U at AS - worthwhile continuing?

[noitsnotteattimeyet]

Ds has just got his AS results - E, E and U in maths (the Es were in computing and psychology). These were much worse than predicted and he needs to work out what to do now.

His school only requires two Es to progress into Y13 so technically he's cleared that hurdle, however maths is obviously v dodgy ... and we're not sure if he'll be allowed to take it to A2 now, even if he manages to retake the AS.

Is it possible to turn around results like this into something usable? He wants to go into computer programming at the moment. He's had problems settling into Y12 - he has ASD and dyspraxia - so I'm not keen on him retaking Y12 completely

What do his school say? Maths is notoriously tricky as an A Level so not sure how easy it will be to turn that around. Also is it just that he didn't work - in which case it could be the wake up call he needs - or is it just academically too hard now - which might require a more major rethink?

Also, what route does he want to take into computer programming? Does he want to do a degree? It would be worth researching the degrees available and their entry requirements.

Don't know what school says yet - he's been depressed for several months and didn't feel up to going in today to discuss it (and we're now away for a week).

He's very bright but his rigidity of thinking due to his ASD seems increasingly to get in the way of exam success

At the moment I can't see him going to uni (and he'd need BCC as a minimum to get onto a decent course, which looks unlikely).

He's finding it very hard to think about the future

I don't know if they are still around, but BIL did a HND instead of a degree in computer science as he'd flunked his a levels. In Sheffield, though I don't know which uni. He was quickly transferred to the BSc at the end of the year and is a senior programmer at a very famous gaming company. Essentially a levels didn't suit him but he is v talented with computers.

It may be worth finding out about BTEC computing courses at local FE college, as alternative to A levels.

Could he do a Btech or apprenticeship in programming? Lots of good options available- and v good prospects.

Teacher here how has seen students in this position
If you get a u in AS it's v unlikely that that student will pass given A2 year is harder
I think another route like college and Btec may be an idea

@Draylon has a DS who switched after 1 year to do a Computing BTEC which has (generally) been much more successful so far, 1 year in. For more info look through the BTEC support thread. There are exams that you have to pass but mainly it is coursework. Do well enough and you can still go to uni with it.

My 17 yo DS2 with ASD is doing a level 3 BTEC extended diploma in computing at college. His is the last year with no exams but the reformed ones still are mainly coursework. He has just finished his first year and has MM (double merit) which is equivalent in UCAS points to 3 Cs at AS. He has another year to go.

I'm thinking possibly an apprenticeship after that or if that doesn't pan out, applying locally to do an HNC.

Might this be a better option for your DS? My DS struggles with revision but is OK at exams, at least at GCSE. I would have expected him to get Ds or Es at A level, so thought the BTEC would be a better option as he is capable of getting 3C equivalent or better if he worked harder at BTEC.

If university isn't likely to be an option maybe a more vocational qualification would be better?

My DS is happy at college, they are quite supportive of his SN. They have a lot of young people there who might struggle in a MS sixth form but also have A levels on offer. It's more relaxed than sixth form, first name terms with teachers etc and the workload is definitely less than at my DS1's school.

I hope you find something that suits your DS.

As a maths teacher I would say it's incredibly unlikely that he would be successful in getting a grade at A2 of he has a U at AS.

I would be recommending to him that he looks more closely into alternative courses (BTECH is a popular alternative, depending what your local college offers), or possibly thinks about repeating y12 (I'd not really recommend this unless there has been a lot of ill health or other extenuating circumstances this year).

My dd has a friend in a similar position and she will be going to college in September to start BTECH computing as she thinks that will suit her more than A levels. She is also planning on going into computer programming, and I think she'll get there, albeit via a different route than she originally envisaged.

Sadly none of the local colleges offers BTECH in computing, only IT Practitioner which is completely different

There's not much point in just continuing with psychology and computing is there as he'll need maths A-level to do computing at university....

You don't need to do computer science at university to be a programmer and you don't need to go to university to be a programmer. There are lots of free coding courses online. He could start one of those now. My son uses codewars.com for coding exercises.

Do you know why he did much worse than predicted? I think I'd want to get to the bottom of this.
Is he getting supportor treatment for his depression? Are the school supportive of his SN? Is he given adequate accommodations to help him prepare for exam /during the exam?

The most likely outcome of ploughing on with those grades is failure and a wasted year. It's also harder to start again at 18 than 17 due to funding issues.

Has he considered an apprenticeship? There are apprenticeships available in computer related stuff that only require GCSEs.

My dd is in a similar position. She's been to an Ed psych in the past when they suspected' ASD traits' but the results were inconclusive. She got DUE in her ASs.

Her school are keen for her to repeat year 12 with different subjects which dd is keen to do. I have researched BTECS and found a college 30 mins drive away which looks amazing. I've emailed them a couple of times since Friday and had no reply so will call tomorrow. I think BTECS would be amazing for her as she's very diligent and great with people. She's very reluctant as she loves her school. She has been miserable for a few weeks (boy trouble ) but is now really quite depressed. This 6th form was a new start and she loves it there.

Keep posting OP. FWIW, dd would never have got BBA which is what the college she would like to go to asks for, but she MIGHT get DMM at BTEC Level which could get her in!

Forgive me if I'm wrong about BTECS as I knew nothing about them until Thursday but they sound as though you don't get that awful shock of exam results - you know during the course what you are getting for assessments etc so can keep in track? Dd often got Bs and even the odd A in RS but ended up with a devastating E in her exam

Show I think all BTECs now have some exams (that you have to pass), but yes, apart from those you do know how you are getting on as you go along. You have to work steadily throughout the two years without the big spike at the end.
(The downside is you have to hit the ground running. DD took some time to grasp what was really wanted, so before we knew it she had only Pass in her first 3 units (done in parallel) rather than Merit or Distinction).

Why would the school take him in to year 13 with only two A levels? This would mean they get no funding for him and he would not be able to apply for university. I would check that very carefully.

About the maths question, no it's not worth him continuing. The next year will be building on the knowledge from year 12 which he doesn't have. I would echo PP posts about finding a different route.

Thanks teenandtween you have been so amazingly helpful on this subject

So I now have to convince dd that a Btec extended diploma in either sport or health is better for her future than new a levels in photography and?? Plus a Btec sport certificate!

show When DD started her BTEC we had no idea what we didn't know, so it was really hard to find out information. Plus reading MN you sometimes get the impression that everyone else's DCs are en route to Harvard. Hence why I started the BTEC Support Thread

I'm now in the same situation with Apprenticeships!

Plus reading MN you sometimes get the impression that everyone else's DCs are en route to Harvard

yes this

The main reason we've not looked at apprenticeships so far is he's really not ready for a work environment. He barely says a word to anyone and he's not bothered about what he looks like (hasn't had a haircut for about a year, goes for days without showering, wears the same clothes day in, day out). I can't see him getting through an interview tbh.

He's not heading to Harvard ... but he comes across as very bright (when he feels comfortable enough to speak), just not in a way which helps you pass exams, obviously...

I genuinely don't know what the best thing to do is now. As I said, we've looked at BTECs but the one he wants to do isn't offered by anywhere remotely near us, which is v frustrating

A levels might be worth going to a college and starting from the beginning again. How supportive is the school? As you say no BTECs available near you. It's extra difficult when they don't speak, can't be doing with going to get hair cut extra, etc, so a change of environment and knowing how much further he has to push his work commitment might help. Speaking purely as one who has a similar DS by the sounds of it.