Help! DSS has just failed his AS levels

[Flumpy2012]

DSS has worked incredibly hard this year but it turns out that further education is just not for him. He received 2 U's and a C in his favoured subject. We are now desperately searching for an apprenticeship in automotive engineering for him to start ASAP!
Absolutely any help is gratefully received. He has good gcse results!!

apprenticeshipvacancymatchingservice.lsc.gov.uk/navms/forms/candidate/Apprenticeships.aspx

www.apprenticeships.org.uk/

HTH

www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/apprenticeships-223/filter/sectorFilter/engineering-9

Oh, no, poor him.

I just wanted to say - a C is not a failure! Please don't let him think that. He must be feeling rotten, but even though it's hard, he should be proud of that grade.

He is not a failure!

Academic study is not for everyone, true. And if he has worked doubly hard that is worth way way more in terms of pride in effort made. He's worked for that grade and it represents much more than just the letter. Well done to him, and I hope you find him a great apprenticeship.

Thank you so much for your replies. The C is a brilliant achievement in a subject he excels in. I think the school have let him down massively, it's the first year they've had a sixth form and there's been a lot of complaints about the set up. 3 different teachers for one class subject.
We will work hard to find him an apprenticeship he'll be happy with.
He knows we love and support him and are proud no matter what. He's bright, he works hard and is generally lovely. As teenagers go I couldn't ask for better x

Oh, that sounds rotten. At least he knows it wasn't a level playing feel.

Best of luck to him (and you sound a lovely mum, btw).

I went to a Uni which was mainly engineering orientated.

There were many students there without A levels. They had worked through OND and HND qualifications and then entered a degree course a few years later.

It worked quite well for them as some forms of engineering e.g. Agricultural, mechanical are a mix of study and hands on practicality.

Two of my friends who came through this way achieved PhD's and one of them is frequently on "Scrapheap Challenge"

Can't get better than that!

Have you thought about repeating the year at a college and doing g btecs alongside the a level in the one he got a c in? Much more vocational choice and it might suit him better.

I know this. I have been there..........

Yes BTEC was the term I was after!

Flumpy, sorry about your DSS's results. Have the school got a Careers Advisor? They should be able to help.

My DS is currently wondering whether to do the year again. He did very little work and has ended up with average grades. The problem is, the unis he is considering all want As and it's unlikely he'll achieve As even if he works his socks off next year.

He had plenty of warnings this would happen but thought he'd 'wing' it. Now he's learnt the hard way.

I found my local college was much errrr than sixth form at my old high school. Even though we were students we were treated like adults and not school children. The tutors were fab too. Is there any way he'd redo the a levels at a college with a BTEC in mechanics alongside as pp have suggested?

If his sixth form was as badly organised as you say ten you DSS may be more than capable of higher grades with a decent college.

Another vote for BTEC. My subject is different but we get a lot of 'mop up's from AS.

Aww your poor ds

I have to say the set up of the school sixth Form doesn't sound good. Three teachers for one subject?! At ours we don't have two teachers unless it's totally unavoidable and would never have three!

Anyway back to your ds. Is there a local college near you (sixth Form or otherwise)? We often get students at ours who did a year somewhere else, didn't do well and want a fresh start.

Yes consider BTEC alongside the subject he got a C in as they are more vocational which may suit your ds better.

Apprenticeships are also a good option. I had a student like your son who found A-levels weren't for him. He went to do an Electronics apprenticeship and loved it.

There are options and he will find what he wants.

Good luck