'A' levels or BTEC Level 2/3 in Sport?!

[WhatNextMatey]

My son has just been "offered" a "scholarship" BTEC Level 2/3 in Sport, which he is quite excited about - at a football club/college.

This, possibly, instead of doing 'A' levels at school after his GCSEs. Obviously current revising is putting him off studying further! He is definitely bright, though not especially academic, predicted average grades of 6-7 I would say.

I do believe in "following your dream", regardless of whether its the academic/uni route that lots of people favour.

However, I'm not sure how useful this course would be. You don't have to be brilliant at sports to do it, though they did a short trial before the offer. I think most average young footballers could get on the course, and my son is definitely good at football and "reading the game" but I would not say brilliant, he's never been scouted for example.

Any thoughts or experience of this?

Thank you.

p.s. I wasn't sure whether to put this in "Further Education".

3 A level equivalent is an extended level 3. He needs to ensure that is what is being offered. Dn did one, it was not particularly academically demanding and several were retaking gcse english and maths alongside. What does he hope to go on to?

My DS2 did an extended diploma level 3 BTEC worth 3 A levels (at least in UCAS points but not to higher ranking universities.) It was right for him because he couldn’t have managed the rigour required by A levels.

A level 2/3 BTEC? Not sure about that. Could he not do a PE A level alongside two others, or at least make sure this is a level 3 extended diploma.

Yes as others say, it really depends what he wants to do.

This would not, for example, be a brilliant route into university, certainly not a highly rated one. But that may not be what he wants to do. It also is unlikely from what you say to lead to him playing pro football.

OTOH it may take him towards a career in coaching or some other aspect of sports - centre management or perhaps with further training an AHP role.

What do graduates of this scheme go on to do? That's a reasonable question.

Thank you for your replies.

I'm a bit confused about what it all means myself.

I think I was a bit panicked blind-sided by his suddenly announced possible change of plan. I will have to investigate it all more thoroughly, and so will he, before we decide.

He's not set on university, but OTOH I suppose he might want to have that option later. He did mention doing an "A" level by himself alongside in another subject, for interests sake.

clary, good points, just cross-posted.

What's the scholarship thing? Does he get cash or something? The course is free so I hope he/you aren't being sold a fees-paid scholarship.

Tbh it sounds like something for low achieving kids who can hopefully get their Maths and English GCSEs and a GCSE-equivalent qualification to enable them to get an apprenticeship or job. Rather than spending their days playing call of duty.... which is brilliant if you have one of those kids. Except you don't....

titchy, thats the kind of thing I was wondering about ...

I think the "scholarship" thing is a bit confusing. Its more a free further education course, connected to a football club, unless I am missing something. he certainly won't be getting paid to do it.

I'll have to look into what it all means more.

Isn't further education free anyway? A levels are! The 'scholarship' is misleading. He'd have more options doing a levels than a football course.

yes Hollow I agree its all free anyway, so I'm none the wiser about the "scholarship" tag; perhaps because its connected to a football club .

Also good point that once I understand more, I think we'll have to have a chat about what his future plans are, and see how this might fit in, or not.

The scholarship thing will be because it’s connected to a football club it will be classed as a private course.

My dd is doing something similar but with dance/musical theatre. However her course was very competitive to get onto (she was offered places at 3 schools/colleges) and required 2 rigorous auditions.

My son’s PE teacher went a similar route by all means except he was in the club’s Academy, got into the Reserves but got injured. The Btec in sport led to teacher training.

Unless your ds has been offered terms at the club I’d tell him to treat it like any Btec in Sport but delivered by the club not the college. Is that what he wants to do or has he been sold a pipe dream.

Thank you Comefrom, for the further clarification, that sounds about right. You have cleared up some confusion in my mind re. "scholarship" wording.

In the background I am also wondering "pipe dream" thing. There is a lot of money in football and sports, and my (completely uneducated) guess is that they can do this for both positive and maybe not-so-positive schemes. So I am going to look into it all more for sure.

Helpful, thanks.

As others have said, you need to be really clear what the end qualification is and what it involves. A level 3 extended diploma is '3 A level equivalent', if he does really well he could go on to university to study a sports related course. A levels would keep more options open though, if he is clever enough.