what to do

[logincard]

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 ?

@LemonRoses

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.

LemonRoses, it's spiteful and unecessary of you to rub the boot in.

Spiteful? No, hopefully truthful rather than faux supportive. Arm stroking, head on one side stuff doesn’t get the poor lad a place of study.

Perhaps un-cushioned words, but the OP needs to get her parenting big-girl pants on and look after the child by having better oversight of his educational needs. What’s going to happen at UCAS time?

I suspect the grammar will be full of children who are focussed and with parents supportive of high achievement. That might not be the best place for him or the OP.

I agree it's really disappointing that you're not getting more help from his current school - especially as this year they had the luxury of knowing a long way in advance that he wasn't getting the grades he needed! So would definitely get in touch and see what they suggest.

A space will come up. Keep on at the schools and get the councils /LEA admissions advice help. Or enrol for BTEC at college and then if no place comes up do A Levels next year. Can he enrol to study A Levels online (but hope not to have to, as he may be able to switch later). Its very unusual in your area most places want bums on seats for A Levels.

I suspect the grammar will be full of children who are focussed and with parents supportive of high achievement. That might not be the best place for him or the OP.

May be so, but large FE colleges aren't renowned for supporting students in danger of drifting, or for communicating well with parents who need to keep an oversight - their students have to be equally focussed, and independent too.

The best place would be a small, nurturing sixth form that cares (and needs to care, for the sake of their performance stats) about the progress of every student. There are at least 3 like that in my area. However, small sixth forms are under pressure from government funding cuts so they don't exist everywhere.

OP, do look at faith schools too - those that are highly selective on faith criteria in year 7 are often much less so in sixth form because they need to get bums in seats to fill their courses.

Op, I’ve seen your other thread. Sympathy.

In your shoes, I would start homeschooling, with paid tutors, until you get a place at a traditional school. As others have said, places tend to come up in year.

Admittedly homeschooling may be easier for arts subjects.

According to the other thread Richmond College does A levels and has open enrolment today.
So get him a place there to do the best matching A levels possible.

Then carry on looking to see if you can do better.

But at least get yourself a fallback place.

Esher College in Thames Ditton also does A levels and takes students from SW London.