homeschool/online A-level Biology and Chemistry

[Nicolass]

Has anyone's dc completed Bio and Chem a-levels as a private candidate? I'm keen to hear your stories - what worked / what you learned / what you might have done differently.
We have come to the conclusion that our dd would do better either pausing a-level or doing them outside of school. Social anxiety is what's holding her back from attending her current school. School have been super supportive but there is a limit to how much they can help a young person who doesn't want to engage with them. DD wants to continue study and really wants to write her exams in 2023. CAMHS are helping her and also assessing for ASD and other neurodevelopment need. We as parents are more relaxed and would support a delay while she focuses on mental health. We will happily support her in trying a different pathway like online learning...perhaps a change will help her accept slowing it down too. She is academically capable, explores advanced topics out of interest and has a passion for these subjects. We both have degrees in related subjects.
I've researched how private qualifications work and have started looking at online tuition. there is a lot to work out! I'm sure school will help us too but always find it more helpful to hear other peoples stories, successful or not.

[titchy]

No specific advice but much easier if school is on board as she will need to do practical lab assessments for those subjects - which you couldn't do at home obviously. If she is in year 13 and delaying taking the exams for a year bear in mind the grade boundaries will be much higher next year.

[Imitatingdory]

Before you deregister apply for an EHCNA. EHCPs can include online schooling or home tuition, and they have the benefit of being able to include MH therapies.

[Nicolass]

@titchy she is in year 12 and I think it's likely will take longer to finish
@imitatingdory I hadn't thought about an EHCNA, will look into it. She's been on the school SEN register since starting there ...never formally diagnosed for anything other than needing extra time due to poor motor skills. The SEN side of school has been a disappointment. I learnt a couple of weeks ago that they long suspected ASD to the extent it is in her SEN record but never discussed concerns with us. As parents we saw a child who had some traits of something like ASD or dyspraxia, but also saw a child who was succeeding academically and an SEN department that was hard to access/contact. Hindsight is a blurry lens and all that. The mental health issues have only escalated in the past 2years and tbh have been focused on getting her therapy and surviving the pandemic. I have not given any thought to the documenting side of things.

[HomeEd2021]

the main issue is the practical endorsement. It is a part of the UK domestic A level qualification and many uni courses will make this a condition of their offer. As a private candidate, the two options are either:

1. book a course with a provider who can sign off the practical endorsement (and make sure it will be accepted by the exam centre). There are several providers. they are not free. the lab work usually takes about a week per subject
   
2. Do an international A level. Pearson/edexcel international will accept entries from UK private candidates registered with an online school (but possibly not from those doing purely self-study). tutors and exams can run the exams for private candidates. Net-school, harrow online and pearson online all run courses for biology and chemistry A level. With international A levels there is no practical endorsement and knowledge of practicals is assessed through two written papers.
   Thinkwell is worth a look - they do video courses for biology and chemistry that are roughly A level standard though not specifically aligned. See www.thinkwellhomeschool.com/products/biology
   www.thinkwellhomeschool.com/products/chemistry
   they are a good supplement to an A level textbook if self-studying

[becky1066]

Hello! I can see this is an older posted but what was originally posted is my current situation.

Just wondered of the author had any advice and what route they took? Thanks