues with the btec but he doesn’t want to as he hated the heavy coursework part at GCSE and struggled
2. he resits English literature

I honestly think he shouldn’t do 6th form with these results, and should do something more vocational at college/apprenticeship instead but he is adamant (he doesn’t like change and doesn’t want to have to get the bus to college either).

Has anyone’s DCs done 6th form under similar circumstances and it worked out well? The barely meeting required grades and then the fact he can’t even do subjects he’s wants is causing a lot of worry!

thanks

Ah ok missed that. I guess my main concern was his comment about the coursework element of the level 2 BTEC. I don’t know about criminology but guessing as with other btecs it would be course work heavy. However does sound like he has an interest in it which is great! I know at my school - business studies is seen as the ‘easier option’ compared to economics but it’s a tough alevel with a steep leaving curve!

i think probably the best thing would be to keep a very close eye in the first half term and have very frequent check ins with his teachers and with him about his progress. As these are all new subjects to him this first term will be steep - does he do extra curricular activities or a part time job? It may be that he would need to limit these for some extra tutoring instead

I thought this too… he does not need to resit if he has a 4 in one of them. Seems like this would just be added pressure when he should be focusing on the new subjects.

Although for funding purposes there is no obligation to retake English Language if he has a 4 in Lit, many schools do still ask that students do because there are lots of universities that request a minimum of Grade 4 in English Language for ANY degree course. My son is on a very practical music course and he needed a 4 in Language (they didn't care about Lit)

Yes, I keep arguing with our HOSF about this. Funding should be separated from life chances.

I don't think that's true anymore. They only count the language.

but be aware that he cannot resit year 12 at the same college due to funding

Just picking this out from a PP post because I don't think this is correct. Certainly at the college my DDs were at it was possible to resit a year at the same college, with likely a change of some or all of the courses.

For funding it's one or the other. Unless it changed this year.

Thanks for all your replies everyone. We’ve looked at the local college and to be honest it doesn’t offer much. I think an apprenticeship would be good but he said he doesn’t like the look of any (there aren’t many to be fair).

Not sure if it’s just where we live or if all choices for post 16 education are so limited!

It's the same around here!

I flunked most of mine!
did the BTEC, went to uni.
8 years later running a company with profits of 500k annually (I’m 29)

My dd got 4/5/6’s including a 6 in maths , science and psychology which is what she chose for her alevels. The school said she could do maths on a 6 but strongly discouraged it . She massively struggled. She failed her first year and switched to a l3 btec and restarted a level psychology. She got the equivalent of BBB got onto her first choice uni where she got a 2:1.
He would need to be able to up his game considerably.

My ds got 5/6/7s GCSEs. Has just completed first year A levels and he has struggled massively. Failed his mocks.

I wish he’d done something else tbh, but he’s determined to push on.

Maybe it depends on the college/ 6th form. My DS got a 6 in my but a 4 in language ( one mark away from a 5) and want accepted on an A Level course as they only accepted 5 in lang

Yes but that'll be to do with their entrance requirements. In terms of school/college funding a 4 in either lit or lang is OK.

Unfortunately, the 6th Form might be accepting him as they need the funding.
However they really aren’t acting in his best interests.

I think as a parent, I would email the Head of Year and express serious concerns about him being allowed to start the subjects where he has not met the requirements. State that you’d like them to reconsider if there are better alternatives to set him up to succeed and that you would support them in offering those and telling him that the grade requirements for the other courses actually cant be flexible.

You say he tried hard. He has got some passes which is good, but he’s not academic and A Levels are the academic route. It is likely to be demoralising and sap his confidence if he starts courses that aren’t suitable

Btec does have more coursework and individual modular exams along the way rather than one terminal exam. He might not like coursework, but he doesn’t have strength in exams so Btec either modular exams, where you don’t have to learn 2 years of info for exams at the end is prob better.

As others say, Btec can lead to uni (if appropriate and what they want) just via a route that works. Students can get to top level unis with excellent Btec results, when they’d have never achieved the A level results for that course. But uni may well not be the goal…but successful outcomes from whatever he studies must be the goal.

I hope the school is able to work with you and a good option can be found for him.

I agree with you that he would be better off doing something more vocational. But as it stands, he is going with what he feels is best out of the available options. So, either accept this or look around for something that might inspire him.

You mentioned that you don't live with his dad. Does dad live near a better college? Do you have a UTC near you? He could do something like cyber security which might appeal to his crime interst. Or would living away be an option? That could open up all sorts of opportunities such as this one:
uksa.org/course/maritime-foundation-programme/

Friend's DS did a little bit better, one 6 (Eng Lit), a smattering of 4s and 5s. Sixth form refused to take him, then relented and he did ...I think ... criminology, business and politics. Scraped through Y12 with no work, then came out with 3 A Levels CCE, and heading off to Uni.
No idea if this was the right path for him but he got through it and looking forward to his next steps.