Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Further education

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

Original poster

Would my son be better off pulling out and not sitting his Alevels next month?

6 replies

LampL1ght · 24/04/2023 18:32

My son has been ill the past 3 years. Retook year 12 so is all out of time. He has plodded on and dragged himself in to college whenever possible but has missed a lot and is simply unable to revise. He is bright and his grades can range from As to Ds. I thought he could just do an access for Uni course later when he is able to go to college but I now understand any level 3 qualifications mean he couldn’t do it. So would he be better off just not sitting them at all?

[Title edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

OP posts:
Tradescantia252 · 25/04/2023 16:13

Definitely sit the exams and see how he gets on. It might not be as bad as you fear.

Even with Cs and Ds he will be able to get onto a degree somewhere: even if it's not the most prestigious uni but it would be a clean slate for him and the next level achieved. Not to mention a mental boost to get there at last. Consider too that many decent universities now even offer foundation years for those with these kinds of grades.

Whereas if he doesn't take the exams he won't have anything at all to show for the last three years which is really dispiriting for him.

Bunnyannesummers · 20/05/2023 22:37

That’s not correct about the access course. They’re absolutely available to learners who already hold level 3 quals, they’re just not funded. You need to take out an advanced learner loan to cover them, which is a form of student finance. If you go to university, that loan is wiped.

mdh2020 · 20/05/2023 23:05

Sit the exams. He could always do a degree with the Open university.

RampantIvy · 20/05/2023 23:13

I hope your DS's health has improved @LampL1ght

There is a long thread in the higher education topic about students not coping with university, with several posts from posters who work in higher education.

I would consider very carefully whether your son could cope with a degree course. There are other routes that may suit him better than going to university.

mondaytosunday · 24/05/2023 17:57

@LampL1ght what has he decided to do? Is he taking the exams?

dimples76 · 24/05/2023 18:05

He could also look into doing a foundation year which could allow him to progress onto a degree which he might not have the points for (if his results are not as good as his potential)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread