Oh dear that is a shame.
yes I've heard very good things about Little Arthur too.
Our children used different paths.
Ds went to college post 16 and did 2 GCSEs then, one day a week, for free. He used those GCSEs to do a couple of A levels. Then he got himself a job in a local garage, saving for when he went to Uni, so he doesn't come out with such a big debt.
He then did a one year acces course and used that to get into University.
He has just finished his first year and is having a great time and doing well.
Dd1 didn't do any GCSEs -she used life experiences, such as sailing round the country with another HE family, for two long summers, helping launch a new dyslexia charity, and helping to run workshops for women who have suffered domestic violence, to get herself a job with a well known national organisation.
She has gone onto FE college as a mature student and will start Higher Ed in Sept.
Youngest was far too severely dyslexic to do GCSEs-she couldn't have completed the exams in the time allowed.
Instead she did an OU starter course, starting at 15 and achieved all of the outcomes. She used that to get into FE college were she got straight Distinctions on her BTec Nat Diploma and will also be in Higher Ed by Sept!
so there are alternatives out there -SDeuchars link will show more details of the choices available.