Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Where can I find professional help in Choosing A levels

29 replies

Sparty · 21/02/2018 22:10

We have been going round in circles trying to choose 6th form subjects for my DT1.
DT2 is very academic and is sure about his choices. DT1 is quite Academic, loves his sports, and I feel perhaps he will be most interested and best suited to the more academic side of sports, but we're at a loss to give him firm advice.
It has been suggested we could pay for a psychometric test, which we would be happy to do, but finding the right one seems impossible.
What we'd really like to do is pay a career adviser to spend some time going through his school reports then interviewing him and possibly setting him a psychometric test then giving him some advice.
Is this possible? Has anyone got any suggestions?
We are based in the New Forest, Hampshire.

OP posts:
titchy · 21/02/2018 22:37

When you say quite academic what does that equate to gcse wise? And what does he suggest he does?

While I think knowing your strengths and weaknesses is a good idea at any age, your suggestion sounds very rigid for a 15 year old for whom flexibility is needed. You can't really decide a fixed career for the next 50 years of his life!

Ickyockycocky · 21/02/2018 22:41

I think it’s best if he chooses the subjects he likes.

Teenmum60 · 21/02/2018 22:44

My DD did a career analysis that her school organised (she is Yr11) with the hope that this would assist with A Level choices etc ... The company who produced the report are : Cambridge Occupational Analysts Ltd...they have a website www.coa.co.uk. Not sure whether they offer this service online etc.

Itmakesthereaderreadon · 21/02/2018 22:47

He doesn't really need to choose until results day. We let kids change their minds up to about 4weeks in. He does need to think about where potential subject combinations will lead. Look at uni prospectus first.

Grobagsforever · 21/02/2018 23:01

As an occupational psychologist who designs psychometric tests and works in graduate recruitment I can safely tell you to Chill!!

Kids today are going to be doing jobs none of us have even thought of yet! We can't predict the future..much less control it though our A level choices 😂😂.

Get DC to do stuff they enjoy and encourage them to be resilient, adaptable and tech savvy. The rest will fall into place

Original poster
Sparty · 21/02/2018 23:07

By quite academic, he's middle of the top stream with the help of a few tutors. Predicted 6 -8's in most subjects.
He Can't decide on a college, and in his own words, if he could focus on which subjects he was thinking of taking, it would help him choose a college.
We want him to choose the subjects he likes, but he really doesn't know and has asked for help. His friends are a very academic group, and his football team, although mid league, would trounce all other teams in a maths contest.

OP posts:
BlessYourCottonSocks · 21/02/2018 23:09

As an academic and A level teacher my best advice would be for him to choose the subjects he enjoys most. He will do best in them.

A levels are hard work - and harder if you are doing something you're not that fussed about.

Sittinonthefloor · 21/02/2018 23:12

Most people just choose the subjects they like / are good at. If they have a career or general area in mind do the subjects you need. If he's no idea keep options open - do at least one or two old fashioned 'proper' subjects.

titchy · 21/02/2018 23:16

Ok so Science or creative arts or humanities or languages or social science. He must at least be able to rule one or even two of those disciplines out. Start with what he doesn't want to do. Often when you then look at what's left things become clearer.

Worth making sure one or two are respected A levels (google Trinity Cambridge list).

Original poster
Sparty · 21/02/2018 23:17

My son is doing a shed load of mocks, he's working hard. If I told him to 'chill, it would all fall into place', I think he would rightly strangle me! He's asked for advice, We're not pressuring him into anything, we're trying to give him the advice he's asked for.

When your twin knows exactly where he wants to go, what A levels he's going to take and you don't, so you ask for some advice, we want to help. Saying 'chill' will not help him choose a college, or what courses he may want to study.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sparty · 21/02/2018 23:25

Ok, so he loves kicking a football, that's about it as far as choosing subjects he likes.
But he's not thinking of doing PE as the gcse has been a pain in the arse.
He's been quite stressed about getting the videos of his sports, we've done hours of videos, no idea if they are useful or correct. Doesn't play for county, so Cannot get a high grade. Could advise him to do A level PE, or do one of the Btecs, or forget it and do Matrhs and Science. What do I know? - very little, so back to my original question, where can I get some professional help?

OP posts:
Couchpotato3 · 21/02/2018 23:25

Don't waste money on a 'professional' assessment. I don't think you will be any further forward. Most of the kids in my DS's class did one a couple of years ago, and it was largely just confirming what they already thought - it didn't offer any stunning new insights. The people best placed to advise are probably your son's current teachers, and you and him sitting down together to consider options.
Probably the best advice is to do things that he enjoys and or can do well at. However colleges tend to offer a lot of new subjects that aren't available in schools, so maybe he would be interested in starting afresh with something completely new? Has he been to any college open days?
Would he want to go to the same college as his DT or definitely go somewhere different and branch out on his own? That might be a consideration.
Does he see himself going to uni after college? If so, he probably needs to stick with reasonably well regarded academic subjects. It does depend on what sort of course he is likely to pick. Some have very specific requirements, but there are plenty that don't. If he really doesn't know what he wants to do, he could look at Liberal Arts and similar degrees - they start off very general with a spread of subjects and gradually narrow down.

Original poster
Sparty · 21/02/2018 23:27

Thanks Teenmum60, will look into that

OP posts:
Daisymay2 · 21/02/2018 23:28

When DC were trying to choose A levels I found advice and a list of preferred A levels on one of the Cambridge University website s . It gives sensible advice about some combinations as well- eg subjects which overlap. I had a quick look and couldn't find it, but this might help
www. russellgroup.ac.uk/for-students/school-and.../subject-choices-at-school-and-college/

BertrandRussell · 21/02/2018 23:32

“Doesn't play for county, so Cannot get a high grade”

Sorry- this isn’t true. Who told him that?

ReelingLush18 · 22/02/2018 07:08

Let your DS choose the subjects he's genuinely interested in and is good at (hopefully they are the same ones!). DS is thriving in the sixth form (more so than for GCSEs and further down the school) doing the subjects he really wants to do. He is just so much more motivated and enthusiastic. He doesn't know what he wants to do career-wise but is quite certain of his degree choice now.

I think DC need to be encouraged to start finding their own way as they head into the sixth form. If you use psychometric tests to help determine A Level (and potential career) choices you may be setting him on a road to nowhere.

LIZS · 22/02/2018 08:14

Do maths and science and keep sport as a hobby to keep his options open. It is important to choose A levels he will do well in and be enthusiastic about to progress. There are plenty of unis which offer high level sport and modules in sport psychology, physio, science etc as part of other courses. Check out likes of Loughborough, Bath and Bristol to see what their entry requirements might be but few would insist on PE at either gcse or A level since not all schools/colleges can offer it.

LIZS · 22/02/2018 08:23

Relative's son is doing an extended level 3 in Sport. Despite having pretty indifferent gcse results and redoing y12 , he is one of the more academic on the course and many were retaking Maths and English gcse or equivalent alongside. Not sure it would be the best option for someone capable of 8s.

Original poster
Sparty · 22/02/2018 08:29

Thanks LITZ, that's a good way forward, I will be suggesting he looks at the sports-related degrees offered, see if anything takes his fancy, then work back from there.

OP posts:
EmmaGrundyForPM · 22/02/2018 08:38

Might he be interested in something sports related such as Sports Physiotherapy? My sister did physiotherapy and one of her fellow students ended up as a physio at Tottenham.

If he's more interested in technical.stuff, there are degrees in sports technology. One of my friends daughters did a sports technology degree and now she works for a major sportswear company designing technical trainers. There are lots of options.

My son did Maths, Physics chemistry and Further maths A levels. None of the 6th forms where we live will let you study any of the science or maths subjects unless you get an A in that subject at GCSE. I think that equates to an 8? So if he doesn't get 8s he may find some subjects not open to him.

I agree with pp, he should do the subjects he enjoys.

homebythesea · 22/02/2018 08:45

I agree with pp- you are entirely over thinking this and he needs to start to take some ownership of his choices. Subcontracting this decision will allow him (and you) to “blame” someone else if it doesn’t work out.

the vast majority of 6th formers don’t have a career path in mind and so choose the A levels in subjects they are best at and enjoy. As others have said there may be subjects he doesn’t know about - business, psychology, sociology etc that might appeal. I would also say that when choosing the 6th form the general feel of the place and what it offers should have equal weight. I’d be massively surprised if the offer of your local 6th form choices differs greatly anyway

titchy · 22/02/2018 08:49

Does he LIKE Maths and science though? Great if he does (and is expected an 8 or 9!in Maths), not so good if he doesnt!

But yes looking at degree courses then working back is an idea.

PetiteMarseillaise · 22/02/2018 08:58

Is he / are you considering A levels in the subjects in which he's having additional tutoring? You mention possible GCSE grades "with the help of a few tutors".

From what I understand of current A levels, they're supposed to be hard and if he needs tutoring at this stage, it may not be the best idea for him to continue with those subjects for A level... unless he'll be tutored alongside school for A levels as well...

Scabbersley · 22/02/2018 11:44

You don't need to be county level! Dd is doing PE a level predicted an A. She's also doing RS and Geography and wants to do sports science degree

Swipe left for the next trending thread