SEN and GCSE what to do next

[jeaux90]

DD15 is taking her GCSEs this year.
She has AuDHD and despite all the additional support and tutoring I think she will at best land at grade 4s/3s

I do not know whether to look at getting her into somewhere that will support her re-taking or what the right thing to do is about trying to get her into somewhere that will support her better through BTEC or CTEC.

She is at Headington and quite frankly I think they have been a bit crap with the merger of Rye where she originally was.

Anyone been in a similar situation? What would you do?

Is she happy and settled? Grade 4 maths + English will enable her to progress onto a L2 course

Is she ever likely to do better than she has, does she other wise enjoy the subjects or has she had enough andis ready to move on?

Majority coursework based courses can be a life saver for those with ADHD as the can bank grades as they go and don't have to rely on regurgitating two years of information in a 90 minute test.

Thanks both I agree a T level is the way forward in a good supportive environment.

She is happy but Headington will kick her out end of this year, they don't want any "under achievement" on their books.

But most private schools are asking for 5 GCSE at level 5 for entry at sixth form so I feel so broken by this. I don't know what to do.

Send her to a state college. Behaviour issues and class size issues common in state secondary particularly in the younger years tend to reduce significantly when they get to college age due to general maturity and because those not engaged in education move onto something else.

@Singleandproud not sure that is the answer she needs on going support in a small class.

A T level may be too much to jump into
With those expected grades I would look at a level 2 course for 1 year plus english&maths if needed, progressing on to a T level / level 3 BTEC if it seems appropriate.
State colleges are able to support DC if needed, at least look at them!
(My DD is doing level 2 animal care at college)

You need to get a shift on looking round places and applying though.

What does she like doing? Where do her interests lie? Are you looking for something to ‘fill time’ productively whilst she matures and decides on her path, or does she have a realistic career in mind? (My DC of similar age has a very unrealistic and very specific career choice at present which doesn’t help with forward planning)

T levels are extremely competitive and academic. If she gets 3-4s at GCSE she won't get a place on a T level

A levels are not likely to be the best course for her with those grades.

BTEC or other courses are probably the way to go.

If she is set to pass English and maths that will help, as otherwise she may need to retake them.

Does she have any outside interests that she might want to take further - music, animal care, catering?

Does the unicorn in Abingdon go past GCSE now? That's the only place I can think of which will provide 16+ education at that sort of level in the independent sector near Oxford.

Perhaps she would fly with btec at a sixth form college though; much more continual assessment and plenty of others working at similar levels.

Great post yes mine is like yours no real idea but is keen on forensics or geography. She will pass her maths and English, I think she will pass everything but not get to the 5s that most of them want in the places we are looking.

I do think she needs something to help her pass her time productively yes, she needs time to mature if I am honest and I'd like her to be able to do that in a supportive environment.

does she have an ehcp? If she does, the colleges running the T levels should be open to reasonable adjustments on her grades for doing the courses she favours.

only saying as my 18yo is in a 2 year specialist placement redoing his GCSE's alongside some social/emotional development (asd/adhd) and is interested in a computing course at the local Technical College, but won't get the five grade 4's needed.. his currently placement have told me that difference wouldn't be an issue as it's down to them negotiating with the SEN team at the Tech College.

T levels are = 2 x A levels and are highly academic + competitive. She would be competing with kids who have got 7s, 8s+9s at GCSE

I'm aware thanks.. both my 18yo and 15yo are looking at doing the same T level course.. one will have the grades, one won't, but the one who won't has an EHCP due to his disabilities and needs a lot of support.

However, what you've said isn't relevant to what i have said. You asked if anyone was in the same position.. i answered yes, and i told you what my sons special college has told me about him potentially moving onto doing a T level at a mainstream college that is willing to support SEN students.

But if my input isn't welcome i'll leave you to it.

I'd look at apprenticeships.
Geography: environment agency, national trust, water company,
Forensics: local police

My foster son with learning disabilities went to a special school. They were not very good and made him think he couldn't do anything. At 16 he left and went to a college to do BTEC Sport and do GCSE Maths and Functional Skills 1 English. He was given a 1-1 support person and honestly they have been brilliant with him. He seems more mature now he's not being babies and told he can't do things all the time. At college they told him he can do it but he will have to work hard and ask his support person when he is unsure or needs help. After the 1 year level 2 course he passed with merits x 4 and passed GCSE Maths at level 4 and he passed the FS English too. He had some brilliant teachers who broke things down for him and we're patient if he got stuck on a topic. Then he moved on to do the BTEC Sport level 3 which he found harder but passed his first year and is now studying his second year and next summer he'll sit his GCSE English Language. He's got a lot more confidence now. I can see in the future he can get a job which I could never really see before.

T levels are 3 A level equivalent, and the impression I have is they are if anything harder than the level 3 extended BTECs they replaced. A certain level of research and writing ability may well be required. They also require extended work experience.

If she ends up moving out of a small private school I would still advise considering doing the relevant level 2 course first to get used to the new environment and ways of working. A bit less stress on the academics to give bandwidth for the social and travel.

(My DD started at level 2, but wasn't coping with the environment and dropped to level 1 within the first week. 3 years later she is now back at level 2. Enabled by ehcp got in y12).

Don't set her up to fail. Nothing wrong with 3yrs in 6th form.

This. Don’t feel pressured to try an copy more academic peers. Not everyone takes the same route.

In terms of location for her next step; I was speaking to a mum whose DD changed from a pretty academic focus school to college last year. She went from the bottom of the class at school to pretty much the top at college which made a world of difference to her self-esteem.

@twistyizzy seriously I do wonder whether you understand SEN kids at all. Many of them are really capable it's just the recall in long exams and the long structured essay style they struggle with. T levels are way more in scope for the way they learn and apply themselves.

Really appreciate all the practical help and advice on here, there is a really good private school that is amazing for capable SEN kids but it's down in Dorset and I'm in Oxfordshire but right now I would do anything to try and work with the situation we are in.

I do as worked at a Training Provider for decades but as I now also work at an exam board in the T Level dept I also know the rigour of T levels and the exam structure plus the cohorts we get being entered. There are several x long format exams of over 2 hours each plus ESP. It is incredibly academic so if your child is forecast to achieve 3/4s then simply they won't be suitable, with or without SEN.
This isn't about kids with SEN not being intelligent, this is about T Levels not being the best option for your child.
You need to look at L2 qualifications as a starting point.

What about Wychwood?

Otherwise, have you looked at Abingdon and Witney College?

@jeaux90

Witney open day is next week (I’m guessing Abingdon too). Lots of students with additional needs do well on their courses, and there is good support available (I have taught many children who have absolutely flown once they’ve found a course to match their interests).

I would definitely make sure you are very clear on how any chosen T level is assessed / examined. Look at the spec yourself, ask what options the school/college does, etc etc.