Is it too late to switch from A level to BTEC?

[GrumpyMuleFan]

Sorry for long post, but just not sure what is “normal bumps” for sixth form. Would really appreciate some advice.

DS is in y12 and studying a double sport BTEC alongside Business Studies A level. He was also doing core maths AS level, but dropped it two weeks ago. He is very dyslexic and has ADHD. Sport is going really well - working to DD at the moment had an excellent written report at half term. The Business teacher report said he was very good in class, hard working and motivated, but had struggled at times. Suggestions for ongoing revision but no massive flags. He is the only one in the course who doesn’t have the GCSE and has felt under a bit of pressure from the start.

He has been very quiet for the last week or so and yesterday came home from his driving lesson in floods of tears - I have never seen him so upset. He kept stalling and the instructor took over the driving. After lots of hugs and chat and tea, he said that he was worrying the whole time about business studies. One of her teachers asked him to stay behind after class about 10 days ago and told him he was failing and heading for an F.

I was really taken aback at how worried he is and that he’d not talked about it. He’s been planning his career out and looking for work experience and apart from him being quiet, I had no idea that he was worried. We have parents evening on Monday night, but feel I need a more formal conversation with the school.

DS really struggled with academics and was in a specialist dyslexia school until y9. He got six gcse (6s and 5s) and learnt how to get there with hard work. His confidence grew over gcse years and he was confident about his abilities. Yesterday he bought up lots of things about being thick and how he used to feel in classrooms and that he hated how anxious he felt inside.

DS, without a doubt, would have been better off doing BTEC Business, as he does well in course work. There was a block clash with Core Maths, which he really wanted to do. He’s at a new school, in a new town and I think it’s just all added up.

Do you think it would be too late to switch to the BTEC? He has been studying the subject since September and he could focus on catching up on course work between now and September, and then take all of the exams next year. Even if he had to do an extra term?

I read that starting y12 again is an option, but I’m not sure that would be such a good idea: as he’s made lots of friends and may not help him feel good about himself.

And then I think, should he just double down on the Business and help him through?? He is really interested in business and reads the paper and has lots of chat.

Thank you if you’ve read this far. Any advice on what to aim for and how to handle school would really help.

Hi OP, poor lad. I’d call his sixth form and ask to go in and speak to his form tutor about it and see what options there are? If that isn’t an option he could also potentially up his current sport etc to the extended diploma (if he isn’t already).

It is pretty far into the academic year now though but let’s hope the school can help out and suggest a way forward.

Thank you @butternut123 I hand't thought of extending the sport. I will see if they offer that. Any thoughts on how to handle his worry? At first I thought he was over-reaacting as I wasn't expecting it, but then the penny dropped that he had been worrying.

At this point in the year, it would be unusual for settings to allow a swap.

It isn’t always allowed, but one option you haven’t mention might be to stick with the current year for the BTEC sport and start BTEC business in September with the new Y12s.

Does DS have an EHCP? That could open up more flexibility.

Can you and DS email the business teacher directly? BTW, A levels don’t have an F.

I think you need a conversation with the business teacher to drill down. It’s probably a bit late to change - just because they’re the same subject doesn’t mean it’s the same content. He could drop business, keep going with sport for this year, then start btec business next year, stretching the quals over three years? So he’d be doing just the business one in Y14.

what does he want to do after sixth form as that’ll really inform his next steps here

Im not sure, but im sure i have heard that you have to be doing the equivalent of 3 A levels to be ckassed as full-time and the 6th form won't allow you to do less because they wouldn't be able fo claim the funding.
Who on earth advised him to study 2 A S levels and a double BTEC with such a patchy academic record? His gcse's are too weak for A levels.

Core Maths isn’t the same as an AS level, it is designed to be studied alongside 3 A levels or equivalent. It was probably recommended to support OP’s DS’s options.

3 A levels or equivalent is considered full time, but occasionally, settings will take the financial hit to allow a third year of less than full-time education.

Following with interest as DD is in exactly the same situation with German.

Thank you everyone for your replies and advice.. To answer some questions.

@ChasingMoreSleep He doesn't have an EHCP and is at an independent school. Interesting that there isn't an F as that is def what he said to me. I wonder if he's exaggerating. I am going to ask what his options are.

@AelinAG He wants to do an apprenticeship in commercial property - planning on applying for degree apprenticeships as well as Level 4/5. His aim is to be a chartered surveyor.

@OhWise1 He changed school for sixth form and they had all his records and did an assessment + interview on what his options could be. In hindsight I wish he'd never started the Core Maths. He likes maths and it is a relative strength, but in reality it meant that he didn't have any free periods (they have a careers session x 1 p/w and he has learning support 1 p/w). I don't think the school appreciated how much he struggles - initially they also wanted him to do an EPQ!

@SergeantWrinkles what else is your daughter studying alongside German? Have you spoken to the school?

I've just been through DS's business books and they are disorganised and lack detail. I will email his tutor in the morning and ask if we can meet her (maybe at parents evening) and see what the options are.

I haven't come across someone doing a third year in sixth form, but will ask about it.

Could he drop the business and pick up an EPQ in year 13? This gives half the points of an A level. He could then do an EPQ related to his career aim. Research titles and begin over summer.
Given that he’s working at DD in sport it doesn’t seem like a good idea to restart year 12.

I like to explore worse case scenarios and plan back ups with my students. Then that tends to ease the pressure as the back up isn’t that bad.

-Add EPQ
-Start BTEC in year 13 (check points) and the government are looking to defund BTECs. Though hopefully there’s a pause on this.
-Apply for uni as this is easier to gain a place than a degree apprenticeship
-apply for level 3 apprenticeships in surveying then for level 4-6 after that. The employer might keep him on to progress to degree apprenticeship.

There is no Btec in German tho that I am aware of anyway. Is she simply struggling so much that she will get a grade U? If she is in year 12 then there is time to pull her grade up for sure. What did she get at GCSE?

(sorry so many qus - MFL is my subject. and I hate to see anyone really strugging).

@GrumpyMuleFan there is no grade F in A level but I wonder if the teacher meant F for fail – as in, a U or unclassified?

What qualifications would he need for his possible apprenticeship? Would the full Btec in sport be enough (I mean if he took the extended diploma)?

An independent school can (although that doesn’t mean they will) have more flexibility in terms of allowing education that isn’t seen as full-time because they aren’t reliant on government funding in the same way. So I think I would ask the school if DS could remain with his current cohort for BTEC Sport and start BTEC business in September.

Stress of it - poor thing.

DS struggling with one A level but he/ teacher assure me it will improve. Have done some research:

Check school’s policy on transition to year 13, some don’t allow children to move up without a E/ D. Or at least strongly advise against it.

Some will allow a new course to be done alongside existing courses in year 13/14, so they have an extra, very part- time year 14. Some will support starting year 12 again

Are there other schools that would take him to restart year 12. I have asked around and got a positive reply

I found a college that will allow a one year A level in year 14. Maybe that could be an option for Btec if you have somewhere he could go for year 14 if business doesn’t pick up

Depending on what he wants to do next, a D or E might be ok. Are you able to consider a tutor?

Best of luck!

Funding in sixth form is weird. However, he would be funded for a level 3, 3 a level equivalent (extended diploma) if he restarts year 12 in September, though year 14 is slightly less than 12 & 13. He won’t be funded for a third year if he continues into year 13 on his current courses and wants to resit.

Degree apprenticeships are competitive. Is sport good prep for being a surveyor? My friends who are surveyors would not think so. I’d probably play to his strengths.

Thank you everyone - really helpful and has given us lots to think about ahead of tomorrow. We've made a plan that he's really going to focus on improving his grade before the end of the year, and at the same time research options in case he isn't successful. We went through his books together and I think the biggest thing is his note taking in class - he struggles to keep up and his notes are a mess and in some cases inaccurate. I'm going to talk to them about that tomorrow, but he's also going to focus on the CGP Revision & Workbook that he likes. He's made a 10 day plan for one topic and made a start tonight. I've also started looking for a tutor.

Looking at his work, some of his long answer questions are not too bad. I think learning the keywords and definitions off-pat will really help.

@Pinkfluffypencilcase you sound such a helpful teacher! We both really like the idea of options, which makes it all a bit more manageable. The EPQ one struck a chord with him and is the kind of project he loves.

For real estate degree apprenticeships he needs 96 points and for his chosen (back-up) degree courses, he needs 112 or can apply for an extended degree, with a foundation year. He is on track to get 96 from his BTEC Level 3 National Diploma. We know how competitive the degree apprenticeships are, think it's worth a shot. He would thrive on the applied learning alongside working. He's been through the assessment criteria and wants to give it a go. He has three work experience / insight programmes over coming months: two of which were competitive entry. So he's trying hard and could always apply for Level 4 or 5 as well.

@OhDear111 there is a long tradition of surveyors coming from many backgrounds and even at graduate level they take non-RICS accredited degrees in any subject. He chose sport as he likes the subject, did the GCSE but more importantly, the assessment style suits him. He is strong verbally and writes reasonably well, but is not great at memorising large amounts of info.

Thanks so much for all the input - I feel well prepared for tomorrow and will give you all an update.

@Bufftailed Oh, the stress of it all! I hope your DS improves too. I think a tutor is a good idea. I've also thought today that we have some time in hand before the summer exams (they are first week of June), so that gives us a good bench mark. I worked out his UCAS points and a D, if not ideal, would give him what he needs. I would love to hear more about the courses you have found.

Sorry, I didn't mean to quote the whole post!

For my DC it would be starting a new A level elsewhere alongside the two he is doing which are going better . His school pride themselves on never kicking anyone off a course (also meaning no repeat years). Not sure that is entirely sensible. DC is working hard and him and teacher say things will improve.

Like you have figured if he can do well in other two he can possibly weather it. But also looked at other options above ‘behind the scenes’ so I an informed should June mocks not show an improvement.

Good luck. It will all come out in the wash but doesn’t stop the stress.

.

Good luck with being a chartered surveyor, Do you scruffily know any?

At my sons school single BTEC'S are done in a year and are also suggested for year 13 where children are struggling with an A level in year 12.

Its probably worth finding out from the school why your son is struggling with A level business.

My son and others he knows have struggled with timing and the structure of essay based answers.

It maybe worth trying a tutor or looking on YouTube to see how to answer the essay based questions.

@Emyj15 Will def ask about what he's struggling with and also the options for next year. I haven't looked on You Tube yet, but last year it was a godsend with GCSE - some of these videos were incredibly helpful. 🙏

@OhDear111 Thank you, I wasn't sure if you were being sarcastic, but will take it in good faith. We know lots of chartered surveyors and admire our
sons ambition, drive and that he has a plan.

The jobs situation is entirely different now. I would not recommend sport when so many others will have geography degrees and more suitable qualifications. Obviously if he’s not having to compete and in a shoe in with mates, that’s different. For most young people now it’s so hard to get anything and many are extremely well and suitably qualified.

@GrumpyMuleFan Like @Emyj15 says, some schools teach the 1-A-level-equivalent BTEC in a year. So for example, your son is doing the 2-A-level-equivalent BTEC in sport. Most likely the school teaches it in a way that the 1-A-level units are all covered in year 12 and the remaining units in year 13. They usually do this so that pupils who drop out after one year still get a qualification. This may play in your favour here with Business: He may be able to do the 1-A-level-equivalent BTEC Business in year 13 together with the year 12s. It depends if the school offers the 2-A-level equivalent BTEC Business; if so, they will likely teach the 1-A-level-equivalent in one year.

Sorry if that's confusing - essentially your son may be able do a 1-A-level-equivalent BTEC in Business (or maybe another subject if not Business) in year 13!

PS. Maybe they offer a 1-A-level equivalent in Construction in a year? That would also be relevant to what he wants to do.

Both my sons got into university to study building surveying / quantity surveying with btecs in mechanical engineering. It is an industry that takes all levels from all walks of life. Many of the big firms have good training programmes that lead to qualifications in the subject, and ultimately becoming chartered.