Psychology with A,B,E this year or try to up the E grade and try again next year?

[DyslexicPoster]

Ds has got History A, Phycology B and a E in Biology. In hindsight Biology was a stupid choice but it too late now. Everyone is saying via clearing they won't consider a E as its a fail.

But we aren't sure if they would consider if it was a D grade for clearing.

Not sure right now if he should take the year off and try to get the E up to a D. Or try to cram another A level into a years course if that's even possible?

He had a offer of history at Liverpool but he wants to be a educational psychologist

Who is saying E is a fail?

Does he not need a degree in Psychology to become an EP? There will be further Masters/ PhD training to complete.
At one time I think you used to have to teach for a few years to be an EP.
I’m sure he’s done his research.

https://www.aep.org.uk/interested-career-educational-psychology

Southampton has Education and Psychology at BCC - is it worth giving them a ring?

I think the E will look bad when it’s a very competitive employment field. He’s clutching at straws somewhat. These courses are competitive and so are the jobs.

The Russel groups on the phone today. They have said its as good as not sitting a third A level.

They said anything below a D is not considered

Yes I agree. I think he would be better doing the History degree but his mind is set. He will end up doing something in education and History is more versatile subject to teach but he absolutely will not listen to me.

There’s a shortage of EPs atm. Clinical Psychology is extremely competitive.
I imagine he will still need a good degree to access the post graduate training.

My DS had a similar situation.

he took a different a level in a years course

it is possible but it depends very much on working hard and capabilities. If your DS got an A in history consider something like classical civilisation or politics.

That's a shame.

As he's done so well in History could he consider doing an online A-Level like Politics in one year?

I think he wants to hold put for a RG course to get the best chances of the postgraduate. Think the Biology A level was a epically bad choice. But it's my degree subject and even with dyslexia I found it a doddle. Seems I'm a odd ball as evidently it's not a easy subject.

I find maths very easy.

I have a degree in it.

my son hates it and really struggles and has a degree in music.

people are different.

honestly if he got an E after two years teaching and he got an A in history lean into his strengths

Psychology includes Biology. It is the science of mind and behaviour. If he struggled with a science A Level, he's going to struggle with a Psychology degree , which is a BSc after all.

Psychology isn't a science A level, the science really kicks in with the degree.

OP there are state colleges doing A level in a year depending where you are.

I was coming to say this as well. He needs to have a rethink. There is a big biology element in a psychology degree (and statistics). How did he do with his GCSE sciences and maths?

He may be better off doing history, a PGCE and then looking at doing a course in Educational Psychology after he's been teaching for a little while.

taking another A level over a year would be a good strategy. But I’d strongly recommend something with a bit of science or maths. Psychology is a science at degree level that needs some understanding of stats and experiments.

if he did history at Liverpool, he could then do a 1 year psychology conversion course and an MSc and be back on track for ed psychology. But that is also slow.

@Octavia64Maths and music go together! You are the maths and he’s the music! Makes sense to me.

I would go for the history degree too.

The E will be limiting, so he probably needs to look at a Foundation or sitting an extra A Level in something which suits his strengths better

I'm surprised they think an E is a fail, it's a pass although only just.

I got CEE and did psychology (went through clearing)

I'm surprised he got a B in Psychology (I assume you meant that) but an E in Biology, I thought there was a bit of overlap. When my DD did Psychology A level I know she had to have OK science gcses to do it.
It sounds like History/an essay based degree would suit him better.

a psychology degree is a lot of science- if he struggled with an a-level he would struggle with it at degree level. He's obviously more suited to the essay based subjects. Stick to history at degree level.

To be an educational psychologist, you can take a non psychology degree (like History) and then do a masters 'conversion' course in Psychology. You can then do the Doctorate in Educational Psychology to become an Ed Psych (although the doctorate is competitive and you need relevant work experience by this point). Only around half of Ed Psych trainees have a first degree in Psychology.

Another one here to day that degree level psychology is science heavy. Those of us who had done (and done well in) a level biology found much of the course much easier than those who hadn’t. If he struggled with a level biology he might well find a psych degree a challenge.

i looked in to becoming an EP a couple of years ago. I’ve got a psychology degree and 14 years teaching experience and wouldn’t have been a shoe in. It’s very competitive (despite the shortage!) - only 250 places a year or something nationwide.

A friend’s dd did business studies A level in a year online as an extra during her gap year.

He wants to do a psychology degree? That has a considerable amount of biology in it