Degree options for a non academic child

[SwissAlps9]

I have started to think what options are there for DD2 who loves animals and is also very creative, has good long term memory and an eye for detail; however is behind academically, especially in maths and sciences.

How important is that she passes her GCSES and does A levels.? she said she would like to go to university.

She has an educational plan due to a speech and language disorder which is not severe but impacts the way she learns.

I have been thinking in something like graphic design, zoology, vet nurse?

She has mentioned actress, singer, interior designer, fashion designer; but I think these are jobs/careers which are competitive and difficult to get jobs

It is never too early to think ahead so long as you are open minded (and sounds like OP is being precisely that). Better to be asking questions too soon rather than too late.

With one of my DC, I used their interest in future paths to motivate them to do better at GCSE English (with the conspiratorial help of their fantastic English teachers!) Ie 'pass your English and open up choices that matter to you'

Ultimately their future path morphed to something very different. That was absolutely fine as their aspirations at the time gave them the motivation 'to get that grade', no matter how much they were not keen on English Lang or Lit.

I think going to uni for 3 or 4 years if not academic is a big mistake even if you get the grades to get in. Look at apprenticeship pathways.

How does the resitting works for kids who don’t pas the GSES? Do they repeat a year at the same school? Go to college to do them?

I am lost with the UK system.

If you don't pass your maths and English Lang you resit them in college.
If necessary you start on a lower level course, ie Level 2 or even Level 1 while you resit. You can have 3 years on college if needed.
You do not repeat y11, nor do you generally resit anything other than maths / Eng Lang.
My DD missed all y11 and ended up with no GCSEs at grade 4 or above. The world didn't end, there are always pathways.

You can definitely do vet nursing as an apprentice.

If you don’t achieve 4 or above in Eng lang or maths then you have to resit, alongside your post-16 choices (A levels BTEC etc).

Colleges are set up for this; sixth forms in schools less so as they usually expect passes in those to access A levels - tho a mate is Ds got a surprising 3 in English and stayed at school sixth form for A levels (not Eng obvs). He retook in November and hit a 6!

Zoology is a proper scientific degree which requires proper science A levels at good grades. It is certainly not a soft, fluffy option for the non-academic.
Vet nursing is a vocational job. The path which most people take is to get an entry-level job at a vet practice then, after gaining some experience of animal care and an understanding of the realities of veterinary medicine (blood, shit & death, basically) taking a RVN course at their local FE college.

Ds1 failed Eng lang and retook, then in the end passed functional skills L2 which is an equivalent level.

Thank you; So they go yo College and can’t continue in current school?

They study in college for free until they are 18? Can they take additional subjects in college or only English and maths?

Wildlife and Media degrees? Many have a foundation year. Ie:

https://www.cornwall.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/FdSc-Wildlife-Education-Media-Programme-Specification-2020-2021.pdf

https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/wildlife-media/

https://www.southwales.ac.uk/courses/bsc-hons-natural-history-and-media/

They can study for free for three years after GCSE. If they get enough decent GCSE grades they either stay at school for sixth from, usually for A levels, or go to college (either for A levels or more vocational level 3 courses). If they don't get enough GCSEs then college for a year to do Maths and English (if they don't have grade 4s) plus some further courses - which could be more Level 2 courses, or a mix of level 2 and level 3. Followed by either college for Level 3, or more college to keep doing level 2.

Op there are a number of options.

I know a lad who did badly at GCSE, went to college and resat yr 11 basically, took several GCSEs again. That’s quite unusual tho - there needs to be a realistic prospect of big improvement. But you’re funded until 19 so it’s possible. Tho actually this was 2019 so things may have changed.

Also as I said some school sixth firms will admit and allow retakes. Less common tho and more for, say, a student taking humanities subjects who had done well in those but just failed to get a 4 in maths.

How old is your older dd @SwissAlps9 ? Has she done GCSEs already?

There's definitely time for her to go from being non-academic to academic. My son didn't learn to read until year 8 when he was put into an 'intervention' type class. He ended getting top grades at English Literature GCSE.

That said, don't push your DD in a direction she doesn't want to go in. That's the surest way to make her miserable and hate those subjects with a passion. Let her embrace her creativity if that is how she wants to go. Whatever direction she chooses, it's important that it really is her own choice.

My DD1 is in the 3rd year of a Zoology degree and needed a minimum of AAA to get in. It is very hard work,her modules have included neuro science and statistics so the students need to be very academic.
Has your DD considered being a groom? There is a shortage of good staff and a good one can command £30k+ a year,plus a house,working abroad the sky is the limit.
She could go to college and start studying for her BHS exams at 16, and if money is short,some of the Pony Club higher qualifications are the equivalent of the BHS ones and are a lot cheaper to do.

The apprenticeship is arguably harder than the degree route as they have to do all the same study and assignments as the degree and work full time often covering out of hours. Plus the apprenticeship is 2 to 2.5 years whereas the degree is 3 to 4 years.
To do vet nursing as an apprenticeship you need to be super organised and very driven as well as having academic ability.

Haven’t thought of being a Groom, didn’t realise it was even a job. I think she would love a job working with horses and outdoor.

You can do a T-level in equine, with riding or non riding options. At DD's college you have to pass a riding test to do the riding option as you need to be able to ride a variety of horses not just your own. It seemed to only be a small part of the course

I personally wouldn’t encourage jobs with horses as you need to look ahead to where you want to be / what you want to be doing at 30/40 ( been there got the T-shirt ) . She could look at things like dog grooming as that is a booming industry .

Does she even like horses/have a horsey hobby at the moment?!

Thank you; So they go yo College and can’t continue in current school?

That depends on the school. My son’s old school had a work skills pathway for those who didn’t pass their GCSE’s. It consisted of maths & English resits alongside a level 2 work skills course.

However that isn’t usual. Most school 6th forms are only set up to offer A levels or maybe the odd Level 3 Btec/T Level. Colleges on the other hand can offer a much wider range of courses at Levels 1 - 3

for reference Gcse grades 1-3 is Level 1
gcse Grades 4-9 are Level 2
A levels are Level 3

We are not pushing her anywhere or putting any pressure on her; we are just letting her get on with things but I am worried we have gone too hands off and that we need gentle push so She pases her GCSEs .

I know is still a few years but if she doesn’t start catching up now it may be too late in 2 years.

She loves horses and animals in general and being outdoors.

She also loves drawing and have a great eye for detail.

I am sure she will find something she loves but need to make sure she has good english and maths foundation.

Get her some proper careers advice so her strengths and interests can be explored. Try the Moresby test online

She's in year 8. Focus on the support she needs to pass her GCSEs first time, not these distractions about if she fails 3 years from now.

It's absolutely pointless (and unfair on her) to be focusing on the minutiae of what happens hypothetically if she fails - invest that time and headspace in what she needs to pass!