Home schooling for A-levels

[WhileMyMeringueGentlyWeeps]

I'm a complete newbie to even contemplating this so if you could answer my no doubt basic and naive questions that would be great.
DD2 17 is finding school very stressful as she has anxiety issues over crowds and large groups.
She has just started 3 A-levels. Can she study at home on her own?
Does she need a syllabus and where would we get one?
Is it necessary to have online teaching? I cannot afford to pay anything.
Is it difficult to find a place to sit exams?

I really don't know but imagine it would be really hard as it's an in depth dive into a subject - I can't see how you can do it without a tutor. Can she not take a year out and get help with her anxiety? How is she going to function in the work place if she can't manage with college?

I have tutored students for A levels in my subject and worked to grade those taking A levels from home (grading only in last two years obvs).

Afaik they have all had tutors or accessed some kind of home learning support. That is available but it will cost, clearly. Taking the exams externally also comes with a fee. There are centres that can support you with that.

Syllabus will be online for the specific board and subject. Unless you are a teacher I don't see how you can do this without support. I could teach my DC for A level in my subject (qualified secondary school teacher) but not any other, no way.

It's not impossible and I do know a few young people who have studied for A levels without tutor support, but everyone says that is quite a difficult thing to do. It is a big step up from GCSEs, which are quite commonly done by home ed kids working under their own steam.

Here is the main beginners' guide to the subject of doing exams while being home educated. You'll find links to forums where you can learn more details. he-exams.wikia.org/wiki/HE_Exams_Wiki

A further complication given your tight budget is this. If you are claiming benefits for your daughter as a young person continuing in full-time non-advanced education, home education would qualify... but only if it was begin before she was 16, or if she had special needs. If neither of those applies, when she leaves college you will lose the money for her.

I don't agree with that rule, which seems very unfair, but there isn't any way round it.

How is she going to function in the work place if she can't manage with college?

I second Saracen - possible, but very difficult and I would push to look at other options, maybe other colleges or different courses, before full-time home educated a teen through A levels.

The syllabuses are all available on the exam board websites, much as the GCSE ones are, though for Level 3 - A Levels, BTECs, there is an expectation of going above and beyond that, independant reading and study.

You don't need to use an online school, but possibly looking into something like ICS Learn where you can get payments plans could be useful to get an outside eye on the topic. I used this for my DS1's science IGCSEs, it worked pretty well (and meant we were covered when exams were cancelled).

Yes, it is difficult in most of the country to find places for exams as an external candidate. It was dwindling before COVID and now it's a lot worse as many ended up having to give refunds when they couldn't give results. I know many long time home educators that are choosing college options because it's such a problem.

It’s a brave move in the current climate. If exams are cancelled or changed, no one would be able to award a grade for your daughter. She could sit as an external candidate at most local schools (centres) but subjects like history and geography have non examined assessments and science have practicals that need to be marked by teachers. Our school wouldn’t allow you to do those as an external. I think try and get her support first.

Thanks all for your time and advice. This is just one option I am exploring. DD may just settle given time and I don't want to jump into anything

@WhileMyMeringueGentlyWeeps if you have Facebook, it's probably a good idea to ask on the home education groups there. I only say this, because you will get a good insight into how this works.

It is possible, and yes home educated children (including a levels at home) have managed to get places at oxbridge (in fact a few self taught some subjects).

Very doable