advice on education
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jhawk
Veteran
- Location
- New Brunswick, Canada
There are many alternatives to post-secondary education... Myself, I've chosen to travel for a while before I enter that murky swamp.
Does your daughter have a flair for languages? Have you considered Teaching English as a Foreign Language? (As far as I'm aware, no GCSE's are needed for that). Then there's the Open University based in the UK... Again, as far as I know, no GSCE's are required for that.
I can't offer you much advice on actual post-secondary or secondary-education options, having been out of the UK for almost eight years myself. But, there are alternatives to it, depending on what she wants to do with her life. Good luck to you.
Does your daughter have a flair for languages? Have you considered Teaching English as a Foreign Language? (As far as I'm aware, no GCSE's are needed for that). Then there's the Open University based in the UK... Again, as far as I know, no GSCE's are required for that.
I can't offer you much advice on actual post-secondary or secondary-education options, having been out of the UK for almost eight years myself. But, there are alternatives to it, depending on what she wants to do with her life. Good luck to you.
marknotgeorge
Hol den Vorschlaghammer!
- Location
- Derby.
Your best bet would be to talk to somewhere like Peterborough Regional College, where they'll offer GCSEs, A-Levels and vocational courses. Depending on your daughter's aptitude, she might be able to start her GCSEs in September, and thus only be a year behind.
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
I think she can take GCSEs in a Further Education college. I did my A levels in one (my school had no sixth form) and had friends there doing GCEs - in one case, a guy who had had a bit of a breakdown at 15/16 and missed his exams. He was extremely bright and did well.
I see that marknotgeorge has slightly beaten me to it - that's probably the right place to start.
I see that marknotgeorge has slightly beaten me to it - that's probably the right place to start.
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
Also just to add - kids in England and Wales are now supposed to stay in school or training up to age 18. This can include home schooling as mentioned by KneesUp.
vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
That presupposes that there's someone with the time and confidence to do the job.
Most colleges will accept students for GCSE courses post 16 but you do need to look a few steps ahead at what the ultimate goal is:
University
A-Levels
Employment
Work backwards from the target and this will determine the GCSEs that needs to be taken. If teaching is even remotely considered then Maths, English and Science at GCSE are prerequisites for primary teachers, English and Maths for secondary teachers.
If you choose to go down the GCSE route add Spanish if available - it will be an easy target and will add to the basket of qualifications with minimal effort.
The following site gives an idea of what qualifications are needed for a range of jobs though the details are a bit sketchy in places. There's some useful 'taking stock of your situation' tools to play with which might be useful.
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
Early contact with colleges are essential as many of their places will have been provisionally offered to pupils who want to transfer from schools.
Ganymede
Veteran
- Location
- Rural Kent
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Canonbie
I think you'll find that the vast majority of jobs require applicants to have both Maths & English at GCSE - preferably a grade C or above. Employers can afford to be choosy even for the most mundane of jobs.
My job last year was to work with kids who were borderline to get their Maths grade C - it was hugely important to them as it presented so many more opportunities for jobs and going into further education. The school had an equivalent role working with the borderline kids for English GCSE.
My job last year was to work with kids who were borderline to get their Maths grade C - it was hugely important to them as it presented so many more opportunities for jobs and going into further education. The school had an equivalent role working with the borderline kids for English GCSE.
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
So the base level GCSE qualifications for primary school teachers is higher than for secondary teachers?
vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
The base level qualifications for primary school teachers is different, not higher. Primary school teachers have to be able to teach all subjects on the National Curriculum. Secondary school teachers tend to teach their main subject only and are recruited on that basis.
The reason for the disparity is obvious innit.
