16 year old - college

[walkiesforsanity]

Hi I have just had a call from my 16 nearly 17 yr old from college saying she has failed all the tests they have had recently, she has been diagnosed as having a very slow response/ reaction so needs extra time etc, but has failed the written and practical exams, she has been told by her tutor that she will probably not pass her course so will not go onto the second year. She was in tears as we do not know where we go from here, she will not let me go into college to talk to her tutors, I know she has to be in education until she is 18 - which is a year away so not sure where we go from here. She suffers from self confidence at the best of times so this will knock her completely, she has no friends outside of college that she talks to as she doesn't mix well and had lost all her school friends so she doesn't have anyone to confide in really, and we are like touch paper when we get together as she will not listen to me trying to help - anyone have any ideas what to do next?

I would email her tutor and ask what the college can do to support her. If she's doing A levels, may be look at what BTECs might suit her - DD is severely dyslexic and really struggled with GCSE exams, but was much happier with coursework that could be done at her own pace. Loads of her friends changed their courses after the first year, so it really isn't unusual to spend 3 years at college. It might also be worth looking at apprenticeships - she could get a Level 3 qualification through an apprenticeship (equivalent to A levels) and might find it easier to learn something that is directly related to a career, as well as she would be assessed on doing the job rather than having to sit tests (depending on the apprenticeship).

I think it is really poor of her college to tell her she won't go into the second year, without giving her advice and options.

Hi

Thank you for your reply, we have been discussing apprenticeships, I have spoken to her this morning as she has phoned me and said she cannot cope with college any longer, so she has agreed to me talking to her tutor and we will see if there is another course that she may be better suited to.