Year 10 pathway options. Why is it I am stll hacked off?

[HaveYouTakenLeaveOfYourCervix]

It has been suggested that DD do the 'active pathway' next year, which finishes with 4 GCSEs and 'experience'. there are options to do courses in plumbing, hairdressing, carpentry and 'wet-trade' (). extended 'work experience' in yr 10 and i'm not sure what else to fill the 2 years.

All possible and may be a good option? yes, I know.

BUT and here is the Massive Big Bloody BUT.

DD is capable of so much more. She is intelligent. She could do 12 GCSEs standing on her head - if she wanted to.

Problem is - as things stand - she doesn't want to. And no matter how many times I tell myself she would be better passing 4 GCSEs than none at all (which is what she is on track for at the mo) It still pisses me off immensley that she is now being 'encouraged' down the other pathway.

A glossy brochure has come through the door showing pupils having a lovely time climbing and walking and playing sport stuff. Which of course looks like fabulous fun, but i know that the photos are from one off days out and they won't be doing that stuff every day - or week. DD can't see that. All she sees is people not in school.

And I know that if she wants to do it that is better than forcing her down the standard GCSE route and her being miserable and not going at all. I. KNOW That. I DO.

But it is not what I want.

FFS give me a slap and tell me to get over it please.

:(

Can she see herself being a hairdresser?

Is it just school she hates? Ie she doesnt mind the other kids? What about the work?

I understand your frustration, but you will have to grin and bear it. Hopefully she will do enough to get her into college (my local one has 4 GCSE as a minimum for BTEC Extended Diplomas and other level 3 courses (equivalent of A level).

These are a equivalent entry and most unis take them (including top ones).

So even this pathway allows possibilities later.

betternext - thats what my sensible side is telling me.
It school she hates. she has loads of friends there and doesn't want to do the 'college course route' which is another option for next year.

i suppose i'm just disappointed as it's not what i had planned. I know now how my mother felt when i dropped out of Alevels half way through. sorry mother.

i'm going to let it sink in a bit and not make any decisions until the very last moment - even if that is next august. I have to let things sink in slowly for her, then let her make her mind up.

i haven't found anything i can bribe her with yet. if only she was a 'normal' autistic person and had a nice handy obsession or interest i could tempt her with.not even hard cash works.

I shouldn't whinge - I know she's bloody lucky to have options.

The thing is, if she's capable of doing them all standing on her head if she wanted to - she always will be, if she wants to do this now she can always go back later and do more GCSEs.

I left school at 16 with 3 GCSE equivalents (I'm in Scotland) I've just finished a degree, you can go back into education anytime...what she does now isn't the end of everything, if she hates school so much that she's not going to achieve anything she'll be much better doing what she wants to do, at least for now.

If she's bright she may well be bored senseless by the type of job 4 GCSEs will get her for the rest of her life. She'll also spend her time being bossed around by people much less intelligent than she is. (This is the aspect that really focused my mind on schoolwork!)

I would recommend some work experience doing something dull so she discovers this for herself. Also maybe try and work out what career she wants and what she needs to get there (I have some limited experience with girls in mainstream with ASD and the "check list" approach seemed to suit their mentality i.e. I need 7 GCSEs A-C, 3 A levels in x, y and z and then...")

I do understand your frustration but it is not about what you want, it is about what your DD wants. I don't mean to be rude but I have been there. My ds did this pathway, not because he was SN but that is a whole different topic, he was capable of so much more, think walking into maths GCSE with no revision and not being in a lesson for 4 months and getting an A. It consisted of 2 days at a local college doing a BTECH, 2 days at school doing core GCSE's (maths, english, IT and social studies) and 1 days doing what is called in this area as ASDAN which is doing thing like life skills, money management, teamwork and work around friendships and relationships. ASDAN did consist of at least once a month having a day out at places such as activity centres, sports centres and alike. I think the key thing here is where you say if she wanted to. I know that although it killed me to let ds do this, it was best and he is now happy working as a chef and he is 2 years ahead of anyone else his age in a very competitive field which has been very good for his career