College applications after home education

[40somethingJBJ]

Hi all. Ds is 15 (would be yr10) and we’re starting to look towards his options next year. He’s hoping to get onto a music BTEC at the local college, but how does it work with applying etc? Do I just contact them directly? And when should we be doing this?

He’s hoping to take GCSE’s next year, providing he’s ready and we can find somewhere to take them, but not sure if colleges ask for predicted grades etc. I know part of the application for the course is an audition, which he’ll be absolutely fine with, but it’s the rest that I’m wondering about.

Has anyone applied recently and can advise? Thanks :)

Most colleges will ask for predicted grades.
When my eldest applied we predicted his grades between us based on practise papers.
I know others who have asked tutors to and others who have left them blank and just told college they didn't have them.No one I know has had any problem. When applying for 6th form grades are more an indicator of likely ability to cope with level of course, interview more important and colleges expect to move students about in first few weeks.
Applying to 6th form is very different to applying for uni.

As for when and how. Most colleges have online applications. Look at the websites of colleges that interest him. Lots set application dates quite early like Christmas. But providing there is space they will stay open. My eldest changes his mind on results day.Declined his offered place and applied to a different college for a different course. It was fine, started a week later.

Thanks. I’ve dropped an email to the college he’s interested in so will see what they say. We currently don’t have a tutor, but looking into it for yr11 so good that they can predict grades if needed.