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Secondary education

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Original poster

Changing school for A Levels

19 replies

TabithaTwitchet · 19/03/2023 08:42

After any advice or experiences.

We had to relocate for work and Dd changed schools at the beginning of year 9.
New school didn’t offer DD’s favourite subject from old school(German) so we have been paying for a private tutor so Dd can carry on with it and still do GCSE.

Dd would now like to do German A Level, but loves her existing school now and unsure about leaving.

None of the 6th form colleges within travelling distance offer German A level.
There are 3 possible schools in the area that do:

One is a girl’s school, and offers German at the nearby boys school - so dd would have to walk over there between lessons, which seems a pain, and complicated. Can’t imagine many do this, so might be harder to make friends.

One is not a very good school (currently haemorrhaging both staff and pupils lower down the school). Don’t know about reputation of 6th form specifically. Easy to travel to.

One is quite far away and hard to get to, but otherwise looks fine (though not as good as current school). Not sure about chances of getting in from far away, it is pretty popular. 6th form still have to wear uniform.

Dd really not sure about starting again in another new school - college would be different as everyone is new.
Other complication is Dd might not pass maths GCSE - all schools do allow resits alongside A Levels, but would they admit an external student in this position if they were oversubscribed?

Final option is to stay at existing school and study a different A level. Dd would do German, French and History if she moved, French, History and either Spanish or English if she stayed. She started Spanish in Y9 so feels like she is less good at it.

Dd can’t decide. She knows she could pick German back up at university, but feels like a shame to drop now when she has worked so hard.

OP posts:
SunnySomer · 19/03/2023 08:48

Could she do French, history and an EPQ at current school and continue with the tutor to A level? Or French history and maths resit?

RampantIvy · 19/03/2023 08:49

One thing to consider when joining a new school for 6th form rather than going to 6th form college is breaking into friendship groups. DD's school is the only school in the borough with a 6th form and quite a few students who joined left after a couple of weeks because it was too cliquey.

Are you absolutely sure that the schools will allow GCSE maths retakes? You couldn't go to DD's 6th form without maths.

LIZS · 19/03/2023 08:58

Check how many take it each year. Dd's german A level class ended up being two, not ideal for meaningful discussion, and I suspect many schools would not have continued it. Languages are one of the easier subjects to find alternative ways of learning. I'm not sure the upheaval would be worthwhile unless there are other reasons to move.

Lcb123 · 19/03/2023 08:59

Can she continue private German tuition and take A level somewhere else, but stay at her current school?

WobblyLondoner · 19/03/2023 09:09

Where I am many kids change school for A level. Typically the schools in question (including the school they are currently at), give them an offer, rather like then they apply to university. Many will expect a minimum result for maths and English.

So from what you've said your daughter's ability to move might be affected by her GCSE maths. Could you afford some additional help for her on that?

WobblyLondoner · 19/03/2023 09:11

Apologies "rather like when" (not then). Wish you could edit posts Blush

clary · 19/03/2023 09:11

Agree with those saying stay where she is as she likes it, and contunue German A level with the tutor. Do they teach to A level? If not, remote tutoring may be a possibility.

If she takes Spanish A level at school, there is a lot of crossover with the syllabi - by which I mean, the structure of the exams is the same, both will require a research project for the speaking exam, etc.

Only concern might be weight of work- would she cope with four A levels? MFL A level is a lot of work.

clary · 19/03/2023 09:13

Btw dd took French a level and there were two in her class - she says this was a massive advantage - she really had to do the work and got loads of speaking practice. Helped that the other student was a good friend.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 19/03/2023 09:18

I would discount option 2, as I would worry they'd be in a position of getting rid of A-levels and German would be likely to go.

Option 3 could be difficult for friendships if it is far away.

I would ask the schools about their oversubscription criteria and what would happen if she did fail maths.

Fairislefandango · 19/03/2023 09:28

MFL teacher here. If you go for staying at the current school and doing A Level with a tutor, be a bit wary. A Level languages are a particularly massive step up from GCSE - she would probably need quite a lot of tutor hours and lots of independent study. Also you'd need to make sure in advance that there was definitely a centre which would run the exam for her, which obviously includes having a teacher/examiner to do the oral exam.

I'd avoid like the plague the school that's haemmorhaging staff and students. Personally I'd go for the girls' school / boys' school option as long as dd is willing.

Onnabugeisha · 19/03/2023 09:30

You need a maths tutor ASAP. Surely passing the core GCSEs is a priority over how to study German?

RampantIvy · 19/03/2023 09:36

Onnabugeisha · 19/03/2023 09:30

You need a maths tutor ASAP. Surely passing the core GCSEs is a priority over how to study German?

Definitely make GCSE maths the top priority.

Ireallydohope · 19/03/2023 09:40

My DS is taking German A Level off his own back

He's found out where and when he can take it and what the specifications are so he's just following that. I'm sure he'll have a word now again with the german teacher he's discussed all this with

DD also changed schools and is taking 2 GCSEs she's carried over from her previous school. She can sit them at her current school and they've bought her a text book for one of the subjects as they teach it but with different specifications

Ireallydohope · 19/03/2023 09:43

Get a maths tutor I've just got one for DD at her request as she is full on determined to get the best grades possible all of a sudden

She's gone from absolute zero to working flat out revising by squeezing it into her busy social life

Original poster
TabithaTwitchet · 19/03/2023 09:53

We do have a maths tutor already. She is predicted a 4, but can be very inconsistent, so it could go wrong on the day. She works very hard at it, there isn’t really more we can do at this stage.

I think because we don’t have many college options round here, most school 6th forms are quite inclusive, and they allow resits of either maths or English (not both) so long as you have the other. But not sure how happy they are about people not already at the school doing that.

I had thought about the tutor for A level German and stay at current school, but I don’t think that would really work, I think it will just be different A levels.

OP posts:
Original poster
TabithaTwitchet · 19/03/2023 10:45

Glad others are in agreement that the declining school is a bad idea. I think we will dismiss that one.

OP posts:
Countquack · 19/03/2023 12:31

Is a 4 in maths enough to get into sixth forms? Where I am some will accept a 5 but the more academic require a 6 in maths and English for A levels.

Original poster
TabithaTwitchet · 19/03/2023 12:40

Yes, standard here is 5 GCSEs 9-4 including English and/or maths.

OP posts:
redrobin75 · 19/03/2023 14:39

I would stay at the school, choose 3 A levels they offer and re-take Maths if need be. It's important to have 3 solid A level grades to get to uni where she could then take up German again.

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