What are the options for failed A’level results?

[Shimy]

And still aiming for uni.

Retake whole year
Retake but different subjects?
Degree Foundation year
Are BTECs possible at this stage?

Would like some advice please.

I repeat, my concern in my 1st response was never about grades - it was about the OP’s DS’s work ethic and commitment to his studies.

His likely success in a degree hinges on that.

I teach undergrads who come to us with grades from AAA to BTEC, and all grades in between AAA to BBB (lowest the university will admit students), but also mature age students with no A levels at all, but alternative entry requirements.

The common denominator is the desire to do the work, a commitment to learning, and independence and self-knowledge.

If his grades are CDD quite frankly I would t advise going for anything at all through clearing as I think that’s too weak a position To go from to a degree.

I failed mine first time - properly failed, retook and got CDD. At uni (one of the top London Colleges - the admissions tutor took a punt) I got a 1st and went on to do a PhD. I just really struggled with the parrot learning and regurgitation of A levels. As soon as I had to apply my learning I flourished.

Unescorted that’s probably the experience of many school pupils. The problem is, that Alevels/BTEC are mostly all that we tutors in universities have to judge how appropriate an applicant is for a degree course.

I hope the OP will have a really probing ongoing conversation with her DS about the nature of university study, and the need for independent self-motivated work.

And take the pressure off him if he’s not ready to go to university yet. Too many young people and their families don’t think about alternatives. And we end up having to chivvy students through in ways that I never had to do 3 years ago when I started teaching.

I wish we had a system with multiple entry and exit points, and other kinds of opportunities for learning and training, so immature young people could go away and grow up a bit, and work out what they really want to do in their lives. And if university becomes a necessity, it doesn’t have to be just for 18 year olds.

30years ago .... I mean!

Some of my DD's friends got Uni places in clearing last year with worse results than those OP. They may not have got into their first choice, but we have been surprised at the actual grades taken.

Cow Jumping - I see where you are coming from now.

My eldest DC hasn’t gone to uni, he did a BTEC but then got a job after about 6 months he said “I think everyone should have to work for a year before going to uni” rather radical I know but interesting to hear. He’s now 21 and has just started a course and he’s in a great place, so much more engaged than he was at 18.
My younger DS is the one at home self studying for his retake A levels and I think this year will do him good regardless of his end results, it’s taken a while but he has set himself a timetable for work which he is sticking too, he’s realised he has to prioritise study over gaming. I haven’t interfered as I know it’s something he has to do for himself as he will need to do it at university, it took him a while to do it but now he’s seeing the results of his good choices.

I think too many just go on a straight line from school to university and some are just not mature enough, I know many are perfectly capable but many are not.
It would be lovely if it was easier to go to university later but it seems so difficult.

Cow jumping - Thanks for your comments. I was following your first post and nodding along until I got to your jibe “university is not finishing school for the middle classes” . Totally and unpleasant comment. You have no idea who i am or what class (if any) and you’re starting to make lots of assumptions that might show you may have your own personal biases.

I’ve noticed when people come on MN to ask a personal question some posters just jump to all sorts of conclusions about the OP instead of just answering the simple question that was asked.

He has five months to do some work- BBB is possible from there if he did nothing for his mocks.
Otherwise, whether a local school would accept him would depend entirely on the funding. If the independent school received funding for his a levels, them the school will not, so they won't take him. He would have to change subjecs, and they would only get a reduced amount of funding due to his age, so are still within their rights to say no.

Ds bombed his mocks and despite upping his game at A level, failed to get into first choice uni course as got BCE ( course wanted BBC)...
Come results day he didn't want to go to insurance uni so phoned first choice uni to see what courses were available through clearing
He's now in 2nd yr of Geography and Environmental Science at Dundee and is loving the course...it's in top 30 in U.K.
He's now getting good results (2:1) in recent exams and is now considering MSc...so the poor A level results were not an indicator of his ability in a subject he now really enjoys
Bonus was he got a non means tested bursary of £2k just for choosing Dundee...it's well thought of for computing as well as game development
Safe city and loads of reasonably priced accommodation

I love hearing stories like that stop well done to your ds

Shimy- I think Cow Jumpings comment was probably aimed more at me as I was the one who said my DS was at private school and a gamer.
I know that Mumsnet has some very strong opinions on private/state school, which some people can’t help but express.
It doesn’t bother me I’ve sent my children to both state and private school and see good/bad in both and choose not to judge on either.

CDD is not a fail. Plenty of places in clearing will extend offers.

Itscold - I also mentioned my dc was at an Indy later on and concurred with you about the gaming. It’s just not nice when people come on to ask for help or advice about their dc, then as soon as you mention ‘indy’, some posters seize that opportunity to make snide remarks.

Stop- I loved your story too. I was asking about Dundee further upthread because it came on my radar when DS was choosing his Unis but in the end decided against it. It seemed very good for Computing as you say but I don’t know what the environment is like or even how well it’s regarded generally.

Shimy - I didn’t notice that you said he was at Indy sorry.
I know what you mean though, but luckily most people are offering great advice and this thread has been really interesting. So lovely to hear how well lots of DCs are doing despite not getting the predicted grades.
Must say last year (and the year before AS results) felt pretty grim and my DS (and me) felt like failures without many options.
Now I think it’s becoming a positive thing DS is more motivated and seems more grown up (he’s a young 18 year old) and he’s realised he has to make it happen by himself, we will always support him, but the hard work is down to him alone, something he didn’t really understand before !!

My niece got into UEA without A levels for computer science. Think she had a DIDA? and a tutor prepared to fight her corner.
Although completely different area DD got into the top uni in the county for her course with a btec. She had struggled at Alevels for 2 years but went kicking and screaming to college and did the Btec and came out with 3x D*.

@itscold - The advice on here has been great. I was in two minds about posting before, what with MN and all the high achieving self motivated Mnites! But in the end I decided if youdon’task You don’tget.

I didn’t school in the U.K so I don’t really understand the whole sixth form/college/funding etc angle as it relates to retaking which is why I wanted to know specifically about that. Infact I was surprised to learn that you can’t retake yr11 in the U.K except English and Maths thankfully we didn’t require this.

I’m still unclear wether if you retake yr 13 atanother school, are you allowed to also attend classes or will it just serve as a ‘centre’ for the retakeexams?

CDD in mocks can be turned to BBB in actual exams by putting in some work. I’ve seen it happen many times. As I have seen no improvement from those who didn’t bother.

Shimy - I’m afraid I can’t help re the funding thing.
Where I live the Private schools wouldn’t offer teaching beyond upper 6th and the 6th form College would only let him start again with 4 new A levels.
There are crammes in Cambridge where you can retake with lessons in a year but the fees were ££££ not an option for us.
We didn’t look at BTEC as we had already found out he could go to UEA (which is high up on his list) and do a foundation year in his subject, so even if he flunks his retakes he has that option.

Born - Haven’t given up hope for the magic BBB yet, just trying to cover all basis before August 15th .

Dd could have started again at 6th form college with btecs, but her state school let her stay for an extra year. No idea about funding.

Good luck! Bribery can work as a last resort. Though to be fair I’ve seen some massive turnarounds from the most unlikely people, without incentives being offered.

Dd got her btech free because she never took her 2nd year alevels and didnt cash in her drama btech
Ds retook his a levels as a guest student as his school but had to pay for the retakes. This was because he was only retaking 2 so not enough hours. He was allowed in school and could attend the class he wanted and even taught a class.

DS got BCE and uni had asked for BBC. B was in the subject he wants to study - they still accepted him. Try having a look at Uni Stats: unistats.ac.uk/. DS's results are in the lower % range of students on the course but he still got in. He also had to take portfolio and attend interview. It's not always just about grades. Their website says that they give unconditional offers to exceptional students. DS is also a gamer and there is a loose gaming element to a part of the course so hopefully all those hours wasted may turn out to be useful.

No state school will allow him just to rock up and sit exams!! He would count in their performance table figures, so no chance on that.
If he really doesn't pull his finger out between now and the exams, then a) really rethink University because it's a hell of a lot of money if he's going to continue faffing around and not working b) you'd be better off with Mander Portman Woodward college- they have branches all over, and are the sort of "go to" for children that don't get their grades at academic independent schools.
They also do Easter revision classes, but I've no idea how good they are, as presumably decent revision classes before A levels would deprive them of clients for a resit year!