Failed BTEC

[ThePenOfMyAunt]

DS1 has an EHCP. He attended an ASD provision within a mainstream school. Pupils expected to be in mainstream for majority of time, but DS1 developed severe anxiety and depression in Yr9.
He dropped loads of subjects, so was only doing Maths, English, Combined Science, History and a L1 Btec in Business Enterprise.
He would occasionally go to lessons, but not regularly and mostly worked in the ASD provision.

Throughout he was predicted a Level 1D for the Btec, it's on all school progress reports. This was a subject taught by the School SENCo.
Come results day he got a U.

DS1 didn't need any grades for his Post 16 but this was a surprise result, so I asked the school if they could explain what had happened.

I have been informed that he did very well in the YR10 units, but no work was collected for him in Year 11, hence the U. The SENCo have since left so the ASD provision teacher cannot explain what happened. She had assumed they were collecting work, as was the arrangement for his other subjects.

On the one hand, it doesn't matter as his post-16 is unaffected. On the other, I am feeling DS1 has been let down on this, he passed History and Combined Science, and got 3s in Maths and both English. I feel that if the mainstream teachers could support DS1, and he did well to get those grades with rarely entering the classes, then surely the actual school SENCo should have been more on it?
But then again would a formal complaint really achieve anything, as nothing will change the outcome and the teacher who had responsibility has now left.

but no work was collected for him in Year 11, hence the U.

You mean he did the work, but it wasn't collected by the teacher and submitted to the exam board, or he wasn't asked to do any work?

If the former, complain. You should at least get an apology. If the latter, you should have complained much sooner, and its probably too late now.

No work was submitted for him for Yr11, it's not clear if he was given any work. Apparently he began the year attending the lesson, but then stopped. The ASD provision Lead assumed that work was being collected and supported within the provision, as it was still on his timetable, but the ASD provision staff assumed he was no longer entered for the subject. Work wasn't collected or followed up with.

We had no idea there was any issues with the BTEC, as the information we were given was that he was expected to get a Level 1D. We had many, many meetings because of his EHCP and lack of Post 16 options, and his predicted grades were discussed a lot.

I think you need to ask your child if he was given homework and if he submitted it.

So at no stage during y11 was mention made of a lack of evidence for the btec? Did he do any work, hand it in (would it be via email) but it not be assessed, or not? Was the previous work submitted?

Nothing whatsoever, I am trying to find out from the school exactly what was submitted, as DS1 isn't able to provide any information. He is compliant, as in work put in front of him and he will do it, but he would not go and tell someone if he wasn't given work.

The Year 10 work had all been submitted, and the new Btec teacher said it was to a high standard.
The school are now saying it wasn't the SENCo teaching the subject last year, but a different teacher who has now left, but had large periods of absence, covered internally.

I'm a bit hmm about the whole thing, as DS1 had a reduced timetable as it was, spent 99% of his time in the ASD provision, yet somehow this has happened.

Apparently he began the year attending the lesson, but then stopped

So you had no idea that he'd stopped going to the lessons? And they thought he'd stopped going because he'd dropped the Btech? Which effectively he had, because he wasn't there to give the work to/collect the work from? It does seem very remiss that none of this came up as an issue in all the meetings you had. Are his SEN such that he would never mention it to you himself at the time or be able to explain it now? Them now saying a different teacher was doing it who now can't be contacted to explain the situation does sound rather suspicious. Thank goodness it won't affect him going forward, though I wonder if they're hoping that means you stop asking awkward questions and the issue goes away?

We knew he was rarely attending any lessons, but we were told he was doing all the work in the ASD Provision instead. It seems to be a complete internal communication failure, which isn't a great look for an ASD specialist provision

I am side-eying the change of teacher but presumably they can prove this. I am sure the SENCo alluded to still teaching DS1, but there was so many meetings in Yr10 and Yr11 I could be confusing it. It seems a strange decision to not ensure the Yr11s had a solid teacher, but I guess there were reasons.

Yes, it's not something DS1 is able to discuss. DH really doesn't want to drop it, I'm more inclined to because I can't see there's anything to be gained. We know they screwed up, but it won't change the outcome for DS1.

Ok, then I think you should make a formal complaint, with the aim of getting an apology and reassurance that procedures have been put in place to prevent the same thing happening to another student.

Is he still at the school? If so, could he resit the second year or transfer it.

I'd write a letter commenting on what happened and saying they need to make sure that it doesn't happen again. I'd send it to the head of the ASD base and a copy to 'Governor responsible for SEN Inclusion' with a receipt request.

Then I'd move on. It isn't going to improve the outcome for your DS, and your headspace needs to be making sure whatever he does now goes smoothly.

He's not staying there, he's going to a specialist Provision. We'll once they've hired a mentor for him.

I've decided I will escalate through official complaints. Although the communication issues weren't great, the subject teacher was completing the information that goes on the progress reports stating his predicted grade.

If that had been done properly, then the issue would have been caught and resolved.

I have 3 DC with SEN so I'm well used to juggling various issues. I'm sick of professional failings being swept under the carpet.

Thanks all it's helped me to decide what to do.