Where can I find professional help in Choosing A levels

[Sparty]

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 I think people telling you to chill etc are trying to avoid you wasting money on tests that might not help and also avoid your DS doing subjects that are not suitable (for him).

What subjects from his GCSEs does he enjoy? Is he good at them? He must know if he prefers history and geography, or rather maths and chemistry, or is he better at French and German? These are the ones to pick for A level.

In terms of where to study, are the offers so very different at different colleges? The most likely thing is that some will offer more unusual A levels not done at GCSE - eg DD's 6th form offers Government and politics and psychology. Find out what the different colleges offer - do any of these appeal?

If he doesn't really like anything he does at GCSE, A levels may not be the best route for him - they are very academic and you need to love your subject. There may be Level 3 courses that are more appropriate.

Please don't worry at this stage either; DD was totally set on doing Music A level and we dismissed a couple of schools that don't offer it - then about a week into the term, so in September, she came home and said she wasn't enjoying music, wanted to drop it and switch to French - which she did and had just got her highest yr 12 mock grade in that! There will be flexibility and choice.

Have you been to any of the college open evenings ?

If you are at the Priestlands end of the Forest then they should be able to advise.
Otherwise, for A levels, your options are Brock, Tauntons, Barton or Symonds.
All are very different and it comes down to what he will enjoy studying where.

Have a look at the websites for each - see what the options are - go visit them. Look in the windows of the departments.
See what spins his wheels.

I think you also have to consider personality and aptitude when looking at careers too.

My DD did a test for choosing a career at 15 and actually it was pretty accurate! 10 years later she is working in one of the areas it suggested! However she converted to this area of work as a post grad after university where she studied the subjects she was best at and wanted to pursue to a high level of competence.

You therefore don’t always have to choose at 16. Fresh opportunities and maturity make such a difference as well as getting to know where you might be happy working. Are you better on your own or working with others? Skills and talents are important but they are not the only things that drive a career.

He should go for firstly subjects he enjoys and secondly subjects he's fairly good at, as he'll be more willing to work hard or pursue problems with a subject he enjoys. My DD chose three A levels subjects which don't gel together and is now looking at doing 2 totally different degrees. There are plenty of uni choices out there.

We attended a talk by DD's school this week and their advice for uni degrees (where pupils don't know what they want to do), and you could argue this applies to GCSE/A level options, is to do something they enjoy as they'll be far more like to succeed.