How important are A levels

[Tamary97]

Hi,

Thinking a bit ahead as DD is in year 6. She has struggled with school and is one or two years behind, has issues with receptive language. I am not sure she will do A levels but you may surprise us. How important are A levels? what are the options if she only studied until year 11?

Also, can you take a break before you start you A levels or do you need to do it at a certain age in England?

The requirement is to be in full-time education until 18, but there are other options besides A levels. It’s a long way off, but maybe start by browsing what your local college offers post-16.

Everyone needs to be in some form of education until their 18. A levels aren't the be all and end all. A lot of people prefer apprenticeships, vocational courses etc.
I hated my alevels, really struggled with them. I got average GCSEs and was pretty average through school, preferred more hands on learning. Still went to university to train as a nurse, a lot of people who didn't have alevels done an access to health course.

At 16 your DD can move on to an apprenticeship. She could also look at vocational equivalents to A Levels, currently the most popular choice for this route is BTECs but the government are hoping to stop funding them in favour of T Levels (hopefully they will see the light and not go through with this). No one will force her to stay in education until 18, but it is best if she does as she will have many more options ahead of her. Funding depends on wjat qualifications she gains at gcse. So at the moment, a child can keave school with few gcses, study a L1 year long course, a L2 year 1 course (or apprenticeship) and then move on to Level 3 (or apprenticeship equivalent) and all will be fully funded (and obvs a small wage for those who move into apprenticeships). Hope that helps!

Thank you. That's very useful.

I really hope they don't stop funding the BTECs courses (where is this country heading to). What are T levels?

From the outside, T levels seem to be more academic / exam heavy vocational courses. So less good for those who would normally do better under a coursework system of BTECs. Where that will leave young people is anyone's guess. At least they will have had time to bed down before you get there.
(My eldest did Travel & Tourism, younger one has today started Animal Care).

Post 16 education usually involves level 3 qualifications, be they A levels, IB diploma, Highers, btec, nvq et al. Post 19 it can be an Access course which tend to be vocational. They can be part of an apprenticeship, combining work experience and training, or fulltime/part time school or college. Level 3 funding is currently available for up to 3 years until 19, after then there are loans available.