Son retaking A Levels

[wondabar]

DS is wanting to retake A Levels as he wasn't happy with his grades last year. LEA said that due to his EHCP they would provide a tutor online and organise the resits. Despite numerous emails from me, they have not responded since mid-January. DS has to complete his UCAS form by tomorrow but has no idea what to write down as predicted grades or where he is sitting the exams. DS is extremely anxious as he is worried that he won't be able to sit his retakes this June, despite the LEA saying that he could. Have left messages on the phone with Case Officer as well and we know that she is still his Case Officer and hasn't left, as has been the case with so many previous ones. Just don't know what we can do by UCAS deadline tomorrow and sick with worry.

Was the EHCP amended to include the necessary provision? I fear it hasn’t been.

It hasn't been but the Case Officer had various Zoom calls with us and our DS and panel approved his getting the online tuition. Is there a centre that we can apply to so that DS has somewhere to take his A Levels this summer if he does his own revision?

Because the EHCP has not been formally amended it leaves DS in a vulnerable position. Legally, the LA does not have to provide the tutor or the exams. When was the EHCP last reviewed?

DS can enter the exams as a private candidate. You would need to find a centre who accepts private candidates and who still has space, especially if DS has access arrangements. It is quite late in the day though, particularly for arranging access arrangements.

I know it is late in the day but as the Case officer had been so helpful, we had faith in her. The EHCP was last revised last June, before DS sat A Levels. He has had his EHCP since the age of 4 and really needs the support. As we didn't know he was going to be retaking, there is no proving for tutoring and retakes. The fact it went to panel and was approved by panel must show that the LEA were undertaking setting up the provision for DS. The main thing is that he gets his UCAS form out tomorrow and is given a chance to apply to universities

Unfortunately, it going to panel doesn’t mean the LA has to provide it, legally. It must be in the EHCP to be enforceable. Unless DS is 100% definitely going to university in September you should formally request an early review now - IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

If DS wants to sit the exams this summer you should look at centres who accept private candidates. I would start with DS’s old school/college, local independent schools and Tutors and Exams if you have one of their centres locally. However, you may find they are fully booked or their deadlines have passed/are imminent, especially if DS needs access arrangements. For example, T&Es deadline for access arrangements evidence is the 8/2 but they are fully booked for some access arrangements already.