How to choose A-levels (both subjects and school vs 6form )

[LittleOwl]

Hi
My DC is 15, GCSE in 2024, his school goes up to A-levels, from what I can tell respectable results. We have been living in the UK just shy of 2 decades and I find the whole A level choices point utterly bewildering.
is there any general guidance on what subjects for which Uni courses? Or is it really that you need to check all unis separately?
(DC has no idea what he wants to do in later life, looks like he is enjoying Maths, Physics, Chemistry)
What are the reasons to join 6 form college if you are happy at a school that goes all the way through? And we would have to start the process in autumn to look around?

thank you for pointers as I am starting to get worried

All A Levels are "hard". It makes me so cross when I see competent students being put off doing sciences by the "it's hard" line (usually girls, by the way). If a young person enjoys STEM subjects they should take them to the next level, not be put off. Our country's employers are crying out for STEM specialists. Even if students don't get the A Level grades they want, many STEM degree courses have places in clearing, so lower A level grades in STEM subjects are no barrier to a succesful future career in STEM.

My daughter isn't particularly academic so chose btecs at a different school for sixth form, she picked ones she had an interest in and is thriving! My other picked subjects that bare no relevance to the degree course she is now on. She hated her A levels but stuck with it. I'd think about her enjoys as from experience a miserable teen is no fun way to live and I'm glad we are through it

All A Levels are "hard". It makes me so cross when I see competent students being put off doing sciences by the "it's hard" line

Hard is also relative. I'm mathematically minded and I didn't find maths and further maths A Levels particularly hard. My daughter's English Lit homework on the other hand makes me want to run screaming from the room ...
Different people have different strengths.

The three big advantages of 6th for college over school 6th form for my son were 1) more a variety of courses (eg he got to choose from 3 different History A levels), all the teachers are A level specialists and the fact it's a great stepping stone between school and university; DS has really stepped up in terms of his independence and self motivation.

But it's not a case of "not getting the A-levels you want", it's more a case of not getting A-levels at all, or doing a year and not progressing to Y13.

My subject is actually really popular for A-level, we have a waiting list at my school to study it in September, and it's about a 50-50 split of boys and girls.

I know a lot of people like to subscribe to the idea that everyone can do everything- but it's not as simple as everyone can do science A-levels and succeed.

There are alternative courses available for those who want to study STEM at level 3, but don't have the grades to be successful on A-level.

I teach students with 5s at GCSE who are aiming for distinctions on their BTEC course- some of them have already failed a first year of A-levels. Who's it actually serving for them to have to take 3 years over their level 3 qualifications?

Being blunt, all A-levels are not equal, and there's a lot of data to show that students with 5s at GCSE can succeed in some subjects, but not others.

But I bet you got more than a C grade in maths at 16.

(DC has no idea what he wants to do in later life, looks like he is enjoying Maths, Physics, Chemistry)

tehn those would make good A level subjects for him. A, he enjoys them;
B they offer a wide range of potential careers

If he wants a 4th A level.may be a language?

My DCs go to an academic private school. The advice they got on A level choices to do what you like and what you’re good at. Not what mum or dad want you to do. Easy for older child who was an English/ history type. I’d have said those would be the choices when he was 10! Other child is quite good at most thing…. Much more difficult. He loves geography, enjoys languages (is studying 2 for GCSE) and is probably going to do economics.

let your son be guided by the school and relax!

You didn't bother to ask the OP what maths grade they are expecting. You just piled in with the "STEM is hard" cliche.

@Radiatorvalves
I bet they say a bit more then that. It can work for some but Economics without maths isn’t a great choice. Many economics degrees require maths. Ditto doing physics and chemistry without maths. Cuts down degree options and certainly removes engineering. So scattergunning and doing exactly what you like can cut down future study. This is why most schools now tell DC about Informed Choices. This is about making sensible choices that do keep doors and avenues open. Often grouping subjects that compliment each other.

My nieces and nephews went to academic private schools too, and their teachers told them the same thing. But unfortunately many teachers are out of touch with the modern economy. They all ended up doing heart-over-head degrees. Their first foot on the employment ladder has been ok, but is unlikely to lead to the sort of career that will help them to send their own future children to academic private schools (if they want to). The advice to "just get a degree, any degree" was fine when there weren't quite so many graduates around, but numbers have increased with the expansion of higher education in recent years. There will always be generalist jobs that take any degree, but the competition for them has massively increased. Employers are looking for more tailored skills and are gradually moving towards the apprenticeship model for recruitment.

I got exactly the same grade in maths as I did in English. I would still have found English harder.

School careers advisers and parents should be taking note of reports on UK skills shortgages, like this one, and be encouraging students to choose pathways that will help to fill them: https://www.edge.co.uk/documents/343/DD0922_-_Skills_shortages_bulletin_summary_2023_FINAL.pdf

I teach students with 5s at GCSE who are aiming for distinctions on their BTEC course- some of them have already failed a first year of A-levels. Who's it actually serving for them to have to take 3 years over their level 3 qualifications? Being blunt, all A-levels are not equal, and there's a lot of data to show that students with 5s at GCSE can succeed in some subjects, but not others.

If they have an interest in STEM there are more pathways than just A levels. Then could be doing level 3 BTECs, or an apprenticeship.

DS left school (with a 6th form) to go to college. He was much happier with the more adult environment, unfortunately his results weren’t great so he is now taking a BTEC which he seems to be doing well at.

DD1 is taking GCSEs this year, she is very driven. Planning to go to 6th form college for a specific BTEC, school want her to stay on and do A-levels, which is her back up plan, but the grade requirements for school are higher. I want her to be happy, although she only needs 5 grade 4s for the BTEC, her personal aim is for 3 grade 9s, possibly 4 after an excellent mock in one of her subjects.

for DD the move is for the subject, for DS it was to move away from the school environment (possible ASD, under review at the moment)

I'm not surprised at seeing someone says maths and sciences A levels are hard and try to put others off taking them. They are not but it's a common attitude in the UK. I went to school in NZ so have not done A-levels. But I'm sure I wouldn't have find it hard. I didn't like humanities and I have a undergraduate degree and a PhD in Engineering.

The OP's son prefers maths and sciences. I'd have chose the same set of maths, physics and chemistry too. Out of the sciences, my least favourite is biology. Physics and maths are my strongest subjects.

Some people find maths easy but MFLs very hard. Not everyone is the same. We cannot assume everyone will be ok doing shortage careers either. Simply isn’t possible for everyone to be good at stem. Plus we do need other skills. Absolutely vital.

I think the main point is that it doesn't matter what "anyone else" thinks.
Each student is different and will have their own strengths and interests. The important thing is that they pick the right subjects and type of qualification for them. And the right setting (which was OP's original question :) )

I am learning so much from this thread and from everyone‘s input! Thank you …
DS‘s most difficult subject is English, he hated geography and RS - you know it took me to start this thread to stand back and reflect. While I would have wanted him to have a balanced set of subjects rather than maths plus two sciences I need to just ensure (with the help of the resources posted here), that no doors are closed where he would have a strong flair for.
next step is to ask school when they will explain the in-house 6th form, if they can advice on preferences and consequences.
why are boys in their teenage years ask to take decisions with such a far reach? (Pointless question, sorry)
i might put forward dentistry 😂

I don't think the A level system allows for "no doors closed". Many/most schools only allow you to select 3 options; many universities want/prefer at least 1 and sometimes 2 specific subjects for degree courses. It simply isn't possible. The reality is that most students will specialise.

I also would try not to think in terms of doors closing. I don't think any doors will close by choices made at 16, they might just end up taking an alternate route to get to their destination.

Schools often use a platform called Unifrog to help students understand future opportunities/choices. Might be worth asking your DS if he has access to it.

The timetable varies from school to school, but for dd there were talks on sixth form options and taster sessions for new subjects e.g. Economics, Psychology etc at the end of year 10.
For sixth forms you can apply for several and provisionally accept several different offers until you have obtained your results.
Our dd had 3 offers one in line with predicted grades, one if she exceeded expectations and one back-up.
Most sixth forms only allow 3 A level subjects with a possibility of 4 if you take Further Maths. There is very little difference in the subject content for Chemistry, Physics and Maths between the different A level exam boards.
You do need a back up in case either the grades in the chosen subjects aren't achieved (this may be covered by having another subject as a reserve option).
The other reason you may need a back up is due to grades in key subjects such as English language (assume because your ds is considering A level Maths that subject will be OK). A sixth form college may let your ds retake English language, but a school sixth form is unlikely to consider this. Having a back up option will save a last minute scramble to find a place on GCSE results day. (There were some pupils at dds school who did not have a back up option and ended up in this position).
dd changed to a sixth form college but this was because they offered a subject that the school did not.

@catndogslife
thank you - are you saying to apply to a 6 form college / school who would take him if the GCSE don’t come in as predicted? Clever!

There are a few variables to consider which is why applying to a few different places is a good idea.

1. They may change their mind where they want to go
2. Some places have higher average entry requirements. e.g. Some places ask for an average of grade 7 across 8 subjects, others take you provided you have 5 grade 5s.
3. Some places have higher subject specific requirements. e.g. Most places ask for a 7 in maths to do A level maths, some others may ask for an 8.
4. If there is any doubt they are of 'A level ability' then they should also apply somewhere for a BTEC or similar. They can think about it during y11 and see how it goes.

They don't need to make final decisions until after results.

It's not just STEM that is in short supply. The report I posted lists Engineering, Digital, Creative, Hospitality, Health & Social Care, Construction, Logistics and Green sectors. So quite a wide range!

@flintock Stem is Science, technology, engineering and maths. The other jobs are not necessarily degree level work following on from A levels. They are shortage areas probably caused by Brexit as well as people not wanting to work in those sectors.