Social anxiety. Home Ed A levels with school support?

[marthabear]

My son has a history of social anxiety that has reached the point where he will not return to sixth form after the summer to complete the second year of his A levels. Is it possible to complete the A2 year at home with some sort of support/ access to resources from the school or would we be going it alone entirely?

What subjects is he doing? He would still need to do the practicals at school, if he is science based. I do have experience of this with my DD, so will respond in further detail later.

But, in short, it is possible.

He is doing physics, maths and art.

If the school are willing to agree, then you are in a fabulous position.

Accessing exam centres, and getting practicals/coursework moderated are a nightmare for home educated teens.

Is your son motivated enough to carry it through?

Have a look at Nisai online academy. My dd is most likely doing A levels in this way in September. It is especially for kids like our with social anxiety/medical conditions. My dd had a statement when at school and the LA have agreed to fund it.

Back again. My DD had a very late diagnosis of Aspergers early into the A2 year, which was too late for a statement. She was going into school and walking straight out again due to anxieties with noise levels and people, which we didn't realise for a while (moved from a small school into a big comprehensive for her sixth form years).

We enlisted the support of the Head of Year, the school counsellor and eventually the social services team via Connexions.

She was allowed to access practical assessments at school, dip into what lessons she felt she could cope with and enter the exams as an external candidate at the school (school also arranged for a separate room/invigilator where she could sit the exams in isolation).

I would urge you to speak to and keep the current school involved as much as possible and keep them on the hook (duty to provide access to education).

I've heard good things of Nisai, but we went and found a private tutor to support DD. Her teachers really wanted to help outside of school, but didn't have the capacity or time.

My DD will persevere with most things, and did have an end goal of further education after school (waiting for her exam results at the moment) - PP is right that your son needs to be motivated.

Separately, DD is having counselling for anxiety related to her diagnosis, which is helping a lot.

Best wishes for you and your son. If you have questions, I will try and help further.