Home schooling, part time school, online school year 11

[Year11educationchoices]

DS is due to start year 11 in September; he is studying towards UAL diploma level 2 which is equivalent to 4 GCSE, plus the other main subjects: English, Math, Science. The UAL level 2 is quite challenging as this is either fail or pass; and the full qualification is based on 5 big pieces of writing which isn’t his strength.

What options do we have so he can do his GCSE?

Can we ask school for him to focus on the main GCSE only: English, Maths Science? And attend those lessons only? Drop the diploma?

Can the school keeps him on roll until GCSE and he does home school, online school and do his GCSEs?

Is he at the school now in Year 10? It is unlikely a school would allow him to drop so many subjects.

He is at the school currently

He has an EHCP, can we ask for flexi schooling?

I think you need to give more information. Why can’t he just continue with the GCSEs and diploma at school? I’ve home edded through GCSEs and it’s doable but we didn’t find it fun - plus it’s expensive.

Because he is struggling with the main part which is the diploma; he has to pass each unit to be able to continue with the course. It is either a fail, pass, merit, etc. if he fails one unit/piece of writing he will have to continue writing it until he passes it, and will be falling behind on the other units/ pieces of writing

Basically the diploma is all or nothing

Does he want to continue on with the diploma?

He does but is falling behind and not doing great at the other subjects either. Let’s hope he can continue at the school and doesn’t come to home schooling or online schooling.

We still got a year so hopefully he will get a pass on the diploma plus a pass in English and Maths. I am a bit stressed can’t wait to see the end of year 11. I am trying to keep it cool, encouraging and positive for him though.

Is this the UAL diploma in art and design @Year11educationchoices? Presumably this is an area he is very keen on so I would imagine he would want to finish it? Looking at the spec tho – well I must be looking at the wrong spec as it feels very practically based rather than lots of essays. So is he taking a different strand with less of a focus on art? even so I infer it is an interest of his?

I agree that at this stage, other things being equal (ie school not being impossible for some outside reason such as bullying) it makes more sense for him to continue lessons in his core GCSEs and sit them in school. It's ££ and challenging to HE for GCSEs IME (and I do have some experience of this), unless you are a teacher as well (and even then, not many teachers have specialist exam knowledge of maths and English and science).

How is the diploma assessed? If it is assessed internally, can he not be supported to produce work which will at least gain him a pass? Or if it is totally impossible for him (in which case I would be asking the school why he was entered for it?) then maybe the best course is to focus on the core GCSEs for now. The UAL diploma I looked at can be done in a year (full time) so that might be a post-16 option?

It is performing arts related (no art); the qualification is all based on writing (portfolios) and passing each unit so he can continue with next one. I understand there are some practicals/workshops but they don’t count towards the qualification.

DC is trying so hopefully that is enough to get him a pass. Writing isn’t his strength and I have even less clue so can only provide moral support, encouragements, reminders.

Have a chat to the school. UAL qualifications have flexible assessment options. He should be able to be assessed using methods other than written portfolio evidence.

The specification is here and at the end of the unit it gives a list of different ways it can be assessed : https://www.arts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0034/488545/L2_Award_and_Diploma_in_Performing_and_Production_Arts-Reduced-Accessible.pdf

I agree, is it this spec? chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.arts.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0034/488545/L2_Award_and_Diploma_in_Performing_and_Production_Arts-Reduced-Accessible.pdf

I am confused as the assessment mentioned here talks about a whole range of evidence, not simply five written pieces. Also if it is this spec, as I said, it’s something a student would surely only take if they were passionate about it. From the way the spec is written, it seems that performances and group work are a key element and if your DS excels here, that would be a big plus towards him getting a good grade.

If it really is only assessed through five written pieces (and therefore is not the spec I have linked at all) then like I said, I wonder why the school put him forward for it as it sounds as tho he is not suited to such an essay-heavy qualification. A bit like taking history A level but not being a fan of extended writing or detailed learning.

Can you ask the school if there are any flexible options for him?
The UAL art and design diploma has a drop down option for Level 2 called the Level 2 award in Art and Design. It has less modules and work required. We often let students drop down to it if they are struggling. I’m not sure performing arts also has a drop down to award option but it’s worth asking.

also as mentioned above there are other ways to record work with UAL such as video and voice over recordings, talk to text apps could be a good option if he struggles to write.
He should be provided with scaffolding questions to tell him what to write so you could ask him these and he can answer using talk to text which will also do spelling and grammar for him.

I already asked. It is all or nothing, fail or pass, merit, distinction. The qualification is all based on written portfolios.

No option to drop anything re the diploma. Not sure if you can drop the full Diploma though

It all depends on the timetable. If he drops subjects in school, where does he go for these lessons? Who supervises him?

Is it this one @Year11educationchoices

Because there is a Level 2 award which only requires two units instead of nine to be completed.

It does seem that the final grade is pass, merit or distinction (tho individual modules seem to be fail or pass). I still am puzzled as to why the school encouraged it if it is all written tasks – tho if it is the one linked by me and @OneCheekySwan then it is not only assessed through written pieces, there is the possibility of submitting workbooks, journals and recordings or statements about performances. So have we got the right spec?

@Year11educationchoices I see you say on your other thread (where you have had lots of helpful info about science GCSE which I hope has clarified that – I agree it is confusing) that he is at a performing arts college - hence taking this diploma which is usually for post-16 students.

Surely the college can give him some support on this? They must think he has the ability to pass it – I would contact the school and ask how they are going to support.

You need to realise that the end of year 10 is not a good time to move schools (or countries!) and you cannot really decide on your own that your DS is going to drop this or that subject. You need to discuss his progress with the school and assess the best way forward. But if he is on track for 4-4 in double science then that's worth doing surely. Do you have a year 10 parents' evening coming up? If not, I would contact the school and ask for a meeting urgently where you can go over some strategies for the diploma so he can continue it successfully.

With an EHCP many options should be possible, but that doesn't mean the school will acquiesce to provide them all, .and you do need to be mindful of acting in his interests which may mean letting him take a shot at the UAL even if he ends up failing it. Ultimately the LA is responsible for providing his education, so if you ask for something the school says no to providing, you can then go and ask the LA to provide it directly. But be a bit careful, it might the that taking a compromise that school can offer is better than fighting the delays and obfuscations that can occasionally occur when dealing direct with the LA. Basically it doesn't hurt to ask, or to push them a bit if they say "no" first time. If school say no, take time to understand why they are saying no and see if you can find a way to address it together.

What science GCSE is he doing and how is he learning it, is it class teaching?

In theory you should be able to mix and match things in and out of school but be mindful that he is entitled to a full time education, and school may have practical barriers to him dropping subjects eg they need him to be in class to be supervised while he is in school.

We had a real mixture. One subject taught by a parent at home, another by a tutor in school .. but what is possible at one school and right for one child is not necessarily easy to get or possible at another. And we had to offer a lot of flexibility eg lots of early pick ups.

You could consider calling an emergency AR.

Thank you.

We have spoken with the school. They are supporting.

I wast just considering all options in case everything becomes too much; as he is behind with the Diploma work and also failing in maths.

We have decided to continue with everything and see how it goes; keep adjusting if needed.