Looking for some guidance advice please. Daughter is unhappy and doesn’t like her current course.
DD is 17. She is currently y12 at college. She is doing a Dance BTEC, extended diploma.
We (DH or I) visited several post 16 options with her, colleges, 6th forms attached to schools and apprenticeship events. The college she has chosen was the only one she was enthusiastic about. We were thrilled for her when she was offered a place and seemed really excited to be going.
She didn’t perform brilliantly at GCSE. She slipped from 6 and 7 grades to 4 to 5 grades. She failed maths and history (with hindsight, history was probably not a good option for her). All of her options were her choice, we guided and supported but they were her choice. One of the options she took was a BTEC in Dance (but the “GCSE level” as opposed to the current “A level” level). I mention this as it’s an extension of what she’s doing now. It’s not a completely new concept or course to her.
As mentioned she’s been unhappy. We’ve had a conversation with college (November time) and whilst nothing on the course has changed, she agreed to stay on until end of the year. College argued that she would at least come out with the first part of the qualification.
She can’t really articulate what she doesn’t like. It seems there is only one teacher, and whilst they have to do a range of dance styles, this teacher is only really trained in one.
She spent yesterday doing some research on a piece of coursework. But today has refused to go in.
I explained that I could not physically make her go in, and whilst I understand sometimes we don’t want to do things/can’t be bothered, we do have to get on.
I need to caveat all this with she did have counselling 12/18 months ago that she stopped pre GCSE exams as she didn’t want to carry on.
As her mum, I feel like she has some apathy, that she didn’t really slot in at school (she had different friend groups over the years), and that she had some anxieties too (reason for counselling).
She says she does not want to continue with course next year. (She passed maths in a resit in November so that’s now ticked off.)
What should we do? I realise there is an expectation of education until 18.
How does it work if they don’t want to continue their two year course? Can she start a different two year course and will it be funded? Or will we be expected to fund (no benefits, but would struggle to pay for education)?
How should we approach her?
I think counselling should restart even if it would help her see a path she wants to try (at the moment, nothing excites her).
No changes in anything else, No worries about drugs or friends. She‘s had a boyfriend since about Sep, but he seems a nice lad. So no real worries there , no more than any parent would about their 17 year old.
Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks