Only 1 A Level - Music

[BrightBlueCast]

DS desperately wants to apply to college / conservatoire to study music. He's so far only doing 1 A level and that's in Music. Distance-learning. Equivalent of lower sixth so he'll take the exams next year. The idea was to do another A level via home-ed but nothing appeals. It looks very much like 2 A levels are a minimum for all the places he's looking at but I'm just wondering if there's any way at all of getting around that requirement. He's had a lot of bad luck and some bad things happen and he just wants to move on with the next chapter of his life - the thought of having to do another A level (he isn't interested in anything apart from Music) is getting him down.

Other (slightly daft) question is what would be the best A level to do, in addition to Music, which he could half-arse in a year and get an E. He's very bright and always did very well at school until he had a bit of a breakdown 18 months ago. GCSE results are very solid. But fundamentally doesn't like academic study.

Child at conservatoire - jazz. IIRC, the 2 Es is about student funding, not really a conservatoire requirement at all (they really do only care about the audition). That might be why it is seeming so difficult.

Would a consultation lesson be a possibility? Or auditioning for junior conservatoire wherever is most local to you? I am wondering whether a 'structured' sample of 'what he wants to do' (rather than the hopes and dreams sold at open days) might create a more solid platform - and an opportunity for individual feedback, advice etc - on which to base next steps?

@jellybeanteaparty - unfortunately he had a bad experience with GCSE Computer Science. Although, of course, no (or not very many) essays so ....

A Btec might have suited him. My son’s “thing” is musical theatre but the pop music based Btec has been brilliant (he just introduced the other kids to Jason Robert Brown & Ben Platt! There are some on his course who are more into jazz.

@cantkeepawayforever - he's already at a Junior Conservatoire but doesn't want to go there. Feedback is very positive about his playing and he's got a good relationship with his teachers. His attendance is poor but they know the reasons for that.

Even if conservatoires waived the 2 Es, he doesn't even have 2 subjects. Although I will, of course, find out about alternative routes and exceptions. Good to know it's about funding - that makes sense. He's good but he's not super super good on his first instrument - there will be others who are better. But he is a good all-round musician.

I think he's dead set on what he wants to do, so Open Days are neither here nor there. It's the getting to that point that's tricky.

@Comefromaway yes I think he might have enjoyed it, in the right setting.

@AReallyUsefulEngine could you possibly signpost me to more info about ECHNA? I asked several organisations (local authority, special needs team etc) if there was anything we could apply for after he withdrew from school at the beginning of Year 12 and was told no. It seems 16-19 doesn't qualify for much at all.

@BaileysBreakfast will do!

EHCPs can last until 25 if necessary, or 26 in certain circumstances thanks to a recent ruling. You can apply for one yourself, don’t listen to the LA. IPSEA and SOSSEN have lots of helpful information on their websites and they both have helplines too.

When DC are compulsory school aged the LA have a duty under s.19 of the Education Act 1996 to provide alternative education if they cannot attend school but that doesn’t apply post 16 pupils so the only way to get support is via an EHCP.

@AReallyUsefulEngine so everyone lied to me, including IPSEA....

Depending on his age, an Access course?equivalent to three a levels but where I'm from I think you have to be over 21

I am surprised IPSEA told you you couldn’t apply for an EHCNA. You certainly can.

This IPSEA page confirms over 16s can apply for an EHCNA.

@Comefromaway ABRSM are not the only music exam boards, or, these days, the most prestigious. Trinity, LCM and MTB all carry equal weighting at grade 6 and above.
O P, l agree with others suggesting a BTECH course. It will carry the weight of three A levels and give your son more time to make sure that this is what he really wants to do. Please be aware that consevatoire courses are extremely competitive and he will be up against the best music students from all over the world.

Aaargh! I teach Film Studies. It is very definitely NOT easy.

@MissNothing1991 - Access courses are 19 + here, so not an option (yet).

@Violinist64 problem with BTech is that he'd have to attend college: there aren't many in our area and the ones that do exist are grim. His social anxiety wouldn't hold out. He's very sure about what he wants to do - that's not the problem. The problem is that he's dug himself into a hole and is only, so far, studying for one A level. I'm fully aware that conservatoires are high level - I'm a music graduate, work in the music business. He's very good - not the best but stands a fair chance. The problem I'm trying to address in this post is the case of his 1 A level. Not whether he wants to go to music college, or is good enough to go to music college: that's not what I'm asking about.

It might be possible to do a BTEC at home or virtually via EOTAS with an EHCP. It would be harder to arrange than many GCSEs and A levels but it is possible.

I'm off to bed in a minute but THANK YOU to each and every one for helping. I have a lot to think about. I've done zero work today but I've advanced things in my mind a bit for my son, and that's the biggest job in my life!

I’d say it was pretty impossible to do a music Btec online as a majority of the assessments are about collaborating, performing in a group and organising a group project.

Is he good at Maths? Music is mathematical and you should be able to get a decent grade in it if you can grasp the concepts.

I would really recommend a chat with the admissions teams at all the colleges that he is interested in. I know people who have had unconditional offers from Cardiff and Birmingham in the past. If that isn't an option then it might be worth a chat about what might be accepted - the Open University offer an access course in general arts and a certificate in Music that might be acceptable. Morley college used to offer a music access course -not sure if they still do.

You could also think off the wall and look at a couple of Scottish Highers via distance study? Two Highers and an A level may well be enough if the audition is OK. FOr what its worth DC had an EE offer from RCM and was told that if for some reason she didn't get it to be in touch and they'd restate it in terms of UCAS points (and she already had enough for that due to multiple Grade 8s/diplomas etc).

I’m not sure that a successful conservatoire application will be the magic bullet for his mental health and issues. What does he see himself doing after conservatoire? Is a formal qualification required for what he wants to do? Is he really likely to switch from how he is now to comply with set work at the conservatoire just because he has moved away from home? Is there another way to support a transition away from home with a structure of music related work or activities?

What sort of conservatoire does he want to go to?

General Studies A level is one of the subjects that was discontinued in the 2017?18 A level reforms. So this is no longer an option.

Got confused by the name change so didn't see the updates. Can you come at this from a different direction? Are there any groups for autistic teenagers locally? He sounds like he could do with building confidence again and maybe meeting people like him will help him to come out of himself again and find motivation.

If he carries on like this in a rut then he will find it harder to snap out of it if he goes manage to get a place. I'm autistic myself and I think you and he need to put in place steps to come out of this slump so he's in a position to be able to study. I would start with building confidence and perhaps start laying the foundations of him needing to defer all this for a year so he can mentally prepare for that possibility.