Applying for university (engineering) with six GCSEs

[alnitak]

Namechanged for this as it's very outing.

My autistic son is at a specialist school where the academic provision is limited, and they are teaching a very wide range of ability in each lesson. Despite that he is on track to get six GCSEs, with grades of around 7, higher for maths and computing. He'll be moving for A levels.

I was looking for university engineering taster things and some stipulate 8 GCSEs as a minimum, which made me worry for him.

His school have said that he could take triple science instead of double, which would bring it up to 7, but that seems like a huge amount of work between now and GCSEs and he is understandably anxious about that.

Is this going to be a problem for him? And is adding the content of an extra GCSE between now and June realistic?

@alnitak
The opposite. If he can decide what branch of engineering, there is more choice. FM opens up choices too. I would certainly look at somewhere like Sheffield in that case but I agree that pastoral care will be important. Distance from home too I think.

@alnitak - he's in a little studio flat in private halls with his own loo/shower room and cooking facilities. That was the biggest adjustment for him, as his mum was planning to move to London with him but they couldn't find a flat in time, but he's coping well now after a rocky start.

Definitely look into Headstart during year 12.

Re other experience ...
My dd is now an electronics design engineer, she didn't have any 'work experience' prior to going to uni but that didn't seem to matter. However, she did do quite a bit of electronics and robotics during school, it's one of the easier engineering areas for kids to be able to get involved. For instance, she designed and built a couple of robots, one was for an 'artefact' EPQ which she did most of the practical work for in the summer between years 12 and 13 though she needed to use school tech equipment for some of it. This made a nice practical complement to a levels in physics, maths and fm plus AS comp sci (pre reforms) . She was also involved in the school vexx robotics club.

Don’t write off university outreach programmes just because they ask for 8 GCSEs, most will be flexible for students at special schools

That's helpful to know @Bunnyannesummers thank you