Can 16 year olds to a year of online GCSE retakes at home and then do Alevels over 3 years if needs be in school?

[M0iraR0se]

Ds has had a shitty time and struggling with mh issues. Currently wants to do retakes himself at home online. 4 that he wants to better grades in, will get Eng and maths but might want to get a better grade in English as one of the 4 so an access course wouldn’t really be suitable.

Thinking a year getting well might be a good thing.
Is that possible? Have been told 16 year olds need to be in full time education.

Also have heard they can retake a year of Alevels if needs be. Would he still be able to take Alevels over 3 years if he had to if he’d started them a year later?

He’s bright so not an ability issue just MH.

If he’s worried about a spike GCSE profile impacting his uni application, there is a section for teacher reference where they can include that sort of information

Oh really, that’s reassuring both of you. Thank you I’ll tell him. Do you think it’s best to start the Alevels and flunk out one year if needs be( end up doing over 3)or wait until completely better?

Can he do his A levels as normal and then redo his maths 1 year and English the next? (I retook mine doing my degree don,t recommend it, didn,t get a c in maths, but times have changed and it,s more necessary these days.)

I think you should try to talk to someone at the school who knows him.

If he's looking at upper end universities in the maths/computer science direction, he might be well-advised to do further maths, if his maths is strong enough. If he's strong enough in those subjects that they've no worries about him doing those at A-level, then I think I'd be inclined to suggest that he just jettison the GCSEs and get on with A-levels. Although his GCSE results will not be that good, when it comes to university applications, he's going to need to explain either that or the extra year, and if he's doing well enough in the A-levels I think they're unlikely to worry about them. They'll probably be taking this year's results with a large pinch of salt anyway. The one exception is English - if he hasn't got at least a 4 or 5, that might be worth re-taking.

The problem is that he's probably had 18 months of teachers going on about how important GCSEs are, but actually, once you've got on to your A-level or college course, they're really not that big a deal.

That assumes his health is recovered. If it isn't, then a year of studying at home might be no bad thing - perhaps doing some maths as well as the GCSEs (maybe A-level, but maybe GCSE Further maths, or something like that, which will ease the A-levels).

OP could you clarify which unis he is thinking of applying for? And what is his end goal in terms of a job (if he can think ahead that far...)

If he is thinking Oxbridge I would dissuade him, it is not a good fit for anyone with physical or mental health issues. Next tier down, there is usually a lot more wriggle room in terms of grades.

Personally I think it’s better to apply with predicted grades & if they get an offer, hope the uni still takes them even if actual grades are lower (this worked for my two). If you are applying with actual grades, and these are lower than the standard offer, then I would think you are less likely to get an offer. Though this is all speculation given the uncertainty over the future. If there are a lot less foreign students coming it may change things drastically.

Not all jobs require a degree from a top ranked uni. Sometimes getting in at entry level & proving your worth is more valuable.

What happens when my 16 year old son finishes school next year with no GCSEs? He wants to do them but is agoraphobic and has not been in school for 3 years. He needs to be somewhere where he can do them when he is ready but his anxiety only leaves him with online options. I'm so afraid of being fined and him not getting funding for further study. I thought they were free but the school can't let him stay on as he's not able to do A levels he's over 2 years behind please help I'm desperate

Lindd you would be better starting your own thread. Is DS receiving medical needs EOTAS tuition, and does he have an EHCP?