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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

what to do

33 replies

logincard · 17/08/2021 16:07

my DS has 5 grade 7s and 4 6's at GCSE.

he missed out on acceptance to his grammar school for A level and we now have no place for him to study A levels, I have contacted every state and private school in the borough and close by and no one has a space.
who has responsibility for educating him , given that its a legal requirement for him to be in education? and how do I contact them ?

OP posts:

JanglyBeads · 17/08/2021 16:09

To be fair he doesn’t legally have to be in education post 16.

Contact the local authority education department, they’ll have some ideas.

converseandjeans · 17/08/2021 16:11

He has decent grades - however did you not have a back up place? Is he currently at grammar school? There should be a college which would have places. There's guaranteed places at the college near us. His current school should be able to give advice.

wackamama · 17/08/2021 16:17

There are plenty of sixth form places at good schools in our area. I suggest you start a new thread with the title "Anyone know which good sixth forms still have places within easy commute of borough X?" and then you're likely to get a few suggestions.

noblegiraffe · 17/08/2021 16:27

What on earth were the requirements if he didn't meet them with five 7s?

Do you mean that there are no spaces on the specific courses that he wants to study (in which case can he rethink?) or no spaces at all (which would be unusual as bums on seats = money and generally sixth forms are keen on money).

In my area there's a lot of movement between now and the third week of September as people who were holding offers to two places decline one, or change their mind so them all being full is mind-boggling to me. What did the colleges you approached suggest?

Original poster

logincard · 17/08/2021 16:43

He had a back up place ( I thought) turns out he never accepted the conditional offer… and then did not tell me he didn’t have that’s place at a time so I could have done something about it. 5 days later enrolment is over and everywhere is full.
He was one mark off reentry to his grammar school.
Utterly fucked

OP posts:

UserStillatLarge · 17/08/2021 17:00

I don't believe that "everywhere" is full. He might have to rethink the courses he wants to take, or travel a little bit further than he wanted, but there will be sixth forms happy to take extra people.
Is he down on waiting lists at least?

clary · 17/08/2021 17:27

As noble says, what were the requirements if five X 7 didn't meet them? What have his current school said? just a flat no, or not that course but he can do this one?

I am amazed if there are no other options with space. Colleges round here are very keen on bums on seats. When did you discover he didn't have a place? A big ring round tomorrow is called for I think, make sure you get him involved too.

There is usually movement - people change their mind about A levels after a few days or just don't turn up on day one - two students on one of DD's A levels just never appeared - so I cannot believe there are no spaces. Some popular subjects may be at full capacity but there must be a place.

Hellocatshome · 17/08/2021 17:42

What about college for A levels rather than 6th form? Loads of colleges near me are still advertising that that have spaces.

TeenMinusTests · 17/08/2021 18:28

Also are you looking far enough away?

Round my way with large 6th form colleges (and more or less no school based ones) it isn't unusual to have 1hr door to door (or more for a specialist college).

Also, badger the grammar school.

Some kids may enroll at more than 1 location so don't give up hope.

UserStillatLarge · 17/08/2021 18:37

If you are happy to post the general area, someone on here might be able to suggest options you might not have thought of?

lanthanum · 17/08/2021 23:05

@JanglyBeads

To be fair he doesn’t legally have to be in education post 16.

Contact the local authority education department, they’ll have some ideas.

In England:

"You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.

You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:

stay in full-time education, for example at a college
start an apprenticeship or traineeship
spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training"

OP: hope you find something.

converseandjeans · 17/08/2021 23:29

He had a back up place ( I thought) turns out he never accepted the conditional offer… and then did not tell me he didn’t have that’s place at a time so I could have done something about it. 5 days later enrolment is over and everywhere is full.
He was one mark off reentry to his grammar school.
Utterly fucked

We have this where students refuse to entertain the idea of a back up as they're convinced that plan A will work out. So they don't have anything in place if plan A falls through.

There will definitely be places left - he may have to rethink the course/where he studies. So 6th form college rather than traditional 6th form?

I agree with noble that grade 7s will definitely get him a place. He should be able to do traditional A levels.

I would also try to appeal the decision though if he's only one mark off. Surely with lockdown etc they should keep him on?

NotDonna · 18/08/2021 01:17

Can he phone his grammar school? Also other colleges in the area. May be better coming from him. Sell himself too. Are the courses he wishes to do the ones he got 7’s in? Our school doesn’t allow A levels in any subjects where less than 7’s are attained. Maths is 8!

GrammarTeacher · 18/08/2021 06:00

If he wants in to his grammar school you will have to appeal but it is unlikely to be successful. He may also have to change his A Level options if the appeal is successful as popular courses may then be full.
I'd be calling every local college. Looking for a space. At my school we work closely with those at risk of not getting the grades to stay to ensure this doesn't happen but also that they have a plan B as sometimes exams go wrong. We also offer to help people who miss their grades on the day (just as we do with A Level). The entry requirements for sixth form are not flexible however.

speak to ALL local colleges and schools with sixth forms
speak to school and sort an appeal just in case But I'd also try to have some big conversations with your child. Mainly about the importance of communication so you can help in future. I'd also make very sure in a couple of years time that they make a sensible insurance choice.

HasaDigaEebowai · 18/08/2021 06:22

Have you looked at independents? Is that financially possible?

My ds is at an academically selective independent and that would have been enough to get him in (assuming he didn’t do 10 and you’ve missed off a low grade?). They require a 6.5 average and a 7 in any subjects being continued.

Original poster

logincard · 18/08/2021 06:45

Thanks all. Round here the 6th form colleges do not do A levels as all the schools have 6th forms.
We have contacted his grammar school. We have appealed a grade, but I think the chances are very low.
I have contacted every independent school in an hours travel. No space.
I have contacted every school (apart from the all girls schools) they have all sorted out their results / done enrolment and shut up shop for the last 2 weeks of the Summer holidays .

We are completely fucked

OP posts:

NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy · 18/08/2021 06:52

There will be LOADS of movement in the first week of September so plenty of places will become available. Lots of kids enrol at multiple sixth forms then take their pick in early September. By mid September your ds will definitely have a place.

wackamama · 18/08/2021 07:16

@logincard, you used the word 'borough' which implies London, yes? If you start a seperate thread with your area in the title then you may get some more help - do a username change if you want to preserve your anonymity.

Another option would be appeal for a place at the Grammar school, following their appeals procedure. You could point to the fact your son only missed out by one point and cite reasons why his performance was impacted over the last 2 years by issues at home. Worth a try.

Obviously make sure he is on waiting lists for every school within commuting distance.

I would perhaps be worth setting up a new email account that you both have access to, for use with important applications. Once your son gets into sixth form he may need some support from you with the next stage of uni/job applications.

HasaDigaEebowai · 18/08/2021 07:44

If you say what your location is and what ALevels he wanted to do people will be able to help. It isn’t outing and you can always name change anyway afterwards.

Hellocatshome · 18/08/2021 07:48

Are you sure no colleges do A levels? Seems strange even if all schools have 6th forms. Its not always 16 year olds who want to do A levels.

wackamama · 18/08/2021 07:49

The op should definitely do a name change before giving her area. Grammar schools are few and far between, and information can be cross referenced with her previous threads too.

NotDonna · 18/08/2021 07:49

If they’ve literally ‘shut up shop’ can you find out when staff are back in? Head of 6th form may check emails during holidays. Email each 6th form head at all the schools and request a call, he may need to be flexible with his choices, but at least try to get him on their waiting list.

LemonRoses · 18/08/2021 07:53

I’m incredulous that a child was left to determine and remember to accept their own sixth form place.
I’d be pretty disappointed if someone coming out of an elite education couldn’t get the grades for sixth form there - unless there were exceptional circumstances . Won’t be a popular view, but when was it apparent he wasn’t making the grade and why was it left until too late to do anything about it?
He and you might well prefer the more relaxed culture of an FE college.

Pissinthepottyplease · 18/08/2021 07:59

@converseandjeans

Op said on another thread that her son rejected his back up choice.

twilightcafe · 18/08/2021 08:02

My local FE college doesn't offer A Levels. Whether this is because all the secondary schools in the area offer them, or the college dropped teaching A Levels as the grades achieved were so low is anyone's guess.

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