Is DS's lack of motivation with A levels normal?

[MerryMarigold]

Just finishing Y12. Dire mock results (B,D,E). He does do some schoolwork, but I wouldn't say he works hard - he will look up answers and he maybe puts in 1 hour a day at most. He doesn't go out, he doesn't work, so he has time to put in extra work but he doesn't. He mostly plays Fifa, or watches stuff on Netflix. He just doesn't seem motivated or interested in what he's chosen, and chose subjects he's always struggled with because he thought they were 'useful'! The subject he got the B in is something he enjoys and is 'easier' than Maths and Physics. I can't relate. I did subjects I enjoyed and was good at. He is convinced he is not 'talented' and seems to want to be one of those people who gets a B with minimum effort and an A* with some effort. Realistically for him, he can get a C with a LOT of work. I can see why he's not that motivated.

I don't know where to go from here. He is ND, not fully diagnosed (he has an ADHD diagnosis, but I think he shows more ASD symptoms to be honest). He did not want to go to college to do something maybe more suited to him because he did not like the travel (it was about 1.5 hours each way) nor the 'difference'. Staying at school was simple and he knows it well/ knew the people etc.

I have got him some tutoring for the Maths, which he said he wanted after the E grade, but he is dragging his feet over it (eg. logging in 5 mins late, not really wanting to do it), and I resent that when I am paying a lot for it.

What can I do to help him? What are the options? I am dreading Y13 and the amount of stress/ damage to his self esteem.

@crazycrofter , that's kind of where I expect DS to go. There no way he can get a degree apprenticeship. My friend's son was rejected from Ford with 2A*and an A. He did get something but it guess to show how competitive.

Just read your reply about your DS. Somehow missed it. The obsessions is spot on. I thought that was an ASD trait. What are your son's obsessions? My son used to collect Match Attax from about 4 years old. He has several thousand of them. Now he is obsessed with football, he follows it religiously, even watching Saudi teams play, he knows all the transfers, how much everyone cost etc.

Ds’s best mate did a diploma in media studies. He just passed. The pass rate was 48 and he got 48!

He applied to do engineering via a foundation degree. He’s 29 now and on 48k!

Also, people often say art and design isn’t ‘employable’ l’d agree with that regarding art. But design is very employable, this is why it’s difficult to recruit DT teachers. There are jobs or you can freelance. Design graduates are one if the UK’s biggest exports. We produce the best design graduates in the world.

So best of luck with his car design.

Thanks @ArseInTheCoOpWindow . You're right about DT teachers. DS grad so many covers in Y10 and 11, he got a 5 for DT in his GCSE! They let him do A level because I think he got the highest in the school. He's had 2 teachers consistently this year and one is really excellent but she's leaving 😭 after a year. He's currently on course for a B but without her, I don't know. I tried to get Head of sixth form to tell me if they had a replacement and she said no, but 'someone from the team' will be teaching the A level, along with the less good teacher. This is another reason I think staying at school may be a mistake.

I personally was never motivated until after 7pm, often 9pm, and then I might do a couple of hours and played on FIFA etc during the day as well! My mocks were awful, but then they were only mocks, so I didn't try at all. I came out with ACC.

@MerryMarigold its often called ‘hyper focus’ with ADHD. My ds’ obsessions tend to be things where he can make progress as he’s actually quite goal-driven. At the moment ( for the last two years) he’s totally focused on lifting weights at the gym and playing the piano (learning new pieces). Such that the learning support lady said in our meeting that the gym is the tail that wags the dog at the moment. 😬 it’s his first priority… and then once he’s got his 12 hours a week at the gym done, he wants to get on the piano …

OP

Your DS should have a look at BTEC, The art and design extended diploma has lots of different things in it, very little drawing but photography, app design, managing a client brief.

https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/BTEC-Nationals/Art-and-Design/2016/specification-and-sample-assessments/btec-l3-nat-ext-dip-in-art-and-design-spec.pdf

He needs to go to his exam website and print off his specification and work through it ticking it off as he goes.

But if he’s got ADHD that will just overwhelm him. Too much info to process.

With every update I really think cut his losses and start a course he wants at college or an apprenticeship.
If you leave it until after school meeting he’ll be a late start and on back foot.

Yes, working on getting him to say least look at options and shortlist a few then apply so the options are 'in the wings'. I think college starts a little later than school so can hopefully squeak it in.

@MerryMarigold some of the responses do not understand ADHD & ASD traits. Extra time isn't enough support for DC with ADHD, they often need other interventions. Would your DS's school let him drop to two A levels as a reasonable adjustment. He could still do car design with two A levels, either with a stand alone Foundation Diploma in Art (FAD), which is free for under 19s or a degree with an integrated foundation year (which is different to FAD).

Automotive & Transport Design (with Integrated Foundation & Professional Practice Years) BSc (Hons) at University for the Creative Arts (whatuni.com)

University of Wales Trinity Saint David will accept the FAD with one A level.
Automotive & Transport Design (BA) | UWTSD

Here are some helpful and supportive threads for more art / creative & design focused DC:
2023 uni applications for those pursuing art and creative routes | Mumsnet
Part 2: Continuation of 2023 uni (and other) applications for those pursuing art and creative routes | Mumsnet
Art and Design at university; for past, present, and future students and parents | Mumsnet

Thank you. That is really really helpful..
I appreciate it.

One thing I would say is that he will need a VERY good portfolio to get on some of these courses. If he's not doing an A level that naturally creates one (Art, Photography etc) then he will be in competition with those students that are making a portfolio as part of their usual studies. It is perfectly possible to create one, but it takes time. Most institutions give guidance as to what they're looking for.

A Levels are hard

DS is naturally gifted at maths so gets A* without even trying. He says you have to keep up because as soon as you fall behind it's virtually impossible to catch up

I agree. I think if he doesn't do one if these courses next year he'd need a foundation year.

@MerryMarigold He'll potentially need a portfolio to get onto a Foundation course too. My DD is aiming to do an Art or Design based degree, with a stand alone Foundation year first. As she's doing Art A level she's already got the beginnings of her portfolio, but she needs a detailed and comprehensive portfolio just to get on the one year Foundation course. There is a lot of competition. She'll need another one to get onto the degree course (even if she stays at the same college or uni). She's working her socks off now and will be right through the summer to add to her portfolio, which she will present once she's applied to places next term.

The above may not be relevant for your son, but you need to be aware of the possibility. He, and you, CAN do this but he has to be focused and want to do it because it's a lot of work. Really really good luck.

Sorry, me again .. be aware that a lot of the better design places prefer you to have a Foundation year rather than just jumping straight into a degree (if he wants a degree). Basically the Foundation year gives everyone a basic level of art/design. And some places are much better with the Foundation course than others, hence the competition.

https://www.ultraframe-conservatories.co.uk/jobs

I thought of your son earlier when this apprentice job popped up on my Facebook feed.
I appreciate its not cars but maybe look for any opportunities locally and encourage him to consider it. This is a day release HND so not onerous entry requirements.
Just sharing as I thought it was a good example if type of thing out there that teens probably don’t realise.

Mmmmmm depends on what you’re doing though. I used to teach a design A level. They all got onto first year degrees at top colleges without a foundation.