Suggestions for A levels - last minute rethink

[MoshiMoshiSushi]

DD1 has been struggling to keep up with GCSEs since lockdown and while she looks to get decent grades (a mixture of 6s, 7s and 8s), it is indicative of the fact she may find A levels at her school's sixth form a challenge. The school is a very high achieving one so we have always wondered if it is the best option for her but as it is local to us it has worked for us as a family. The question is (a) where to send her and (b) how to present it without her seeing it as a negative. DH has recently been made redundant so there is an opportunity to consider sending her to a sixth form college. Her school said they would be there for careers advice until she goes to university and the head said she would happily check her UCAS forms. They really are looking at her best outcomes from all this and I must admit it did make me shed a tear. We live in Surrey and I wondered if anyone had suggestions or similar experiences and could share what they found worked? Thanks in advance.

The thing is, A Levels will be the same wherever she goes. The only difference will be the peer group and perhaps the pace of lessons (but they all have to get through the same material so the pace can't be that different). Are you thinking about BTECs instead of A Levels? Or does her current school insist on 4 A Levels, as that would potentially hard to keep up with?

Our dd got 8s and 9s in (teacher assessed) GCSEs at a highly selective independent school last year. She wanted to move to a co-ed school for sixth form and she applied to a comprehensive, a sixth form college and a grammar school. In the end she chose the grammar on the basis of travel. But all of them wanted a 6 or a 7 in the subjects she was going to study, so your dd should easily qualify to do A Levels anywhere.

Despite being a high achiever dd is a slow worker and has always struggled with the workload - she dropped a GCSE so got 9 instead of 10 in the end. She's only doing 3 A Levels and she finds it overwhelming. But I'm not sure if BTECs would be any less overwhelming for her, as it's the amount of work she struggles with not the difficulty.

I moved to a 6th form college and never regretted it. A change of scene can be a great thing at that age.

And remember the college will have its own careers/UCAS programmes which (as it specialises in that) may even be stronger than those on offer at her current school?

@crazycrofter Thanks for your reply. Our DDs sound similar. It is the working pace that has challenged her as she has dyslexia. I think understanding the peer group in a new setting is maybe what I need to consider. It seems so late to apply now and I have DH cross about being told so late that she won't thrive in sixth form so we have to look elsewhere. She wants to do A levels and i wonder whether a wider option to choose from could be a possible selling point?

@ChnandlerBong It is funny you should mention it because she has often talked about being with a different mix of people, including boys. She has always felt the all girl environment is very toxic at her school.

Depending on which side of Surrey you are, you could look over the border into Hampshire which has many excellent sixth form colleges (as pretty much all schools finish at 16 in Hants).

Also feeling quite angry on your behalf - presumably it's your DDs current school which has told you she "won't thrive" in their sixth form? By which of course they mean that they are worried her dyslexia will pull their grades down. A mix of 6s, 7s and 8s are GOOD GCSE passes - that's Bs, As and A*s in "old money".

Her school said they would be there for careers advice until she goes to university and the head said she would happily check her UCAS forms.

I work in a sixth form college and we have a really active careers department who arrange loads of events, and very hands-on UCAS support too. Probably better than a school sixth form (I have also worked there) as they just have a wider knowledge of courses and opportunities. I know it might feel like a school is more invested in their students but we really do care for our students and know them well - I've spent time this week talking to parents about their child's uni applications and what would suit them from my personal knowledge of the student over two years.

6s, 7s and 8s are a very very normal profile for an A level student so it's odd to say she's not suited for A levels. At a college there's a chance she could mix A levels with BTECS - it's common for ours to do 1 A-level and a double BTEC or the other way round. That can be a great mix for students who struggle with the pressure of terminal exams, and we still send everyone who wants to go to university.

Also, it isn't late to decide at all - every student = money and any institution apart from the most highly selective will be happy to take any student up to about October half-term! They might not say that in their bumpf (because it is in their best interests to know their numbers as early as possible) but it certainly happens.

I agree with @Bramshott, she should be well able to cope with A Levels. For what it’s worth, Dd is loving the new environment. With boys in the majority she finds it much less stressy and more fun. The only downside is the work but that would be the same everywhere!

We’re also planning a move for year 10 ds, and one of the factors is choice of subjects. His grammar only do quite a narrow range. He’s the type who only works on things that interest him! He really wants to do PE, Music and a Food Tech level 3.

I’m sure you’ll find a wider range of options at a sixth form college.

Really do appreciate your advice. DH is cross at the late notice. She isn't not A level material. Just not at the current school which is uber high achieving. His view is they don't want to tarnish their results table. They stated view was their concern for her wellbeing at keeping up given she is at the bottom of her cohort. Regardless of which one is the true one, the reality is she has to work super hard to distil the learning at the pace they work at and I do think she could find a more suitable environment for A levels. Determined to make this a positive opportunity even if it is extremely stressful at this late stage. Hampshire is a possibility although I suspect she would prefer something closer to home.

Honestly it's not that late really. I think dd put in her 3 applications in Feb/March but she didn't make a final decision until June. It was actually really fun and exciting to look at all the options and she's so glad she made the move. As long as you frame it as a positive thing, I think she'll be fine.

@GravityFalls @Bramshott @crazycrofter OK you are being so lovely and supportive. We can do this! Meanwhile DD1 is sending me really lovely texts saying "Just go maths back and got a 7" (maths is her weakest subject). The kid is working her socks off and I am determined to help her thrive.

Godalming College is the obvious choice. George Abbot/Guildford County for a state school. The current school must be suggesting options. Private coed - St John’s, Reeds, Charterhouse, King Edwards Witley. Lots of choice and it’s not too late sometimes a fresh start is best. She probably thinks she isnt academic but she is surrounding by girls that can get 8s and 9s with very little work. Her current school don’t want her that’s very hard to hear but that doesn’t mean she won’t thrive elsewhere

Your DD sounds lovely @MoshiMoshiSushi and you're right - you can do this!

Thank you @redpandaalert those do seem possibilities. Although the cost of some are eye wateringly expensive! I know she can thrive in the right environment.

It's a left-field choice, but if you are anywhere near it, I can recommend the sixth form at Farnborough Hill School. DD decided to repeat Y12 with a different set of A levels and FHS was one of the few choices available. It has turned out to be surprisingly good, with excellent teaching and pastoral care and a cohort of sixth formers that DD has described as 'freakishly nice'. The fees are definitely at the lower end of Surrey private schools.

I should have added that a mixture of 6,7 and 8s would be absolutely fine with FHS, preferably but not essentially with 7s in her A level subjects.

Oh my goodness. Your poor DD. A school that makes a child who is going to get 6s 7s and 8s feel that in some way they are not good enough is not a good school. It may well spew out tons of girls with all grade 9s (and a fair few eating disorders and other dysfunctions, I'll warrant) every year, but it is failing miserably at building up confidence. There is no way those grades are not good enough for A-levels. You might want to be strategic with subject choices and not try to do maths, chemistry or MFL without at least 7s or 8s, but there's no reason why your poor DD can't do really well - she sounds like she has a perfectly good brain and a decent work ethic, both of which will make her a valued employee one day. I would look at local state options post haste and at least the last two years of her school career can be happy ones where she gets to see that she is valuable because of who she is and not just as a set of grades.

Thank you for the idea @halftermbreak I’ll look into it. Although discussing around it by looking into her third A level choice (she can’t decide which one to choose) we’ve come to the conclusion that sixth form colleges offer both a wider range of subjects and boys! And a more relaxed mixed environment is something she’s really interested in. So while I’ve not yet told her the news (I’m being a coward as I’m protecting her from the news of the rejection) she’s decided she’d like to find somewhere else to go to for A levels. So we’re moving in a direction that’s positive... but not quite resolved. We’ve even looked in towards London!

@Biscuitsneeded I do feel they’re let her down with timing the decision. It’s really put us in a difficult position and it’s the last thing I could do with now as I’m knee deep in sorting out things after my mum suddenly passed away last month. Honestly this has sort of compounded the feeling of rejection on my part (which is understandable but more illusory - it’s not my education here!) which is why I’m trying to stay focused and practical and positive for DD.

That's awful - I went to a private school and remember being called to the headteachers office to discuss whether it was best for me to continue my ALevels since I wasn't planning to go to Uni and the rest of my year were. I politely told them to do one and stayed until the end of 6th form but it was a terrible thing for them to have done.

My DD is going to go to a 6th form college (Reigate) as she likes the courses there and to be honest she never really got on at her school. I think they are treated more like adults at college - at her school sixth form they still have to follow a lot of rules that are really more appropriate for the younger ones.

Do you feel moving is the right decision for your DD op? Is that what you want to do or is school pushing you in a direction you don't want to take?

Do they have a requirement for eg a grade 8 in a subject in order to pursue it to A level?

Godalming college and woking college do a huge range of a-level and btec subjects. Dd left her state secondary with 7,8,9 GCSEs but still felt that she wasn't good enough. A few weeks into college we realised she wasn't dreading school anymore and was making loads of new friends. I can't recommend moving highly enough!

Sorry for your loss OP. I know how the feelings of loss can mirror a feeling of rejection and you’re doing so well to recognise that and focus on your DD. She sounds lovely and it sounds to me as if she’d thrive elsewhere. You’re doing a great job turning it as if it was her choice and I’d carry on with that route rather than feeling as if her school is asking her to leave. They clearly don’t want interesting good people, just pure ruthless results.

@Pumpkintopf Interestingly DH wants to dig heels in and insist she stays. I am not sure I want to second guess their judgment and presume to know better. She may well do OK there but I also wonder whether it is an opportunity to help her move onto a place where her talents are recognised. She is amongst the top 1% nationally in her school but because she is in the bottom of her cohort, not really focused on. I suspect elsewhere she would have more focus and realise she is exceptional. She has got this far with only a recent diagnosis of dyslexia too so it really is a credit to her to have managed it in her funny way.

@gleegeek I know! The choice is wonderful but she is apprehensive of the reputation of GC in particular from stories she has heard. There is an element of wanting to put herself out there but being confident enough to face what may come. When she hears negative stories it makes her less keen. She said "I just need to hear from people who have enjoyed the move to want to go somewhere". Currently she is chatting to someone at Ashbourne College in London. Logistics and eye watering fees aside, it looks great

@PorcelainCatStack Thank you and I think you are right. It is disappointing but at least they are honest while trying to be kind. TBH they have had a difficult time with the way the pandemic has affected their output/results. I can see why they may adopt a more ruthless approach even if it isn't nice to be on the receiving end. The other DDs are quite happy there and doing well and they were keen to say they love the family and want us to stay but worry for DD1's wellbeing. She has been assisted and recovered through a period of OCD in year 5 so they do know her well and have been a superb school for me to work with.

OP, I'll pm you if that's ok.