Veterinary medicine - redo year 10 at new school or are there alternative routes?

[Tryingmyveryverybest]

Just after some general opinion and a bit of advice. (Or possibly what I’m really after is some reassurance that it’s ok to take the leap and redo year 10 in a new school).

Since January I’ve been fostering a year 10 child. They have remained at their current school and their GCSE options were limited as, due to many reasons causing under performance, they were told they would have to choose a vocational pathway and chose the sports vocational pathway. They were also given no advice over subject options/future careers.
Over the last few months, with a bit of stability, this young person has really come out of their shell, settled down and school work is improving rapidly.
Academically, they are capable of a lot more and have ambitions to be a vet. Unfortunately, due to missing out on quite a bit of school over year 9 and the start of year 10 (not to mention the covid years) this young person is stuck in the foundation only sets for the core subjects due to the pathway. The young person raised the question, after we looked at what was required for being a vet, “can I move to another school and start GCSEs again?”

I think this would be a positive move and would provide a bit of a fresh start and some time to catch up on the missed year 10 content. It would also allow them to choose more GCSE option subjects, would be doing English x2, and wouldn’t be restricted to the foundation only sets therefore being able to meet the GCSE requirements for vet school.
They are currently doing:
English Language, Maths, Science x2, Geography, BTEC Sport Science and BTEC Sport Studies with the highest GCSE grade possible being a 5.

However, are there other/alternative routes into veterinary medicine which would be achievable from the GCSE pathway they are currently on? Or would this be too much effort/it’s worth taking a step back at starting GCSEs again?

It's been a while since I looked into this but last time I looked there were often gcse and/or A level requirements as well as level 3 btec for standard entry into year 1. For example, asking for a B or above in A level chemistry plus GCSEs as well as the btec. But yes access/gateway/foundation years (called different things at different places) could well be helpful.
And as others have said, getting better GCSEs with a view to A levels opens up other doors anyway.
Avoid any plan involving doing another degree first as although graduate entry is possible they wouldn't be eligible for student loan for a second undergraduate degree so would have to pay the full tuition fees up front (unless there are any exceptions for care experienced students). Not sure whether the HND course mentioned above counts as a degree for that purpose.
They need to like science and working with people, not just animals. Including distressed/angry people.

Anyway, I wish your FC all the best with their studies and it sounds like you are doing a great job supporting them.