DD isn't academic enough for uni but just won't accept this.

[Lillians]

DD is 19 and got 1 A, 4 Bs and 3 Cs at GCSE. She went on to sixth form where she didn't pass the 1st year and had to leave, she went to another college to retake the first year (it was only maths as the other 2 subjects were 2 years) and failed again. She didn't get a chance to do any exams in the other subjects.

She works part time now and volunteers for childline. She says her volunteering has made her realise how much she wants to be a mental health nurse specifically to do with eating disorders.

I have said to her there are sooo many different ways you could get involved with that without being a nurse and she doesn't want to hear it, gets upset saying that she wishes I had faith in her etc. when I do!! She just isn't academic enough for uni.

I don't know how to offer her advice any more.

She might consider a Level 3 BTEC course, I've know quite a few people thrive on BTEC after crashing at AS / A Level.

It would give her a qualification in its own right and prepare her for uni if she does want to continue into nursing.

Access courses also good, glad she is investigating.

That Edgehill course is not a nursing degree, it's a not good enough to do nursing so we'll offer you this instead type of course. To do nursing after that she'd need to take another degree (and finance it).

This is why you need proper advice Lillians, well meaning but bad advice could be very costly.

Yes, I cross posted with you before. It sounds like she just couldn't do maths A level and that was the main/ only real problem rather than lack of work as was my first assumption.

It might also be worth being aware that there is a new apprenticeship for nursing:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/nursing-degree-apprenticeships-factsheet/nursing-degree-apprenticeship-factsheet

Feel really annoyed for your dd, the school was wrong. Glad you are looking at access courses for her.

I left school with the A-C's at GCSE and also dropped out of college. Did an access to nursing course at college at 24 and passed with distinction - now in my final year of Nursing and have got a 1st in every assignment in uni so far bar one (my first).

With three A-C's

I work in the NHS as a midwife and am also a general nurse. Many of our students have a similar educational background. They are not typical of the usual university cohort
: many have qualified via access courses
: many have done relevant work experience such as health care assistants which goes down very well at selection
: others have relevant voluntary experience
: many are older 25-50 often with kids

Whilst some nurses are very strong academically, there are many roles for those who want to concentrate on their people and practical skills.

She has similar gcse results to me. I never did a levels as would have failed. Did a btec. Then to uni.

Now have two degrees, a masters and am applying for a full time uni lecturer post, already do part time lecturing.

In a subject she's interested in with good support in how to structure essays she could do very well.

It sounds to me that it's not so much you don't have faith in her, more that you'd hate to see her fail and be upset yes?

But she has to do this if she believes that is her vocation. If she never tries she'll always be wondering what if...and speaking as someone who frequently thinks just that, this can be really upsetting too. I suspect a degree in Nursing is a very different kettle of fish academically from A level maths, any degree is an incredibly different thing from school qualifications, completely different way of learning that some who maybe don't get on so well in school do brilliantly with. Your daughter is obviously clever, and more importantly for uni, she sounds like she has a great work ethic too. Can you look at Access courses for her? Or contact some MH nursing course providers to see how she could get in and what she really requires?

My husband got far worse gcse results, scraped two A levels but did a degree in music & now teaches at university degree level.

I met my son's new form tutor this week. He told us he got average grades at school, had to retake English gcse but then did Btec in sport & trained as a secondary teacher.

Sounds like she just chose the wrong A levels & would be better off goingvthe vocational Btec route.

That Edgehill course is not a nursing degree, it's a not good enough to do nursing so we'll offer you this instead type of course. To do nursing after that she'd need to take another degree (and finance it).

This is why you need proper advice Lillians, well meaning but bad advice could be very costly.

I know it's not nursing Bombadier but I mentioned it because the OP's dd has been volunteering in this field of work. Perhaps I muddied the water a little by saying the University was well rewarding for nursing (which it is) but the course seemed to be along the lines of what the OP's dd is interested in.

I had similar gcse grades and a B and a D grade at A levels. My first degree I got a 2:2 and I've just passes my second degree with a first.

My point being is that grades can be very much dependent on the type of course, time of life, life experience and motivation. Uni's offer a huge amount of support in relation to academic writing these days and a nursing course would involve a lot of practice placements so its about much more than academics.

Just as a side note - I love doing my nursing and wouldnt change it for the world, however due to lots of cuts recently the NHS no longer funds bursaries, and students work on the ward 50% of the time (5-6 months a year)! I know I wouldnt have been able to do this if they hadnt funded me, sadly.
Obviously lots of people will manage totally fine, but just to make you aware, if she does choose to go forward.

I don't see any reason why your daughter can't do access to nursing and then study mental health nursing at university. My friend recently graduated (nature student) as a mental health nurse from London South Bank Uni, it's hard work but she loves it.

I had mental illness during my teenage years which lead me to drop out before finishing school. I now have two GCSEs and 2 A levels but also 2:1 BSc from a top ten Uni that I did in my twenties. In the course of getting there I changed A levels twice, attempted an access course, dropped out of two colleges before going to a third... my mum was nothing but supportive and encouraging, no matter how much I failed. Start getting behind your daughter instead of discouraging her, she's much more likely to succeed with a champion behind her instead of a downer.

She needs advice from a nursing school or careers centre.
I got dreadful GCSE results and did 1 year of night school a levels at 23. I only got a D and E but it was enough to get me onto a foundation course, I now have a really good degree, and a PhD - she's found a focus, let her explore this, different subjects may be the difference she needs
Ps I was crap at maths .... pure maths anyway nursing is more of a vocation course

See if childline do sponsorships for students - help with fees etc

flumpy - childline sponsoring students? I've never heard of that (thats not to say it isnt true), but surely as OP's DD is over 18 even if they did she wouldnt be eligible? Also, surely she would have to be a CIN?

AFAIK they don't. It's a very popular place that graduates want to work so there really isn't a need (it's ran by NSPCC obviously). She's just a volunteer for their helpline and web chat service.

She absolutely loves it.

Thank you for all the comments

The NHS bursaries are gone so I would say look at the routes for the apprenticeship, BTEC for now???

It sounds like she was treated badly at college. Maths wasn't the right subject for her but she was doing well at the other 2, she should have been allowed to drop maths and pick up something else as an AS. Then she would have had 2 decent A levels and an AS. Her GCSE grades are not that bad, she really should have been able to go on to further study with those.

I'm another nurse with almost identical GCSE results including the B for maths. There's no way I'd have managed A-level maths! Yes drug calculations get complicated - but if you're unsure you check with someone else! You look it up. I had to pass a basic maths test to go through on my nursing course. Interestingly after reading another post further up, it never occurs to me to wonder how my students got on the course, all I know is where they're at in their training and I get an idea of their experience.

OP it does sound like the school A-level set up wasn't suitable for her. I did better with less 'academic' subjects. Have you thought about getting her an appointment with a careers advisor to help her understand the routes to get on to a nursing course?

Dniece was similarly badly advised by school.
I would suggest she also looks at local mentsl health trusts as some of them are running apprenticeship schemes, assistant practitioner is a course she is probably already qualified to get on, this leads to a band 4 post, you can then go on to do a shortend nursing degree and hopefully seconded through. Win win as you're paid throughout and no debt.
Ive known a few peopple get their qualification this way.

People would say DD3 wasn't academic enough to go to university but she did and has just finished with a 2:2 degree in computing. She has had a few interviews and is getting phoned up all the time about jobs. Going to university is not all about being academic if that is what your DD wants let her get on with it and support her in her decision

I'm really surprised the school allowed her to take maths a-level with those GCSE results. It's a really hard a-level and demoralising to have to struggle through it if you're not a very able maths student.
I see no reason at all why your DD can train to be a mental health nurse though. What qualifications does she need to get on the course? Definitely not Maths. Speak to the school and work out what 'softer' subjects she can study in order to be accepted on to the course. If she's determined, she can do this!