PE A level as a private candidate or self teach in 6th form?

[alevels]

DS (currently in yr11) has known A level choices since year 9 and is not flexible. Unusual mix with further maths and school cant timetable all 4.

DS wants to self teach PE and get school to moderate the course work and enter the exams (no help required from school on practicals as does the sport every day outside of school. No help required with teaching as DS wants to self teach to move at faster pace (predicted 9s at GCSEs) and we could pay for private tutor. Refuses to consider not taking PE and FM and they clash. No other options in local schools and wont commute due to wanting to train at the sport each day!

If this is not an option then to enter as a private candidate but the centre would need to moderate the practical and their experience at this is hard to establish and location for exams seems problematic.

Anyone have any experience of either option? Thank you

It’s a bit rubbish that PE clashes with FM. That (and maths obvs) was DS2's initial plan (luckily he added biology and dropped the FM – I say luckily as he is taking a bio degree) and a friend of his did that actual combo – two different schools.

Still, that reflection doesn't help you much. Is the school on board with his plan? Will it let him take "just" maths, FM and one other (some schools insist on four with FM)? If the school will support in the way you describe I cannot see any immediate issues.

Otherwise I think it would be a real pain to get a private exam centre to moderate the CW tbh.

Would it not be easier to take FM as an external?

Thanks he wants to do maths syllabus in yr12 and FM in yr 13 which isnt an option if taking FM externally. Plus the PE classes are too slow paced so he wants to self teach. FM has to be one of 4 at school but presumably if PE was external they would count that as one of the 4.

Thanks he wants to do maths syllabus in yr12 and FM in yr 13

I'm out of touch with modern syllabus but this always strikes me as a poor idea. By waiting to take the Maths A level it should seem so much easier by the end of y13 due to having done the harder FM syllabus.

@TeenToTwenties Thanks but you have misunderstood me. All 4 A levels would be taken at the end of yr13 in one sitting as required by universities. Maths would be studied in yr 12 (easier as already has a 9 in FM GCSE) then FM syllabus added in yr 13 then both exams taken together at end of yr 13. This means FM students are only taught maths with other FM students so the pace can be much faster rather than where in some schools FM students are taught maths with students who are only taking maths A level not FM and who maybe got a 6 at GCSE which is frustrating if maths is very easy.

He could choose to just do M at school/college though over 2 years, and do FM privately. Would seem an easier ask than asking them to assess for and enter privately for PE.

Easier for school but he would be so bored as the maths would then be taught with those not doing further maths so some students will have a 6 at gcse and not have done FM GCSE so the pace will be very slow and of course the PE will also be at a pace to suit the whole class

In that case could he do PE but not attend lessons? So do any homework set etc, get lesson slides, use a tutor to keep up?
So officially do it with school but dispensation not to be in lessons.

That is the preferred option and what he had been told was ok then school retracted the offer at a higher level, presumably fear of setting a precedent or such. Such a shame when you have someone with a true passion for a subject.

Most 6th forms don't allow students to take maths A level with a grade 6 at GCSE.

I agree schools shouldnt allow those with a 6 to take it.

My DS self taught himself an A level subject, not through choice but because he had no teacher for the second year of the subject. It was absolutely brutal and nearly broke him (psychology). He also did A level PE and the content is huge, so it’s a massive undertaking to do that by yourself. DS is now at Loughborough studying Sports Science so it was incredibly important for him to get the best grades possible.

@mrsconradfisher Interesting. How did he find GCSE PE?

Absolutely fine, well as fine as it could be as he did GCSE’s during Covid so got teacher assessed grades. Got an 8 but his practical element was really low (he’s a good all round sportsman but not an elite level). He got an A at A-level and an A star in Psychology which he self taught. Honestly A level PE is an enormous jump from GCSE, I’m sure you already know that. His first year at Loughborough, the course content was basically redoing A level PE to give you an idea of the level expected at A level.
Does he have any idea what he wants to do afterwards? He sounds like an incredibly intelligent young man.

@mrsconradfisher Thanks, covid wont have helped the teaching! DS got full marks on the 40% of the gcse that is practical as he had lots of high level sports and great at course work. He wants to do maths at uni. DS has found the PE GCSE very slow paced and not learnt much so is really looking forward to A level content. I think his coach covers a lot of the content in their training and he will be doing biology A level so maybe some overlap. Also the 30% practical at A level is likely to be very high marks again as spends several hours a day 7 days a week on their main sport so that will help the overall grade. It is a 4th A level that unis will see as less academic anyway so it doesnt matter if not an A* (other than to DS)

Yeah the full marks on the practical will definitely play a huge part on his grade, DS is much more on the theory side.
He scored really low on the A level practical element too and still managed to get an A, his strength is definitely not playing sport to a high level!!! Ironically I’ve got a younger DS who is an elite sportsman in 2 sports, trains 6 days a week but won’t get to do A level PE as he won’t get the grades to get into 6th form!
The fact that he’s doing Biology will definitely help as well, DS did Geography as his 3rd subject so obviously not relevant.

It is a 4th A level that unis will see as less academic anyway so it doesn't matter if not an A-star

Universities don't tend to regard PE A level as less academic. Although it’s true it’s not on the recommended list for Cambridge. DS had offers from four RG and an RG+ with PE A level. Many unis actually accept it as a science.

Also at a few unis, I believe that if a student takes four A levels, uni will offer based on those four. As in, they won't say “three A stars and if the fourth one is a C that’s fine.” Not that it sounds as tho your DS will be gaining a C grade tbf.

ETA: Missed that he is doing biology. Actually DS2 was going to do maths, FM, PE, biology, so the same subjects. In the end he dropped FM and was glad he did actually as maths was enough. But he always said he was doing two biology A levels (degree is in human bio).

@mrsconradfisher maybe get your younger son to do the sport btech as that is equal to 3 a levels. I know lots of students who did that with just 4s and 5s at gcse and then got into great unis as they got all top grades on the btechs as it was coursework/tests throughout rather than the final exams of A levels.

Yes that’s the plan, I think it will suit him much more tbh. He’s a bright boy, just not got the academic drive of his brother!!

@clary I agree you will get offers with pe as your 3rd A level but it isnt seen as academic in general including employers/apprenticeships. If DS was on track for a C he could always drop it as he will do a gap year and apply with grades in hand if going to uni

@clary yes I think you need to absolutely love maths to want to do fm too and ds absolutely loves doing FM gcse questions!!

OK it’s great that he loves FM and yes if he were not doing well at PE he could certainly drop it and get excellent offers for maths with maths, FM and biology.

I promise you though that PE A level is a perfectly good A level. I’ve never heard of an employer or apprenticeship sniffing at it. This is often said on MN but I've never seen any actual evidence?

Mate of DS2's took maths, FM and PE A level, went to Bath, got a place on a really ££-paying placement in his third year and went on to a very good job role. I realise that's just one example.

Doing Maths the 1st year and Further Maths the 2nd is and has been the normal route since I was at school a long time ago.

The OP has confirmed everything is sat at the end of y13 which is what I would expect (I misunderstood).

I am not sure it is a normal route. Maybe mainly in private and grammar schools. All the other local schools teach maths across year 12 and 13 (with some students in the class doing fm and some just maths) and then teaches fm separately across both years. DS doesnt want this.