A level self tuition?

[Wineaddict]

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).

Although schools do allow 2 A levels . Dsd did only 2. She had some MH issues though. Perhaps that was why.

We got Cb for ds though and he did not take 3. I had no idea we weren't supposed to (I wouldn't knowingly fiddle the system).

For child benefit you have to be in full time education which is classed as 12 hours, so 2 A levels wouldn’t be enough to satisfy that criteria.

As DSD has SEN the funding may have been different or the school made an exception based on her needs and taken the financial hit.

I worked in a college as a teacher and if a student went down to only two subjects they were classed as part time and the funding wasn't the same. In fact I'm not sure they got funded at all if someone did that.

I'm afraid I wouldn't allow this to my child. I'd say he chose the subjects and he needs to stick it out. If he struggles with one subject then he needs to put more effort in and speak to the teacher rather than just pack it in. What would he do with the other third of his time? What happens with practical experiments?

@Thatsnotmycar thinking about it, he studied 3 but only took 2 - so I imagine it was within the rules. He was living with his dad so it wasn't my claim thinking about it.

Yes, that would be within the rules.

GCSEs are for getting jobs or moving into college. Why would anyone need to do 5 GCSEs at 14? Seems pointless.

People always seem to think doing some GCSEs early is a sign of intelligence or something. Actually it isn’t looked upon favourably since it’s clearly easier to have a significantly reduced workload. Doing five GCSEs for example one year early isn’t nearly as difficult as doing ten all at once at the normal time.

@Thatsnotmycar phew! Thank you for clarifying!

You wouldn’t allow it? Really?
We’ve certainly discouraged it, but at almost 18, he is of an age where ultimately, it’s his decision and there’s no way we’d try to force him to do something he’s so against.
He would have been paying himself any expenses incurred as he earns his own money.

After talking it through with him over the last couple of days, he’s decided to remain at school and give it his best.
We’re glad he’s come to this decision - but it’s his future and he’s at an age where he needs to have some kind of responsibility over his own life.

Apologies for worrying you @stilldumdedumming. The rules are about time spent undertaking supervised study rather than the number of A level exams sat iyswim.

@Wineaddict
i think that’s wise. Hopefully there can be a discussion further down the line about not taking the chemistry exam. It won be in the school’s internet to just let him sit and fail.

Interest not internet 😂

Might not be relevant to you anymore, OP, but in case your situation changes or someone else reads this thread who needs the same info:

This is the go-to beginners' guide to doing qualifications while being home educated: he-exams.fandom.com/wiki/HE_Exams_Wiki It has a linked Facebook group, and there are numerous subject-specific FB groups as well. That wiki is mostly about GCSEs, since most home ed kids prefer to go to college for A levels due to the difficulty of self-study. However, you can certainly find out about A levels there too.

My son is 17 snd studying A levels from home, did really well with his IGSSE' s, self taught, get the revision books from Amazon, go on student room, and youtube, many fantastic tutorials out there, print off previous exam papers. It is more than possible with enough motivation and drive.
Don' t listen to the ones that have no experiance or lack courage to do it themselves.