End of A level 1st year - poor grades - carry on??

[Jungfraujoch]

So DS started 3 A levels, flunked one of them and has now dropped it. The other 2 he got an E and U in the mocks - resitting the U tomorrow.

He wants to start another A level in September plus carry on with the current 2. He is adamant that he wants to do A levels and go to uni but clearly this won’t happen at this level! He admits he is lazy and tutors say he doesn’t apply himself in class.

We are soooo frustrated with him- do we just let him carry on and hope he pulls his finger out or just fail?!

Stressful isn't it! At a time I thought life would be a bit easier

Well, I don't know if this will help, but I had a very similar situation.

DS took 3 AS levels, got CUU. Promised he would work harder, it was what he really wanted to do, etc, etc. Couldn't continue exactly the same 3 A levels, so swapped the one he had a C for. Next year - UUU.

Enrolled in a BTEC in Information Technology. First term did the bare minimum of work - passes in everything. Had a meeting with his tutor, who said what a shame it was he was pissing away his opportunities. Bizarrely, this was an epiphany for him. He has had distinction for every module since and has just finished with an unconfirmed triple Distinction. He is off to university in September to Study some sort of computery thing.

I really truly believe for some youngsters it is a matter of them finding something that really interests them and that they believe they can do. I really wish I had encouraged DS to not retake his AS levels after failing first time, but to move off to do something better suited to him.

It can work out in the end.

Fortunately DS was suitably embarrassed by his predicted grades in March to put in some work for the end of year 12 exams, or he would have been unceremoniously out on his ear from his 6th form college. There is not a lot of pastoral support, but they made that clear. Went up 4 grades in Maths. Surprised himself.

What are the subjects he has taken and dropped? What are his GCSE results?

As the Head of Sixth Form advised upthread, if he scraped into an A Level course with the bad minimum if GCSEs and has done poorly, it really is better t look at something else altogether. If he has really good GCSE grades suggesting he is capable of good A Levels, then starting again from scratch might be possible, but really just carrying on isn't a good idea - this is more head in the sand stuff.

And he needs a serious wake up call about the realities of outcomes from l6th performance like his - ie in some subjects, he is almost certain to get Us at A Level following AS or L6th performance like his - he needs to have this spelled out to him. He needs to have spelled out to him that the key thing. Isn't co tinting in-year with his mates and doing the same course as his mates, but having a plan for success and so needing to re-think everything and start again - that this is the consequence of being lazy all year. Starting again with a better attitude and determination (if he has good GCSEs indicating good A Levels a possibility) can lead to a good outcome, but he has to accept that the course he started needs binning now and he must cut his losses - it's all about being more mature now and accepting this stuff is being more mature, whilst head in the sand and determination to continue is being immature. It can be easier for someone from the college to have these conversations than a parent, but at this point, I guess you need to have them, but also be in touch with the college staff and explain what you think would be best and see if they agree and can push the message. As a parent, you probably need to be firm and be clear you won't be supporting him through another wasted year and that if he wants to stay at college it needs to be doing something where he can be successful. Best of luck.

What were the A Levels he has been taking and what are his GCSEs.

Wombat, I agree. College have suggested perhaps BTEC in Media which is what he’s interested in but he’s still digging his heels in at the moment. He’s particularly enjoying the film aspect of Media hence wanting to start Film Studies A level in September (2 years), plus finishing Media and Geography.

GCSEs he was predicted better grades but by his own omission didn’t revise enough, he got an A in Graphics (which he started at A level because that was the direction he wanted to go in but hated it and didn’t want to go down that route anymore).

English 4, Maths 5, Science C, Resistant Materials C, Geography C, Computing D.

Doesn’t look brilliant - but he’s adamant he will knuckle down ...... I’m waiting.

To be honest, with those grades at GCSE, A Levels wee going to be a real push - sorry! Even for a hard worker, likely outcomes from those starting points are low. I'd agree that a BTEC would be better and that its time for some straight talking - he needs to know that if he continues with the subjects he's done poorly in and lacks understanding of the first year of work, Us are pretty likely. He also needs to know what that means for the next stage and needs to be made to think about the next stage beyond 6th Form and not just next year and to understand that to be in this position after 1 year in 6th Form isn't great but to be in this same position after 2 years would be very serious - it really is about following a path where you can be successful and that not every path can lead to that.

Personally, I would be saying that I would not be supporting him in continuing with those A Levels into the L6th - that it's simply not an option. And if he starts another 2 year course of my type, ask the college to be very clear about what kind of grades must be achieved in the first year to continue successfully, so that he he has clear targets and is more motivated. It isn't easy with 17 year olds who seem to think they can just do whatever course they like, regardless of what is behind them, but sometimes as parents this is the point to be very firm about both their choices and their attitude. Not easy but if he can understand the realities and come to take a slightly longer term view (perhaps thinking about uni and that Us and Es won't open doors but a BTEC coukd) then he might be able to follow onto uni too, whereas insisting on continuing with courses he has failed at (and the college really shouldn't let him do this but lay on the line what the alternatives are) will close doors and not open them. Best of luck.

I teach film studies. Students normally would need at least a 5 at GCSE to do OK. It's a great and very engaging subject, but recent reforms have made it much much harder. Students study silent and experimental film as well as global film and documentary. Quite outside their comfort zones!

Has he got English Lit GCSE?

Stick a rocket up his arse.

My wife failed her as levels badly but carried on and got the grades needed for uni

I wonder if the ~£4k a year the sixth form gets for having a student's bum on a seat influences the college's decision?

A 5 in what Piggy? English Lit and Lang GCSE he got a 4.

I work in the media. The number one thing people need is get up and go. Followed by grit, determination and an appetite for hard work. Out of hours.

Not a penchant for sitting round watching films.

Tell him he has a week to demonstrate that he can justify you feeding, clothing and housing him so that he can study or he is out on his ear.

We wont know till August the bare truth AS wise, but one A level he has been predicted an E. He really has to get 3 A levels to get to uni. to do the course he wants. We have lowered the boom this week because his school report arrived. Xbox gone. He does have a summer job. He is not lazy but woolly about his work, does not discuss when he is struggling with teachers or us. He is the youngest in his year only just 17. Boys mature late. His older brother has stepped up and given him a talking to which has helped.

Thanks all for suggestions and comments. I may read them to him!

Our entry requirements for Film A level are 5s in GCSE Eng Lang and Lit, although I am guessing your DSs college requires 4s. Film A Level requires more than a 'penchant for stitting round watching films' and was referred to as a ' degree in two years' by a uni professor when first reformed! How is his penchant for writing analytical essays because that is hwo film is assessed. Ime, that is the hurdle that most reluctant to apply themselves students have fallen at over the years. Film is also a classic 'year 14' subject (ie one that students who have messed up take to prolong sixth form!). Thsi is sometimes very successful, sometimes not so much!

What is it he enjoys about the media studies that he thinks will be the same in film? Is it practical stuff? Or analytical? I don't teach Media but thought there was no film content in it any more!

And , lastly, is he definitely allowed to do film and media ? In a lot of schools, that is a disallowed combination. (although, to be fair, the A level reforrm got rid of any overlap between the subjects)

Piggy my ‘penchant for watching films’ comment was about the laziness of OP’s son in comparison to the actual academic effort which the course actually requires. I.e he seems to think that at the moment he can progress by doing none of the work or adopting any of the rigour.

Thanks scrub. I am so used to having my subject dissed and dismissed I go on the defensive! I agree that a penchant for watching films is neither a route in to the media industry nor the only requirement for film A level (although you'd be amazed how many of my students don't watch anything more than Love Island... or maybe The Notebook).

btw welsh my DS is also a summer born boy :17 today ! He is still very much a child, bless him.

I have taught exceptions to the rules over the years, but it is generally true that summer born boys need more nurtuirng and remain behind , certainly emotionally, right up until school leaving. I assume it stops at uni where all males remain emotionally immature

I too think colleges take and keep very borderline students because of the funding they receive and also the fact they have to report numbers dropping out which is seen adversely (obviously) so in some cases, students are allowed to start courses they are not suited for/have little chance of success in, or after a terrible first year,mare allowed to carry on, making it 2 years with nothing to show for their time.

L4s in Eng Lang/Lit might be the requirement but are barely a pass at GCSE - we all know there was lots if discussion about whether a 4 or 5 would count and a 4 is very much the bottom end of the old GCSE C grade, which is a poor basis for an essay writing subject especially if other writing based GCSEs are also Cs.

I know OP that you are rooting around for things for him to do and he needs to do something, but I would seriously consider if A Levels are right for him given both his GCSEs and approach to work. I know people talk about themesleves or others who have had a bad L6th and gone on to do well, but the reality if those people usually is that either they had great GCSEs to start with and were very bright, but had a lazy year, or that they waited a while until they were more mature and really wanted to study and were motivated before having another go at A Levels - it might be that your boy just needs more maturity to really value this stuff and get down to work. Everyone is different, but the data strongly suggests that someone with his GCSE profile and experience of this first year of 6th Form will not be on line for good grades next year in A levels he continues with or if he takes up subjects which use the skills he has gained 4s in at GCSE. Sorry to say this, but that is what the numbers all suggest in the vast majority of cases - he probably needs to hear this, whilst also being presented with some alternative more realistic options at the same time - presenting both at the same time makes a future seem possible, rather than him just hearing that there's nothing for him and him feeling boxed into a corner and digging his heels in. He really needs to be starting a different course in Seltember, not continuing with the one he's been on or a hybrid version of it.

It could be useful to show him this thread and I would see if you can arrange a chat sooner rather than later with someone at the college with all of you there, after having had a good chat with the college person yourself first.

As the parent of a DC who has just done A levels, I can confirm that her peers who did badly at AS levels really struggled in year 13. One of her friends got kicked off two subjects and the other has hung on by the skin of her teeth, but I would be very surprised if she gets anything above an E in her subjects.

I think your son needs to redo year 12 - there is no shame in that. Lots of students do this, and maybe rethink whether A levels are the right way forward (again, there is no shame in this either)

Here's a positive story - My nephew was a lazy unengaged student, and scraped 5 Cs at GCSE. He did BTECs in art subjects, achieved distinctions, and has just graduated from a Russel Group university with a 2.1 in game design and art. I am very proud of him.

Oh gosh, you’re all making me weepy again - I just feel so frustrated by him and helpless. Dont even have the excuse of a summer baby - he’ll be eighteen in October!

Agree about bums on seats in college for £££££ - it’s wrong, gives the students the option to just lurch from one bad result to another if they are that way inclined.

You’re giving me some hope with your stories of great turnarounds but I can’t study for him - just waiting for the lightbulb moment to go off in his brain!!

So, BTEC best way to go? Start again in September. But he’s adamant it’s got to be Media.

Thank you all.

Can he do just a BTec (at my place they have to combine it with A levels or other BTecs)? If he likes media , I think BTec Media sounda a good idea. It's more hands on , and less right on(!) than A Level Media which is really quite dry ( I hear this from media teachers when I go on courses). BTec Media sounds a good option to me.

Thanks Piggy - yes I think think good option too and college did suggest as well but they will also let him carry on with A levels 🙄.

His unwillingness is he knows a couple of people currently doing BTEC Media at his college and they say half the class just muck about. My take on that is that you don’t get involved, get your head down and work as hard as you can. Tutors seem good so I see it as the best option - he can then put all his efforts into the one subject which supposedly is the one he’s interested in!

OK, I am now confused! Isn't one of his (now two?) A Levels A Level Media? I really don't think you can combine A Level and BTec Media!

As for the mucking about bit, that's what my DS would say, too , whilst being one of the muck abouters! Your response to that is spot on!

I meant just start again with BTEC Media - drop the A level Media and Geography (Graphics already gone).