A level choices

[Totallynotpushy]

Can anyone offer any advice?

Ds had planned to do A level biology, Psychology and Sport. The sport is a BTEC but can be done alongside two A Levels.

He's done well and enough to get onto Sport and Psychology, but he didn't get the grades for biology.

The college gave offered Applied Human Biology which is a BTEC, but have advised him not to do two BTEC subjects as apparently universities won't accept this. So he'd have to drop Sport and pick something else.

It's a real dilemma because he did fantastically well at Sport, Level2 Distinction*, and he enjoys it. But he wants to do something medical related so also needs science.

Does anyone know if it's correct that doing two BTEC subjects alongside one A level is useless?

It's a bit of an anolomy to be honest. When we were looking most universities would accept a Btec extended diploma in a relevant subject or 1 Btec certificate alongside 2 A levels.

However I've just taken a random university (Man Met) and picked physiotherapy and it states

"Please note that BTEC/CTEC single and double awards in Applied Science, Sport and Exercise Science and Health and Social Care do not meet the biological science requirement for this course."

They do accept the Extended Btec Diploma inSport and Exercise Science, Applied Science, Applied Science (Medical Science), Health and Social Care (Health Studies), Health and Social Care (Health Sciences).

Thanks.

Unfortunately the college doesn't offer PE as an A Level. It's a level 3 qualification but it's a BTEC.

It sounds like he's going to have to drop either Sport or Biology.

Will they not let him resit maths GCSE alongside doing biology A-level. If I remember rightly he wasn't far off a grade 5 anyway in maths was he.

What did he want to do at university, as he may need to resist his maths anyway.

He got a 6 in maths.

It was science he didn't get the grades for. He got 555 for science, which of course is not good enough to study A Level biology.

He was predicted 7s so we hoped he'd be ok. They were missing a consistent teacher throughout year 10 and 11 and tbh a lot of the pupils didn't do well in science. But ultimately he didn't get the grades and that's that.

He can study Applied Human Biology, but he'd have to drop Sport and choose something else.

It's a dilemma because he did fantastic at sport and really enjoys it.

So ds got 6s and 7s in everything plus a L2D* in sport. Apart from Science. Which he got 555.

Biology was the main A level that he wanted to do because he would like to do something medical.

Was he predicted higher in Science? Is he applying at a different college to the school he did his GCSE's in? In which case, is it worth approaching his head of year from last year to put in a good word?

I think I would try going in and discussing it as the combination you described does sound like the best combination of subjects. I have had students beg to be let on courses and sometimes it really works out well but generally because there was a reason for the lower GCSE grade or because they pull their fingers out, grow up a bit, and work hard.

Looking at the rest of his grades, I would say you have a case to argue. You could ask for him to be given a trial on A level Biology. Perhaps, offer get a tutor to bring him up to speed.

If he does get in, it won't hurt him going through the process as it may give him something to prove. I have been very pleasantly surprised by the progress of some students who I made it very difficult to get accepted on courses. Sadly, I've also been proven right and had students really struggle as predicted!

Can you find out if he got good grades in biology that were pulled down by physics/chemistry? Would that help with the college?

Can you check possible university courses he might like to do and see what they will accept?
My DC did two BTECs but was just looking at fairly low level uni courses and they were certainly fine for that. As it turned out, he's not going to uni so it has not mattered at all.

Sport and Applied biology sound good together but I am no expert.
Is he far off the grade he needed for biology? At my DC school they need a 6 in Biology or 6,6 in combined. Would it be worth getting a re-mark?

Sorry I confused you with someone else. I would as about still ask if he can't do the A-level biology, if that is what he really wants to do. He will have to work hard at it to prove he can do it. But if there is a reason for a lower mark at GCSE then try to push for it.

I'm not sure what happened to be honest because he was predicted higher. He was getting higher in mocks. We were fairly confident he'd get at least the 6 needed.

He was nowhere near the 6 in the real thing, quite a few marks off.

There was a lot of teacher disruption, they had a very poor teacher throughout year 10 who left abruptly, then there were a number of teacher changes during year 11. This could have contributed, or perhaps ds just did badly on the day.

He did better on some other subjects but worse for science. The science teacher he ended up with spoke very highly of ds so we thought he'd be ok.

I've emailed school to ask about the individual papers.

It's a college not attached to the school there might be some room for negotiation but we've been unable to get through today.

This is encouraging.

I'd like to think he would cope and that his GCSE grades are a combination of teacher disruption and not enough revision.

I am also aware that biology is a hard A Level.

I've had a look but it's a bit confusing. Unis seem to accept BTECs but that must be if you do a full time BTEC. I just know that the college advised not to take two applied subjects. As a pp said it seems to be a bit of an anomaly.

He's not 100% sure if he wants to go to uni. He'd like to, but think he realises if he doesn't do well at A Level he might be better taking a different path.

You say he wants to do something medical. Any idea what as there is a huge difference between say Medicine & Sports Therapy or Physiotherapy &Psychology.

Might a full time Btec not be a better option?

Physiotherapy.