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Find advice from other parents on our Homeschool forum. You may also find our round up of the best online learning resources useful.

Original poster

A level self tuition?

39 replies

Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 20:10

Hi, just wondering if anyone’s child has studied A levels at home rather than in school?
My son is about to start Y13 but wants to study this year from home and then register to sit the exams next summer as an independent student.
Does anyone know if that is 1) possible and 2) how does he go about it?
He Is currently doing 3 A levels, but wants to drop 1 to focus on the other 2 (his school won’t allow this unfortunately).

OP posts:
Haybo26 · 04/09/2022 20:14

My son is currently doing this. He is doing it through Absorb Online.

Dannexe · 04/09/2022 20:15

Which A Levels?

and what is the point of doing two ALevels? What does he want to do?

DogDaysNeverEnd · 04/09/2022 20:18

Not the same but I did an A level in a year which meant I had to catch up the first year myself whilst doing the second in college and it was insanely difficult. How does he plan on learning? It might be a surprise to some people on MN but teachers are actually pretty useful 😂

Original poster
Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 20:22

Dannexe · 04/09/2022 20:15

Which A Levels?

and what is the point of doing two ALevels? What does he want to do?

He’s currently doing Maths, Physics and Chemistry, but wants to drop Chemistry.
He isn’t planning on going to Uni, but doesn’t want to have wasted a year studying A levels, so wants to continue.
He enjoys studying Maths and Physics.
He wants to go onto an apprenticeship next year.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 20:23

Haybo26 · 04/09/2022 20:14

My son is currently doing this. He is doing it through Absorb Online.

How does this work?

OP posts:
Haybo26 · 04/09/2022 20:24

DogDaysNeverEnd · 04/09/2022 20:18

Not the same but I did an A level in a year which meant I had to catch up the first year myself whilst doing the second in college and it was insanely difficult. How does he plan on learning? It might be a surprise to some people on MN but teachers are actually pretty useful 😂

Teachers aren't always useful. My son self- studied 5 GCSEs aged 14 all by himself in 1 year and sat his exams early. No tutors or teachers involved. He got A+ and A's. It might come as a surprise to many that most Home Educated students do great and don't need teachers that have no time to dedicate to students as they are over worked and underpaid.

Haybo26 · 04/09/2022 20:27

Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 20:23

How does this work?

Show quote history

You get a login and work your way through the syllabus in chapters and get mini tests at the end of each. At the end of qual you do a mock assessment and then you apply as a private candidate to the nearest institution that will take private candidates and are offering the exam your child is taking. Obviously you have to pay for the course content and then pay for the exam.

Haybo26 · 04/09/2022 20:28

Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 20:22

He’s currently doing Maths, Physics and Chemistry, but wants to drop Chemistry.
He isn’t planning on going to Uni, but doesn’t want to have wasted a year studying A levels, so wants to continue.
He enjoys studying Maths and Physics.
He wants to go onto an apprenticeship next year.

Show quote history

Same. My son studying 2 and wants to get a Level 3 or 4 apprenticeship. He has no inclination to go to University.

Original poster
Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 20:28

DogDaysNeverEnd · 04/09/2022 20:18

Not the same but I did an A level in a year which meant I had to catch up the first year myself whilst doing the second in college and it was insanely difficult. How does he plan on learning? It might be a surprise to some people on MN but teachers are actually pretty useful 😂

I have nothing but respect for teachers - I know how hard they work (having worked as a TA), but tbf my son has said that a lot of the time they’re just told to get their text books out 🤷‍♀️

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Original poster
Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 20:31

Haybo26 · 04/09/2022 20:27

You get a login and work your way through the syllabus in chapters and get mini tests at the end of each. At the end of qual you do a mock assessment and then you apply as a private candidate to the nearest institution that will take private candidates and are offering the exam your child is taking. Obviously you have to pay for the course content and then pay for the exam.

Show quote history

Sounds good - how much do the courses cost? Or are they all different depending on the course?

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stilldumdedumming · 04/09/2022 20:31

My son did. If there is coursework it's more difficult and you'd probably need to be on a course (which could be online or distance learning). But I have just learned that certain exam boards are exam only - which is handy.

You need to pay for the exams and find an exam centre (your LEA may be able to help find one). But yes you can do it all yourself without tuition.

My son used the AQA guides and he got an A in politics and a B in sociology

Haybo26 · 04/09/2022 20:33

Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 20:31

Sounds good - how much do the courses cost? Or are they all different depending on the course?

Show quote history

The costs vary depending on the qualification. Absorb online is an excellent website and shows you the costs on their site.

DogDaysNeverEnd · 04/09/2022 20:38

@Wineaddict could he just 'check out' of chemistry? Or even cherry pick the parts he's interested in and not worry about the rest? There's learning and learning for exams, maybe a shift of mindset and doing what he enjoys might help? It doesn't hurt to have options at 18 and having 3 A levels would give him more, even if the chemistry grade is lower than maths and physics. Chemistry was the A level I picked up btw, the second year was far more applied and way more interesting!

I'm not saying people can't learn without teachers but there is a difference between homeschooling and trying to find your own way in the final year of school level education.

stilldumdedumming · 04/09/2022 20:43

I think it depends a bit on how he is with school overall. My ds had been ill and rarely in school. Plus it did not suit him. It suits my dd who has been all the way through.

If being at school is not damaging him or affecting him badly, I'd agree that it would be a lot easier to stay and rethink his approach to chemistry as pp suggests.

As you can see I'm not pro or anti school. For me it all depended on what was best in the circumstances and for that child's needs.

titchy · 04/09/2022 20:46

How's he going to manage the physics practical?

Original poster
Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 20:47

I’m trying to encourage him to stay at school and just put all his efforts in to the other 2 subjects, but he says it’s not that easy as he’ll still be expected do all the work.
He is going to ask again if he can drop down to 2 subjects, but is almost certain that they’ll say no as he asked toward the end of Y12 and they refused.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 20:49

titchy · 04/09/2022 20:46

How's he going to manage the physics practical?

This is something he needs to look in to tbh.
We have read that practicals can be done at centres, the alternative is leaving them out and getting a lower grade.

OP posts:
titchy · 04/09/2022 20:52

You don't get a lower grade - the practical element is a separate assessment. It's expected that to get an A level you need both the grade and the practical pass.

titchy · 04/09/2022 20:53

He wouldn't be able to just do 2 as that's not a full time programme of study and they're only funded to provide FT study. Is there an AS in another subject he could pick up instead?

Thatsnotmycar · 04/09/2022 21:00

You can get the practical endorsement as a private candidate, you would just need to find a centre that offers it.

The sixth form won’t allow dropping to 2 A levels due to funding. If you claim child benefit and UC/CTC they would stop as DS would no longer be in full time education.

Original poster
Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 21:06

Thatsnotmycar · 04/09/2022 21:00

You can get the practical endorsement as a private candidate, you would just need to find a centre that offers it.

The sixth form won’t allow dropping to 2 A levels due to funding. If you claim child benefit and UC/CTC they would stop as DS would no longer be in full time education.

Yes, that’s something we read regarding practicals.

The school did say no due to funding, but I know that they’ve allowed it in the past.

Regarding CB - that’s not an issue. I’ll be saving a fortune in fuel as we moved house and live quite far away.

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Original poster
Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 21:08

We don’t get any TC etc and my son has a part time job too.

OP posts:
Haybo26 · 04/09/2022 21:37

Practicals can be done at Tutors & Exams centres. There's a few dotted around the country.

Frazzled2207 · 04/09/2022 21:43

That’s really rubbish that they can’t let him drop due to funding. There must be plenty of kids out there that don’t want to do 3 a-levels.
as pp said is a one year AS level an option ?

Original poster
Wineaddict · 04/09/2022 21:58

Frazzled2207 · 04/09/2022 21:43

That’s really rubbish that they can’t let him drop due to funding. There must be plenty of kids out there that don’t want to do 3 a-levels.
as pp said is a one year AS level an option ?

I’m not sure, but it’s worth him asking I guess.

Thanks for all the replies- much appreciated and it’s given us some things to think about over the next few days.

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