Foundation year or extra year at 6 form

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DS has some chronic health problems and has had mixed results in his L6 exams largely due to his attendance being at about 66% (ie 1-2 days off a week). It is likely that this will continue next year. Before anyone tells me I need to tackle this - there is nothing I can do, this is his health on a treatment plan. He barely attended school at all in Y10/11 (pre getting his medication sorted) and did his GCSE's with a home tutor so this is a big improvement. His 6f have suggested to him to drop an A level and just take 2 next year (hoping the lighter timetable will mean he can improve his attendance/ grades) then stay on for a 3rd year and do another qualification (possibly an A level or a BTEC) in 1 year.

DS is not keen on this plan and wants to press on with all 3 A levels and if he doesn't get the grades he needs he'll look at doing a foundation year before Uni. We've just started looking at Uni's and some of the ones he's shortlisted offer the subject with a foundation year. This might all change of course (we've got some open days to go to) but does anyone have any advice which of these plans is best? Are there pro's and cons I'm not seeing?

Presumably another £20k of student debt if he goes down the Foundation Year route, but speak to his sixth form Uni advisers, they will know the ins and outs. Also at home for another year you can presumably help support his health and he won’t get that at Uni I imagine.

I'd be inclined to take an extra year at school as education is funded up to 19. He won't incur student debt by doing this.

I know several young people who restarted year 12 and were subsequently very successful with their A levels and degree.

Financially an extra year in sixth form is a better option.
What subjects is he doing and what are his grades currently? What’s he thinking about doing in uni?

I had a similar issue with one of my DC at the end of Yr 11. They chose the take three years to do A levels option. It meant better chance at the grades to get into a better degree course. They were not the only one in this position, too, there were other DC with health conditions that had them on a 3yr path.

The thing with health is that mind over matter, or just pushing through it can make it worse? My DC’s health improved massively by the pressure and work being reduced to what they were well enough to handle. So we were alot more confident sending them off to Uni in considering whether they could handle the transition and extra work.

Thanks. Yes I think both financially and health wise the 3 year 6th form is the better option. Just need to persuade him of that now.

He got BDE in his lower 6 exams and needs AAB/ABB for the courses he wants to do. He said the D was 2 marks off a C. He retook the E (different paper) and got a B the second time round. His 6f give predicted grades of 1 grade above the L6 exam result so with a bit of luck he could get AAB depending how they deal with the retake.

Agree with the additional year in sixth form. Once he does apply to universities, communication with the support team could be very fruitful in terms of support he may need with the course, adjustments etc.

What type of course does he want to do at Uni? Have you seen the Cambridge Foundation Year in Arts Humanities and Social Science, they want BBB if you fit the criteria?

Sorry pressed post too soon - and it's fully funded for tuition and maintenance, so wouldn't mean taking on extra debt.