A level retakes

[mumbo jumbo]

So. My son flunks his A levels. Nothing of any interest available through clearing. He wants to go to Uni so the only way of doing this is to retake his exams. We'd like him to have the structure and discipline of a school or college. Here's the rub. He can use his school as an exam centre. But they wont teach him or provide books etc. None - and I mean none - of the colleges round here provide retakes courses (unless he goes to a private crammer which is £12-15k). As he's under 19 on 1 Sept he can start a full 2 year A level course but he doesn't want to do that and i can understand why. He seems to be at a dead end where self study is the only option (and, based on past experience, doomed to failure).

Am I missing something here? Is this just a Birmingham / Midlands thing? Any advice?

mj

 

[ttcycle]

Really? That sounds odd to me - I have family in those parts of the world? I can check but not sure if they'd be able to come back with much.

The only thing I can think of is there might be a political decision as to try and curb the number of spaces to uni filled?

 

[fossyant]

Ah - he can re-take, but will need to re-study for the exams himself - will he do this, or does he need tuition ?

 

[Bayerd]

So. My son flunks his A levels. Nothing of any interest available through clearing. He wants to go to Uni so the only way of doing this is to retake his exams. We'd like him to have the structure and discipline of a school or college. Here's the rub. He can use his school as an exam centre. But they wont teach him or provide books etc. None - and I mean none - of the colleges round here provide retakes courses (unless he goes to a private crammer which is £12-15k). As he's under 19 on 1 Sept he can start a full 2 year A level course but he doesn't want to do that and i can understand why. He seems to be at a dead end where self study is the only option (and, based on past experience, doomed to failure).

Am I missing something here? Is this just a Birmingham / Midlands thing? Any advice?

mj

When's he 19? Until then apprenticeships are fully funded. He will gain qualifications and skills in a suitable job role. What does he want to do?

 

[MichaelM]

Last year (2009 - 2010), I did a course (Scottish Higher) by distance learning - and failed the exam. I got in touch with the local High School to arrange a re-sit, and to my surprise, the head of department offered me the opportunity to attend classes with the school pupils - which was a bit of a surprise as I'm a 46 yr old !

All that it cost me was £30 for the external assesment (a bargain for a 50 min period 3 days a week, plus one double period a week - on top of which, I had as much homework marked as I was able to submit, as well as the after school study club on a tue & wed !), without doubt the best £30 that I've spent in my life!!!

I swear that I'll remember this lady for the rest of my life (strange to have such heroes at my age!).

After my positive experience with the local school, I'd suggest seeing if you can come up something simlar in your region - school rocks

 

[Keith Oates]

So. My son flunks his A levels. Nothing of any interest available through clearing. He wants to go to Uni so the only way of doing this is to retake his exams. We'd like him to have the structure and discipline of a school or college. Here's the rub. He can use his school as an exam centre. But they wont teach him or provide books etc. None - and I mean none - of the colleges round here provide retakes courses (unless he goes to a private crammer which is £12-15k). As he's under 19 on 1 Sept he can start a full 2 year A level course but he doesn't want to do that and i can understand why. He seems to be at a dead end where self study is the only option (and, based on past experience, doomed to failure).

Am I missing something here? Is this just a Birmingham / Midlands thing? Any advice?

mj

It's not just a Birmingham thing as I know a pupil in Manila who is getting the same treatment. He missed one of the exams due to illness and now has to take that subject in November but the school will not give him any help or tuition prior to taking the exam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Red Light]

Why does he need to go to school to be taught? Although he flunked the exam he did presumably completed the course first. So it should be a case of doing a lot of revision over the next year for the exam. Unless the problem is he has difficulty understanding the content in which case I would question him going on to university as it will get a lot harder and there will be a lot more self study involved there. If he's going to struggle at university and come out with a low degree and the new big debt he may be much better going into work or vocational training now.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Why does he need to go to school to be taught? Although he flunked the exam he did presumably completed the course first. So it should be a case of doing a lot of revision over the next year for the exam. Unless the problem is he has difficulty understanding the content in which case I would question him going on to university as it will get a lot harder and there will be a lot more self study involved there. If he's going to struggle at university and come out with a low degree and the new big debt he may be much better going into work or vocational training now.

I have to say I agree with Red Light on this. If he has the course materials already then it should be a matter of re-reading them.

 

[Red Light]

I have to say I agree with Red Light on this.

Is this a first?

 

[Archie_tect]

I think preparing for re-takes would be difficult if not impossible to do alone without some guidance, are there any others in his position needing to retake the same exams? How about a private tutor a couple of hours a week [even if it's £25 or more an hour] who can interact at the level he needs and set your son past papers and coursework/ essays to do and then mark them critically to give your son intensive help. It's the marking and assessment of what he's doing that is essential- something he can't do himself.

 

[Gromit]

My niece was told that if she failed her A levels nest year, she would not be able to retake them because there is not enough money in the budget. She got 2B's and 2C's in her AS level this year so she should be OK for next year.

 

[Archie_tect]

No pressure then!

 

[accountantpete]

I'd advise self-study augmented with a small amount of privite tuition.

That's what you have to do when trying to get professional qualications like what I have got.

BTW - there are two types of teacher. Ones that teach the subject and those that teach you how to pass the exam.

You might be better off trying to find the latter.

 

[Red Light]

I think preparing for re-takes would be difficult if not impossible to do alone without some guidance,

If he can't do that then he will really struggle at university.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Is this a first?

The 2nd time iirc