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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Post GCSEs (not A levels)

27 replies

iwonderwhat · 07/02/2021 14:00

My DS is Year 11 and predicted grades of 7 or 8 in all his GCSEs. He knows what he doesn't want to do and that is A levels. For the time being though he has selected three subjects "in case" he stays on at school. [There will be pressure from his academic independent school move on to their sixth form but I'm trying to find the best way forward for him as an individual.]

Interestingly he has done really well with remote learning and seen the most significant increase in grades during the lockdowns and has received many positive comments from his teachers.

He is interested in video production and is into football (not so much playing but commentating, refereeing, predicting transfers etc). I have suggested joining one of the forces, probably RAF, to get training and opportunities or looking for a good apprenticeship but the latter are thin on the ground.

Do any of you wise parents have experience or suggestions of other things we could consider.

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 07/02/2021 14:07

Has he looked at his local college for BTECs or other vocational courses?

Or maybe a T-level if offered? www.tlevels.gov.uk/students/subjects/digital-production-design-development

Original poster
iwonderwhat · 07/02/2021 15:28

He's not keen on BTECs but I think T levels could be of interest. Thank you.

OP posts:
clary · 07/02/2021 15:56

If he wants to referee football he could train as a football ref right now (well perhaps not right now but certainly at his age. DS2 is a ref and trained at 14yo. He can then start reffing as soon as play starts again (so most likely September I guess, or hopefully friendlies over the summer).

If he wants to go into football commentating, in other words football journalism, I suggest he does a degree in that (tho it pains me to say it) and starts producing some work towards it now (eg blog on his favourite team).

I would suggest college for some kind of course, there is s sports science BTEC that can lead to university. Or I am sure there are college courses in video production.

Is he interested in the forces or just you? I'll be honest and say that full-time work as a footy ref is unusual (most do it on the side of other roles) and football journalism and video production are pretty competitive careers with lots of 16yo lads thinking they sound interesting. Tho I'll be honest and say I don't know that much about video production.

He needs to take on some kind of post-16 course that interests him. Why is he not keen on BTECs or A levels? Can you unravel that a bit as those are the main options to be totally honest.

clary · 07/02/2021 15:57

Sorry I was very honest in that post there eh! Wish there was an edit facility!!

PresentingPercy · 07/02/2021 16:04

I would look at the educational backgrounds of football commentators. Unbelievably difficult to get into one would have thought. Many sports journalists do a standard degree first and then a masters in broadcast journalism. Do the tv companies offer apprenticeships? I suspect few now get into this straight from school at 16.

Original poster
iwonderwhat · 07/02/2021 16:20

Thanks, clary. He's done the refereeing course and is looking forward to the current restrictions being lifted to get back to weekend matches; he accepts that it would have to be a part-time activity and not a proper full-time job. I hear what you say and don't disagree about the appeal and competitive nature of sports journalism. I appreciate your honesty - no need to edit!

I can't say he's overly interested in the forces but I was hoping he may look at the opportunities they offer Smile.

The new T level courses, mentioned by noblegiraffe, could well prove suitable. It's something I mentioned 6 months ago and then forgot about. We're also fortunate to have a reasonably local college that does them.

OP posts:
Original poster
iwonderwhat · 07/02/2021 16:23

You're quite right, PresentingPercy. However, there is one TV company I've come across that would be possible distance-wise and we're keeping an eye open to see if they offer an apprenticeship again this year.

It's such a shame that so many careers expect/demand a degree.

OP posts:
PresentingPercy · 07/02/2021 16:25

Looking at the cvs of younger commentators who are not former players, all have gone to university. Cambridge, Durham, Salford, Birmingham, Leeds, Queens Belfast etc. The old brigade didn’t need to bother but younger people go and hone their skills whilst studying.,

ihatethecold · 07/02/2021 16:35

What doesn't he like about a BTEC? Does he know what they entail? My DD is doing a diploma in art Btec. Its allowing her to focus in depth on one subject.

Original poster
iwonderwhat · 07/02/2021 18:05

I'm not sure, ihatethecold, but I'll get him to have a closer look. It may be that his school plays them down as they don't offer them ... but perhaps I'm getting cynical.

OP posts:
PresentingPercy · 07/02/2021 20:50

I would look at practical film courses at somewhere like Salford university and work back to acceptable qualifications. Film production type courses might be of interest. Or what about the Northern Film School? I know nothing about it but starting research now would be useful. Central St Martins does Animation.

I think he has a bit of a scattergun approach. A bit of a wannabe without understanding the work and talent needed. More like projecting hobbies into jobs. None of his ideas are easy to do. Just hoping to get into something without planning and working for it, rarely works.

I know that sounds a bit harsh but he does need guidance I think and a dose of realism.

crazycrofter · 07/02/2021 23:00

@iwonderwhat I’ve noticed at my kids’ grammar/independent schools the phrase ‘BTEC’ is used as an insult. If something is a bit BTEC, it’s basically a bit rubbish - so that may be putting him off?

The Sports Science BTEC looks interesting and practical.

Original poster
iwonderwhat · 08/02/2021 07:45

I don't disagree, PresentingPercy ... which is why I'm seeking advice here in the hope he will listen to someone who is not "mum". I'll pass on those ideas. Thank you.

Yes, crazycrofter, that seems to be the case and I detest that sort of attitude; we need all sorts of people with a wide variety of skills and abilities! I'll sit down with him to look at that course in detail. Thank you.

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PresentingPercy · 08/02/2021 09:24

He will have to decide if it’s sport or video arts though. Difficult to do both. What is he actually doing now? Any distinct talents and hobbies that lean towards sport or film? What is he like at art? Is he a “secret” football commentator in his bedroom?

Btecs are accepted by many university courses. They are perfectly good for many dc as a springboard to a career.

crazycrofter · 08/02/2021 10:03

Our local college has a Film and TV production extended BTEC too. The only problem with these two BTECs is they are both quite specific so as Percy says, he would need to decide which direction he prefers.

Original poster
iwonderwhat · 09/02/2021 10:17

I really appreciate your input.

We will go away and do our homework now to find the right path for him.

Thank you, everyone.

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Middersweekly · 10/02/2021 09:35

@iwonderwhat my dd is also the same with regards to A-levels so is going to do Sports Coaching and Leadership Advanced BTEC. I would say it has both practical and academic modules. Most colleges/sixth forms that offer this may also have sports academies for football which he may want to get involved in.

Original poster
iwonderwhat · 10/02/2021 10:14

Thank you, Middersweekly - I'll take a look at that too. Best wishes to your DD as she moves beyond GCSEs. School is not the best environment for all young people and it's good to have alternative options.

OP posts:
ScrapThatThen · 10/02/2021 10:30

Sometimes local rugby or football organisations do a BTEC route and I just came across this, www.boomsatsuma.education/fecourse/sportsmedia

maybe look up similar in your area. Or use one of the A level mixers to see what degree courses he could get on to.

SeasonFinale · 10/02/2021 12:53

There are also a variety of degrees that UCFB offer including Multimedia Sports Journalism and coaching and sports management degrees.

He may want to look at these and if one of these interest him he might want to work backwards to see what their entry requirements are:

www.ucfb.ac.uk/your-degree/undergraduate-degrees/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=UK+%7C+EN+%7C+GO+%7C+BRD+%7C+BMM+%7C+UK+UG+%7C+Wembley&utm_term=%2Bwembley%20%2Bfootball%20%2Bdegree

Original poster
iwonderwhat · 18/02/2021 11:32

Thank you Scrap and Season for those links. Both look interesting and have potential.

OP posts:
pepsipeckle · 02/01/2022 12:19

I know this post is a yr old but I could be writing it today so intrigued where DS went in the end?

Lacedwithgrace · 02/01/2022 12:26

I would highly recommend a college course. He only needs to do one subject and colleges offer a wider range of subjects with different opportunities including work placements and use of specialist technology that he won't get in school

Whatnextcrazyworld · 23/01/2022 15:57

Lacedwithgrace Thank you.

Things have moved on: he gave A levels a go and hated every moment so left school at half-term and is now very happy doing an apprenticeship. I should have trusted my gut and insisted that we didn't make him go back for sixth form ... but at least he gave it a try and is now happy.

ihearttc · 23/01/2022 19:33

My DS is now in Y12 and sounds very similar. He wanted to basically be a football pundit though but with no real idea of how to get there. He also didn’t want to do BTECs as a lot of his mates were doing them and he didn’t want to go to college.
Fast forward a year and he got decent grades (although obviously teacher assessed), mostly 7’s and a couple of 6’s. He is at 6th Form doing PE, Geography and Psychology A level. He has decided he wants to do sports science possibly with psychology at Uni. As good as I think BTECs are I also think A levels are better to a certain extent to keep options open.

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