DS wants to repeat Year 13

[user20]

Hi,

My 18 y/o DS who is in Year 13 and is due to finish school forever at the end of this year is wanting to go back next year to repeat the year. He is currently out on study leave.

Basically, he is only doing one a level as his attendance was below 80%, not just this year but last year in year 12 too.

He has had no valid reason for this behaviour, he has just been lazy and made excuses and turned up to school whenever and when it suited him.

He is an intelligent guy, he got 4As and 1B and 2Cs in his GCSEs, It has annoyed me and my DH a lot over the last two years that he has wasted his potential like this, he could have done so much better.

I just want him to have a better life and employment opportunities.

He just seemed so distracted over sixth year, he just seems to be always on his phone and listening to music and on social media. he was missing deadlines, not revising for exams, well last year he did but left it to very close to the exams and came out with 2Ds and a C in his AS exams which is impressive for somebody who didn't bother going to school or revising.

The school were meant to Kick him out so many times as they tried working with him but he didn't co operate, the workload got too much and he had to drop down to one a level a few months ago as it was too much work to do in such a short period of time.

He has a btec ict exam in a few days and hes done nothing for it - he can't even be bothered to work for one exam.

He has said often that he regrets his behaviour as he knows he was capable of doing more and maybe going to uni in September, I wouldn't be bothered if he chose not to go to uni but I think he needs his a levels.

Anyway, after a long wasted two years, reality has kicked in as he now wants to have a good career and has found out that if he were to start a two year a level course at an FE College, his education wouldn't be funded from September 2020 onwards.

He now wants the option to go back to school next year and repeat Year 13 - is it likely after all this carry on that they'll have him back?

Why don't you respond to some of the posters offering advice?

Do you not think you should try to find the paperwork? Or contact the LA?

No one is expecting you to "remember a whole 7 years worth of information." But, you should know if your DC has an EHCP or if it hasn't been transferred yet - in which case you should complain to the LA.

And yes, if you have attended all AR you should be aware what must have been discussed recently regarding what provision your DS needs come September. If he is to start a new setting in September Section I should have already been amended.

Your DS should have been given the opportunity to voice his views during the AR. Was he?

I think that you need to have agreed with him what the "plan B" would look like and how he will achieve it. What is going to do if the school say no?

@Lunde I try to reply to everybody but my thread has over 400 replies so it's quite hard to reply to every single post.

I think he should move on from school and get a job for a year, do an extended diploma btec at college like @EvilTwins runs, do a levels somewhere else (with a price tag), join the Navy, take a year out and get a job etc

I think he needs to consider all the options that everybody has said about on here - you all think I want him back at school and that's that - no I don't. Think he needs to move on.

What is confusing people is the fact that I am saying he should be given consideration / another chance - yes he should be because others have been allowed back - but that doesn't mean I think he should be going back. I don't.

@10brokengreenbottles all the paper work will be in the house somewhere but I need to look for it.

During the last AR he wasn't even invited to attend so no he didn't get to voice his opinion

Is his father on the scene?

Well the best way that he might be granted consideration is on the grounds of his disabilities and whether the school has supported him sufficiently. Here his EHCP and other paperwork relating to his SN would be very useful - as would parental support to help him organise and make his case to the school.

@TapasForTwo yes DH is very much involved in this too

A young person is required to be invited to their AR, and they should be consulted about their views prior to the meeting.

Unfortunately, the Navy don't allow people with autism to sign up. As I said a job would be unwise if he isn't ready and may re-enter education because the EHCP (if that's what it is) will cease to be maintained.

What were the AS results - 3 Ds, 2 Ds and an A or 2 Ds and a C?

User20, you asked why I think you have issues, I want to respond but I want to be perfectly clear this is not an attack. I think we are all on the same page that parenting isn’t always easy and sometimes parents need support too, but here goes:
1: Given all the operational guidelines as to why your son will not be accepted back your main concern is “it’s not fair”
Although you don’t know the individual circumstances surrounding others that have repeated you are basing your sole argument on other students situations . A more productive response would be to make yourself aware of how the system works and fully evaluate your options. It’s not fair doesn’t help you.
2: By your own admission he has MH/ SEN /Aspergers etc but you will not support him in attending a school meeting because you think he is old enough. Most parents would attend with their child period, no excuses.
3 You appear to not be aware of where he is on the spectrum and how it may have impacted his learning which is unusual because these are not new issues and as the parent you would normally have been working together with the school.
4: The supporting documents would ordinarily be filed together or at least all in one place to hand, not “ all over the house”
3: Your lack of knowledge of his attainment is not involved parenting. Parents generally keep school reports, certificates etc filed /stored together.
4: Subject choices would have been discussed, however informal, as would subjects being dropped etc. Not everyone has communicative children but it’s usual to engage at some level so as the parent you know what subjects your child has chosen and why & what they have dropped and when.
Genuinely I hope you take on board some of what others with similar experience have advised so that your son can fulfill his potential.

@EvilTwins omg check out OP's latest thread. You will not believe this!!

@mummabear1967 this thread is finished now and @EvilTwins is more than welcome to view any of my threads at any time she wishes