GCSE's when not in school??

[NicoleeG]

Long story here but will cut it short...
My daughter (15 years old) suffers really bad with anxiety, we homeschooled from year 9 after her missing a lot of year 8, we then got her in a pre 16 class at college. Things haven't worked out for her, she is now in Year 11 at the college still but really struggling. She's desperate to sit her GCSE'S though, is it possible for her to do this if she stops going to college? And how do I go about sorting it all out?
At a complete loss with it all atm!!

Yes, it is absolutely possible for her to sit her GCSEs even if she stops going to college. Lots of young people in similar situations take them as private candidates. You don’t need to be in school or college to take the exams – you just need to register with an exam centre that accepts private candidates. You will, however, have to pay up to £250 per exam as a private candidate.

The best thing to do is to start by calling around local schools or exam centres and asking if they’ll take private entries – or looking at places like Tutors & Exams, who specialise in this sort of thing. Each centre will offer certain exam boards (like AQA or Edexcel), so you’ll just want to make sure that lines up with the subjects she wants to sit.

She’ll also need access to past papers and revision materials – places like Seneca or BBC Bitesize are brilliant for that, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. And there are some really lovely online communities and groups for parents in similar situations – they’ve been a lifeline for so many.

I agree with PP that it’s certainly possible for her to sit GCSEs privately; but are you thinking about this year (you say she is in yr 11)? If so I would imagine you have missed all deadlines for private centres.

Or are you thinking she could stop attending college now but still sit exams there? Assuming she has been entered as normal this may well be possible - effectively early study leave. Not even that early tbh. I would contact the college to ask if this is what you have in mind.

Yes entirely possible - see if you can locate your nearest exam centre that takes external candidates. You'll need to decide which GCSES she is going to take so that you can decide which exam board to use. DD took English and maths. For English she had to take the iGCSE as she wouldn't have a teacher to assess the coursework element. Then it's basically practise! The £2 tuition hub is great if you need lessons!

Does she have an EHCP?

if so it would be worth reviewing it to facilitate exams in a different way

my dd sat her GCSE’s in our kitchen after a very extended absence due to anxiety

this was funded by the school she was on roll with via her EHCP

We're in exactly the same situation but still in year 10. Definitely possible to still sit the exams. If she is on roll in college it would be best to talk to them first, as they may be able to just let her go home and have the invigilator come to your house. Or just go in on exam days.

There’s a FB group called ‘Home Education UK exams and alternatives’ which I recommend you join as you’ll get expert advice on there.