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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

Urgent advice needed. Meeting tomorrow.

154 replies

Devsmum13 · 08/10/2025 20:10

Hello,

My son is not enjoying T Levels. Not enough people signed up for his original IT course, so sixth form put on a coding course in September. (He should have been told on results day but they forgot). He has moaned non stop to his sixth form tutor and at home. Sixth form have asked me to go in for a meeting with the council tomorrow afternoon. I know they will ask for him to leave immediately.

It is a specialist Technical Sixth form.
The council suggested it because it is small and has the academic.

He would have loved the original course. No where else can meet need, and he hasn't got the grades for a school sixth form. He will be placed at a college for autistic students that requires improvement possibly without the IT element.

Things would have been different if his original course has run.

I understand why we need to have this meeting. My son is very bright. He will not learn if he doesn't buckle down and work but If he doesn't like the course and it isn't something he wants to do, he isn't going to try.

He passed all his GCSEs but with much lower grades due to the crappy Senco not understanding the EHCP at his secondary school. He only got in to sixth form because of his EHCP. He won't be able to cope with a school sixth form, and hasn't got the grades anyway..

Any advice would be appreciated. I feel like a failure.

Many thanks.

OP posts:
flawlessflipper · 11/10/2025 12:27

Devsmum13 · 11/10/2025 12:19

I wanted him to go to a school sixth form to do A levels. IMO it is better to do A levels that will help for IT but not limit him in the future in case he changes his mind. The LA didn't think he would cope with a school sixth form setting due to the free periods BUT he has been fine at the Sixth Form he is in now. He has settled in and made friends without any problem. His current sixth form is lovely. It's the course that isn't right.

Now I am confused because earlier in the thread you said “It was our preferred setting.” when I asked “If the post 16 placement wasn’t your/DS’s preferred placement, did you appeal?” Now you are saying your preference was “a school sixth form to do A levels”.

If a school sixth form was your preference, did you appeal?

You keep mentioning what the LA said/think, but what do you think?

What do you mean your city only has 1 EOTAS/EOTIS/C? EOTAS/EOTIS/C isn’t a place. It isn’t just for autistic individuals. The bespoke packages can includes A levels. Passing GCSEs or not isn’t part of the legal test for EOTAS/EOTIS/C. Leeds has far more than 1 CYP with EOTAS/EOTIS/C.

For specialist schools, have you looked out of area?

Devsmum13 · 11/10/2025 12:39

flawlessflipper · 11/10/2025 12:27

Now I am confused because earlier in the thread you said “It was our preferred setting.” when I asked “If the post 16 placement wasn’t your/DS’s preferred placement, did you appeal?” Now you are saying your preference was “a school sixth form to do A levels”.

If a school sixth form was your preference, did you appeal?

You keep mentioning what the LA said/think, but what do you think?

What do you mean your city only has 1 EOTAS/EOTIS/C? EOTAS/EOTIS/C isn’t a place. It isn’t just for autistic individuals. The bespoke packages can includes A levels. Passing GCSEs or not isn’t part of the legal test for EOTAS/EOTIS/C. Leeds has far more than 1 CYP with EOTAS/EOTIS/C.

For specialist schools, have you looked out of area?

In the beginning, we looked at school sixth forms. When I had a meeting with the LA at school, they said that they didn't think that a school sixth form would be appropriate due to the free periods. They suggested his current sixth form. They only had one A level subject that he wanted BUT had this T Level that seemed perfect. We went to have a look at it , and both my son and I loved it.

So he started in September. They didn't run the course so put him on programming. He can't get past the fact that it is programming and not digital even though it is similar but isn't engaging with the course. He has settled in really well and made friends.

OP posts:
flawlessflipper · 11/10/2025 12:41

Right, so back to my question. What do you think? Sometimes just because settings/LAs say somewhere can’t meet needs doesn’t mean they actually can’t or that the legal test for refusing to name them is met.

Support in free periods can be in F.

CouldShouldWont · 11/10/2025 12:54

Devsmum13 · 11/10/2025 12:39

In the beginning, we looked at school sixth forms. When I had a meeting with the LA at school, they said that they didn't think that a school sixth form would be appropriate due to the free periods. They suggested his current sixth form. They only had one A level subject that he wanted BUT had this T Level that seemed perfect. We went to have a look at it , and both my son and I loved it.

So he started in September. They didn't run the course so put him on programming. He can't get past the fact that it is programming and not digital even though it is similar but isn't engaging with the course. He has settled in really well and made friends.

I currently teach on the course your ds is on and I have also taught on the “tech support” one, there is significant crossover between the two courses

I now teach at a college that doesn’t have the staff resources to offer both courses but is fairly remote so it’s a long way to travel for students who want to take the digital support route.

There are two strategies I use. One is the T level placement - he can still do his placement in digital support, many employers in my experience offer apprenticeships after the course. The other is projects within Cisco learning and creating VM machines for students if the college normally run the digital support course they will have the technical and learning resources, can they run an extra curricular project?

Also if he got a L8 at CS gcse he obviously can program in python or C# to a certain standard already so does have the skill set which is harder to compensate for.

Has he cross referenced the two courses? I’m sure with the information he would see that making a stand and saying he doesn’t want to do the DSD because he wants the DSS is just not a logical
response.

Devsmum13 · 11/10/2025 12:54

I would like him to do A Levels in a school setting.

OP posts:
CouldShouldWont · 11/10/2025 12:56

Devsmum13 · 11/10/2025 12:54

I would like him to do A Levels in a school setting.

Do you have an outcome you want for him or are you open to finding solutions?

flawlessflipper · 11/10/2025 12:57

So have you requested an early review of the EHCP?

Do you have a particular school in mind?

Doodlingsquares · 11/10/2025 13:17

Devsmum13 · 10/10/2025 09:20

So my son should not be able to a subject that he wants to do for A Level because he has autism? Is that what you are saying? It is the job of the LA to find something.

Maybe that course isnt right for him regardless? Not everyone gets to do what they want, their first choice. You said yourself he didn't get the strongest gcse grades and without that strong foundation at gcse he is going to find a-level really tough, add into that his needs not being that easy for schools to accommodate and maybe this just isn't the right path for him?

C152 · 11/10/2025 13:25

twistyizzy · 10/10/2025 09:47

What did you do when they didn't understand? It's very strange that a professional SENCO wouldn't "understand" an EHCP

Sadly, I don't think it's strange at all. SENCOs aren't gods. They're just normal people in jobs. Not necessarily jobs they want. Some are good, some are appallingly shit, I imagine most are mediocre; just like any other job.

PennywisePoundFoolish · 11/10/2025 13:25

I do empathise with your situation, DS1s post-16 placement ended up being very disappointing.

But listen to @flawlessflipper
You can turn this around but it does mean parking the awful SENCo stuff.

DS2 squeaked a pass in English as we got a tutor. His school weren' the best, but did accommodate lower grades from him to do A Levels (autistic no EHCP). Now at university

DS1s school also agreed to reduce conditions for staying on at A Levels but he went elsewhere (autistic EHCP)

So I'd contact schools you're interested in, and see what they'll actually be able to do. Then get the LA to formally consult

ScaryM0nster · 11/10/2025 13:34

Taking a different angle.

This 6th form works, for everything apart from him engaging in the course.

There is an aspiration for him to do computer science at university. Programming and coding is a major part of a computer science course in higher education.

There might be a solution here with some major reframing and reset of his expectations. It sounds like the course should be within his academic capabilities, and supportive for his future aspirations. And this is a good place for him to be now.

Is there anyone in the college who provides IT support? Who could do some mentoring / career coaching with him, and help him see that this course is an equally valid route to what he wants to do as the previous plan. Alongside some Senco support with coping with the change to the plan. Possibly with a sweetener or change to the status quo of doing a bit of stuff with the college IT support person - ‘to get work experience’.

Doodlingsquares · 11/10/2025 15:28

Devsmum13 · 11/10/2025 12:13

Forget about the course. They can't meet need of his EHCP full stop. This is the problem.

Lots of settings will claim they cant meet need. You challenge it and its amazing how at tribunal it turns out actually they could meet need, they just didnt want to

clary · 11/10/2025 17:29

@Devsmum13 I’m confused as in your OP you said your DS didn;t get the grades to do A levels, yet now you are saying you and he want him to do A levels in a sixth form?

You also say (based on your definition of what you mean by "the academic") that no other setting (sixth form college etc) has the academic offer that will support students to get to university? I find that astonishing tbh.

It's all a bit muddled. Is your pref the college that he is at or a school sixth form?

What I would do is note down in detail what the ideal outcome would be, what an acceptable outcome for your DS would be, and see which post-16 settings might offer that. And don't allow them to fob you off with "we cannot support him". Show them how he has come on since September and that he thinks he can function well in a sixth form setting.

Devsmum13 · 11/10/2025 17:52

flawlessflipper · 11/10/2025 11:46

So did you enforce the EHCP, including via JR if necessary? In several of your posts, you have complained about the school not providing provision, which is why I mentioned it ultimately being the LA’s responsibility.

The LA do not care. I have explained countless times.

OP posts:
Doodlingsquares · 11/10/2025 18:02

OP i think it would help everyone understand if you shared what some of your sons needs are that are so difficult for settings to meet. With an 8 at gcse computer science he seems capable of A-level study (altho it depends - does he have another couple of grades high enough for A-level?) altho it sounds like an English resit is needed - but i think it would help to understand his specific needs that are so hard to accommodate?

Devsmum13 · 11/10/2025 18:31

twistyizzy · 10/10/2025 09:26

Yes if he isn't academically capable of doing so. Most schools/colleges state Grade 7 as minimum requirement for the subjects in which you want to do A levels to ensure pupils can cope with the academic content of A levels.

You say he won't cope with a 6th form school, hasn't got the grades etc but the tech college doesn't run Computer Sciekce A level. So what exactly are you and him wanting? What outcome do you want based on the criteria you've given? You need to know what you want rather than putting all the onus on the LA. They can only work with the provision in your local area, they can't magic up an individual programme just for your DS.

He is academically capable! He missed tons of education due to the Senco! The Senco didn't bother adjusting any lessons. Then he didn't understand the EHCP when it was issued! He passed all his GCSEs with 50% education. He only passed because the subject teachers took it upon themselves to organise the EHCP themselves in Y11 after I raised concerns about the Senco at parents evening. Should I have learnt the EHCP myself and tried to teach at home on an evening?? It has been years and years of hell. Who do you go to when the LA and school ignore concerns? Stop commenting. You are absolutely vile.

OP posts:
VikaOlson · 11/10/2025 18:35

So do you/he want to stay at the current 6th Form but move to a different course.
Or go to one of the other 6th Forms that previously said they couldn't meet his needs and try different A Levels there?

flawlessflipper · 11/10/2025 18:38

Devsmum13 · 11/10/2025 17:52

The LA do not care. I have explained countless times.

You may think you have explained ‘countless times’, but you aren’t understanding my posts. This is why going forward it would help you to read IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites so you understand EHCPs and SEN law better.

It doesn’t matter if the LA doesn’t care. You don’t need them to care in order to enforce provision. Enforcement action does not rely on them agreeing, caring, being understanding, listening… The LA are not the ones making the decisions. Ultimately, the court is.

Judicial Review is the ultimate remedy for breach of section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014, i.e. failure to provide special educational provision detailed, specified and quantified in F of the EHCP.

So I presume from your posts you haven’t taken enforcement action. Therefore, if SEP detailed, specified and quantified in F isn’t being provided now, email the Director of Children’s Services reminding them of their duty. If that doesn’t work, you need a pre-action letter. Then, if that fails, JR will resolve the situation.

This only works if the SEP is detailed, specified and quantified. If it is vague and woolly it is unenforceable and you should aim to tighten it up, via appeal if necessary.

Unfortunately, DC whose parents understand the system, can advocate for their DC and enforce their rights get better support.

stichguru · 11/10/2025 19:15

Devsmum13 · 10/10/2025 10:19

When I had the 16+ meeting with the council in January, they said that they didn't think that a school/college setting would be appropriate due to the free periods and the size of the schools in our area (the majority are huge). Then the majority of them do not have the academic. This is the problem. Not his grades. He couldn't get a SEN school place because our city only has one suitable specialist school available and it's for the whole of Yorkshire. The council did an excellent job finding this small specialist STEM sixth form. When I went to the meeting yesterday, they said that he had settled in really well, but wasn't making progress due to not liking the course. The council are calling me today so hopefully they will find something. I don't want you think that I am being snobby or uncooperative because I am not.

I am confused - I work in SEND in a Yorkshire college. Are there other Colleges that do courses he would enjoy more, that he can't go to because they can't meet his SEND needs? I mean any young person SEND or otherwise can not enjoy their course...

Thingsthatgo · 11/10/2025 19:44

Is there a sixth form that you would like him to go to (regardless of their opinion about meeting his needs). Do you have one in mind that does the course he wants? Does he think he can cope in sixth form? Does he want to try?

If the answer to all these questions is yes- can you approach the school to discuss it?

clary · 11/10/2025 20:14

@Devsmum13 in one post you say he failed his English GCSE; then in another you say he passed all his GCSEs. That doesn't add up.

Tbh failing English might be a barrier to him enrolling into sixth form (tho I certainly know a number of YP who were admitted to school sixth form and allowed to retake English) – so did he fail it or did he pass all GCSEs? Is he due to retake English this autumn? That's important if so.

Christwosheds · 11/10/2025 20:30

Toomanywaterbottles · 10/10/2025 20:03

Loads of them do courses that don’t particularly interest them - often because they’re not allowed/able to get on the course they’d really like. It’s quite common. Eg, you can’t pick history and geography because they are in the same block, so you are forced to pick from music, art or D and T.

Agree with this - It’s normal to not always be able to do the A level’s you want. Both my dds had to choose different subjects due to clashes.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 11/10/2025 20:32

Devsmum13 · 10/10/2025 18:52

I had meeting with the Sixth Form TL from the LA last year. They said that they didn't think that colleges and sixth forms would be suitable. Because he has an interest in IT, they found him this small specialist sixth form. Unfortunately they did not run the IT support course he wanted this year so they put him on a programming course as it was similar.
He really likes the place but doesn't like the course. He can't get past the fact that it isn't tech support.

It's a massive advantage to anybody looking to work in tech support if they're able to code as well.

NettleTea · 13/10/2025 11:02

i am still really unclear as to what provision is written in his EHCP

because that is going to be the crux of whether other colleges will or wont take him.

In our area for example (and by this I mean colleges which are easily gettable to, there are a few specialist schools that do a kind of day release into local sixth forms, but they are not very high attaining and are really for kids who have been with them since year 7/9 - they are places likely to have been named in an EHCP at an earlier point

there are 3 or 4 of state schools with sixth forms attached - some are very picky about who stays on/ who comes but one has a good Autism unit so supports kids with that

There are three local FE colleges who have accessibility depts who have done really well with kids who have come from local state schools with EHCPs, or kids who have been home ed, or just come through a different way.

And then there are likely specialist smaller provision, but as DD and DS went to a selection of the above, we dont know about that.

At each point we met with the college directly and spoke to the access dept to discuss the EHCP and what it entailed, and basically thrashed out how that would look before we then approached the LA to rewrite/adapt at the review process. In the interim the colleges created their own independant plan, which covered what we had discussed, and made sure it was passed to any teachers.

You need to be proactive. You need to totally understand what is written in stone in the EHCP - things that are a MUST, not a 'might benefit from' - and to remember that only the MUSTS must be followed.

However if some of those MUSTS are creating a barrier to him accessing a placement which you feel might benefit him more, then you are free to say that to the college - it may be that you dont feel its a neccesity now, as maybe he has matyured and is more able to deal with the needs he had when younger. Without knowing what needs and requirements are in the EHCP

You say that he was bored - was he causing trouble due to boredom - I think you say that he used to leave the premisis? As a previous poster said, colleges can fill holes in the curriculum with study periods or perhaps something like an EPQ where he could design his own project around his interests. Or it may be that he doesnt even need to be in college at all - so for example he may leave and come home on a Friday afternoon, or not start until midday. These are all skills around developing idependance, because if he is hoping to go to university there are alot of self study and free time.

My ASD son is on the absolute dream of his uni course now, but even so, he is finding it 'boring' because they are at the point of making sure everyone is up to speed on the coding side, and he has done work which is equivilent to working directly in industry, due to his own self study. Being able to deal with things which are boring is a skill thats going to be needed going forwards.

Blushingm · 13/10/2025 17:36

Devsmum13 · 11/10/2025 18:31

He is academically capable! He missed tons of education due to the Senco! The Senco didn't bother adjusting any lessons. Then he didn't understand the EHCP when it was issued! He passed all his GCSEs with 50% education. He only passed because the subject teachers took it upon themselves to organise the EHCP themselves in Y11 after I raised concerns about the Senco at parents evening. Should I have learnt the EHCP myself and tried to teach at home on an evening?? It has been years and years of hell. Who do you go to when the LA and school ignore concerns? Stop commenting. You are absolutely vile.

She’s not vile - she’s asking for clarification.

you’ve said he passed all GCSEs but also said he failed English? Did he get 6-9’s in his GCSEs? Or did he just pass? Or did he fail? Most FE courses expect as least 5 GCSE’s