Options for DS18

[ikeepforgetting]

DS18 turns 19 in October, finished an Extended Certificate course last year (equivalent to 1 A-Level) with a Merit and has decided that's enough for him. It was quite a specialist route he had gone down and has completely changed his mind. He thinks he would like to go to University to study a humanities subject, but that feels a long way off.

Ideally he could have done an Access to HE course from September, so he can develop the skills he needs in a new subject for uni, or indeed to rule it out if he found it difficult. He has SEN so learning isn't straightforward for him.

Because he is not 19 on 31 August, he cannot do an Access course - unless I am missing any loopholes? I don't really want him hanging around waiting for a year, I would love if there was something he can do this year to be able to start a Foundation year at uni in 2027 if that is what he really wants.

We've talked about and looked at apprenticeships, but he has his sights on living independently so sees uni as his only way to do that - in his black and white thinking. Plus he has no real idea what job or career he would like and apprenticeships and other vocational qualifications are quite specific.

Feeling a bit lost about how to help him get there to be honest!

Speak to the college [or colleges], given he is almost 19, some colleges will allow entry at 18 on a discretionary basis. There may also be the option to privately fund it. My DD (AuDHD) did it at 19, but I would highly recommend it. She loved it and ended up at a Russell Group Uni doing classics. It really is brilliant prep for uni and there were no issues with uni offers.

It’s only state funded in those circs.
they may be prepared to let him pay.

my dc in similar circumstances did a part time catering course just to get her used to study again (she’d been ill).
it’s been surprisingly useful (not to mention teaching her to cook)

Thanks for replies, I'll call the colleges today and see what they say. Not sure I can fund it myself though - but there may be options. Definitely want him to learn skills and meet people this year, I think both of us are overwhelmed by options and choice!

I just found some colleges in London that do intensive A levels in a year - anyone had experience of doing one of these? he fits the criteria, in that he already has a Level 3 and would like to top up with an A Level, but not sure if it would be too intensive for him.