How do you pick A levels when you don't enjoy any of the subjects

[UglyJumper]

I am trying to support Y11 DD to select A Levels. French is a given, not because she enjoys it, but because she's good at it and her predicted grade is a 9. She doesn't like anything else, including creative subjects (which are in short supply in her school anyway), but particularly hates maths and sciences. She's got a low predicted grade in English Lit and she hates it, so won't do that either. I am trying to encourage her to just pick the 2 she hates the least because she has to pick something. She has no idea what she wants to do when she's older. She's under the impression that she's the only one in her whole year who's struggling like this and that everyone's got it sorted.

There are many different ways of choosing A-levels, whether they are facilitating subjects, if you like a subject or if you are good at a subject. A lot of people work backwards from what job they want to do , then which uni/degree they want, then which A-levels they need to get there. The ideal would be if they can do solid A levels that they like and good at, that leads to a good degree. In reality it is a mix of those factors. A-levels can be seen as a means to an end.

If it were my daughter, I would advise her to pick something "useful" and she would get decent grades at, to keep doors open. I think it is especially important if she doesn't know what she wants to do (which is very normal). I think vocational subjects and apprenticeships are great for those who know what they want to do, but it can be limiting to those finding their way.

Career advise is important at this point, to see what subjects are required for different paths.

French is a given, not because she enjoys it, but because she's good at it and her predicted grade is a 9. She doesn't like anything else

At that age it's fine not to rush. She's got time to find her way.

I decided to get a job after my gcse's, my parents supported me as I was so headstrong. I had a string of top GCSE's , but I didn't want to study, it sounds like your DD is the same, no-one isn't interested in anything else, but she may be sick of studying.

After two years of working ( fun , but dead end jobs in a record shop, working at a music festival, intern at a video production company, etc I decided to go back to college and do A levels and went onto a top university.

Stephen Fry failed his A Levels, went on the run with a stolen credit card and spent 3 months in prison. He then re-took his A levels and went onto Cambridge and stardom.

Its not all or nothing at 15/16, take a step back, if she's not interested in any A levels, why are you even having the conversation??

Then don't pick A levels. WHat does she want to do? Animal care, child care, nursing? All have get BTEC options. why are you only considering A levels - they are certainly not right for everyone.

Thank you for everyone that's contributed.
It's not that we wouldn't allow her to pursue a more vocational route, it's that she has no idea what she wants to do in the future, so the vocational route is even harder. I feel that A levels might keep her going in education for a while longer while she matures and works out which direction she wants to head towards. She's an August child, so I do feel there's an aspect of growing up needed.

Op

I would be a little concerned by 16 year old had absolutely no “assign” in her life. No subject whatsoever she enjoys and it would seem no vocational type activity (where cooking, hair, make up, health, creative) appeals to her.

How does she seem in herself?

Assign should read PASSION

Mine picked subjects she had a vague interest in (good GCSE results), did them for two terms, dropped out, worked in a cafe for a while, got an NHS apprenticeship and is now at university doing a foundation healthcare course to move onto a full degree. We got a lot of comments (including on here) that she was ruining her life by not doing A levels but it's worked out amazingly, she had 18 months of solid work experience In a challenging situation that has massively increased her maturity and independence and now is doing something that she cares about, and is enjoying university life knowing what it's like to work full time.

I was very good at French and got an a* at gcse...hated it at a level!! Dropped it after about a term!

Doesn't sound like your daughter should be doing any a levels if there's nothing she'd enjoy!

OP- What does she like, in general?

To be academically good but not to enjoy any subject is quite a big thing. Does she have enthusiasm for anything in her life? That might point the way towards some 'new ' A levels, or a BTEC she can excel in.

I also dropped French at a level. It’s probably changed since I was there but whereas gcse had a total focus on language, a level had quite a large French literature/ film component. Worth checking the syllabus if she’s not interested in English lit.

Please don't force her.

I was forced and I still bear the scars of what could have been.

BTECs are more focused but they don't 'lock you in', Eg I've had students go from heath and social care into teaching.

There are other courses as well, things like catering beauty, construction, accountancy.

Does she want to go to uni?

DS had exactly the same issue. August born. 9s/8s in GCSEs. No idea whatsoever what he wanted to do with his life. We ended up choosing A levels by default ...we took out all the subjects he didn't like, so he did A levels in the 3 subjects left.

He didn't pass his first year at college, mostly due to not enjoying it and bunking off. He transferred to a Btec. He didn't enjoy that, started bunking off again and was kicked off the course.

He's now working full time doing something he's willing to get up for and go in every day. It's definitely a job, not a career.

I'm hoping he's going to return to study in the future when he's ready, but it's his life.

If your daughter is feeling this way @UglyJumper then it could be she's not ready for more study at this point in her life.

I think online learning sucked the joy out of learning for a lot of children. My DD is redoing 6th form after feeling obliged to do A levels for a year - she went from being a high achieving GCSE student to mediocre to poor A level student, and I'm sure it was because she didn't have the study skills for it after the covid disruption. She's now doing a BTEC in animal care at college and absolutely thriving. It's a practical course with modules, and the college environment suits her well.

You know it isn’t offered at most colleges/ Sixth Forms, right?

She needs some serious career advice. So spending time on websites, etc doing those quizes which suggest well matched careers. Investigating what’s available. Looking at university prospectuses to see if any degrees catch her eye. Then for example if she thinks wow I want to study Anthropology she might have a better idea of what a levels are needed to get her there.

does she want to work at a desk based job, does she want to work outside, on her own, with others? When she thinks about work how does she imagine it?

My DD picked for A levels three subjects she hadn’t done at all at GCSE.

OP

1. she ISN’T the only one struggling. All students think that.

2. What does she do in her spare time? Does she have hobby/ interests?

Would she consider a trade like mechanics, construction etc?
Or a land based course like horticulture, agriculture, conservation?

She must have some interests in life, surely?

Have you met 16yos?

My third is nearly 16yo and at that that age they can be very "Meh" about everything.
I used to say about my oldest that i asked her every day how school was and she replied "boring". I told from the tone of voice if it was boring-good or boring-bad. My current nearly 16yo gives me a grunt for the same answer.🤣
My middle one had the best day ever/worst day ever probably about twice a week all the way through school, so she was different.

I agree with not doing French-it is very different at A-levels.

Are there any technical sixth forms round you? We have a local one and I've known a number of 16yos who are completely "meh" about school who have really blossomed there. They offer things like car mechanics, plumbing, hair dressing and other things.

2 years of studying the least bad-and possibly struggling to do so is not going to benefit her.

Well I haven’t met your 16 year old.

But my 16 year old DD and hre friends certainly all have an interest whether that’s art, maths, baking, sport, languages

And similarly - my DD can be pretty meh about a lot of things. But she does have interests

A levels might keep her going in education for a while longer while she matures and works out which direction she wants to head towards.
She can also mature doing a course that gives her a useful technical skill as well as generic employability qualities . As PPs have said I would be exploring what is she least likely to drop out of rather than worry whether it is a long term career interest.

OP I have been thinking some more about this. A grade of 9 in French, if achieved, is very good. Does she speak French at home? If not then a 9 is for sure an indicator that she is academic. No way can you stroll into a n MFL 9 grade.

That being so, A levels would be a natural progression. But it doesn't always work like that. A peer of DD's did A levels somewhat against her will, refused to apply for uni and ended up working full time and is very happy. She had specific reasons for all this, which won't apply to your dd - but still A levels are not always the answer. There surely must be something she enjoys - whether that is debating her passion at dinner or baking or something creative? How about an apprenticeship - have you had a look? It could be in a business role, they are not all building and plumbing.

And she was born in August but she is now a young woman of 15 who surely has a view in this. Please don't channel her towards two years of subjects she doesn't like. You really need to like your A level subjects.

I think that's fair OP. Vocational routes are great for some but it's even harder to pick that at age 16 than to continue with a more general education. There are still students who pick a Master's over getting a job after uni because they still have some growing up to do.

Taster days at college are useful. I wonder if it would be worth her asking if she can go to more than one so she can try 8 subjects, or picking her taster day subjects over quite a wide span (a science, an essay subject, something new like psychology) and seeing where that takes her. I would put some weight on what she finds least overwhelming at GCSE, tempered by how subjects change for A level, and pick at least one brand new subject where everyone will be starting from scratch together. Reassure her that there's a way through if she regrets her choice, people do go back and have another bash. Nothing's irredeemable at 16. And encourage her to pick a college that has the best student support you can find, not one with a rep for "weeding out".

I've always felt that we have to make these hugely important choices at a time in our lives when we are least equipped to (and are possibly a bit schooled out) It's difficult and I get your point about keeping her in education a bit longer, but I don't think casting around for the "least worst" options for A levels is the answer