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Secondary education

Unexpectedly low grades, lost for options

46 replies

HisMum4 · 20/08/2014 18:20

Don't want to highjack other threads with specifics.

DS got his IGCSEs today and they are all C and B instead of predicted A*, meaning he is not making his 6 form offer.

DS is autistic and has a statement. He wants to do Maths, Further Maths and Physics as A levels, as these are his best and "easy" subjects. There isn't a back up option of doing Psychology and Media Studies as these would be a huge challenge to him. There is little sense to go to another college to do Media Studies...

He wants to do Engineering or Maths and Computing at University. With these IGCSE results this seem falling apart.

We thought of applying to other schools, but basically they also have high requirements for Maths and Further Maths. If he could get into another college 6 form for his desired subjects, he potentially could do them without changing school, we could just appeal and hang on to the current school based on his Statement status (at least hope as a plan). But his results are too low, so I really don't know what now.

What went wrong? Not clear. Mostly nerves. DS underperforms under pressure. Not good at exams. Not good at explanations in those science exam papers.

What is DS good at, what does he enjoy? Playing Minecraft, working on the computer. He learned to program.

He is good with MFLs, so he could eventually do French and German in 6 form (he got A in MFL IGCSEs). BUT, he is totally useless at esseys and probably would not make the A2 exams which require to write esseys. He certainly would have nothing to do in an MFL university course as he is useless with literature and language nuances. A dead end.

Back to computing. Actually we applied for an Apprenticeship in IT. Results are not clear, they are waiting for his grades. But even if he gets the Aprenticeship, it will be not in comuting and IT, but in Digital Marketing. Marketing is really not a career for Aspies. DS could make it as a first job, but not a career. How would he get back on track? He would need to return to 6 form and do 3 A levels including Maths to get into a Computing degree.

The thing is because of his ASD, his difficulties with social skills, interaction and communication, DS would struggle in those mid level service jobs in which normal people thrive. He needs something very technical, but doesn't seem to have the grades for it.

To be honest we don't know his Maths grades yet. We will know them tomorrow. But if they are not A*, tomorrow we will need a plan B.

What could we do?

Get his exam papers, see what went wrong?

Apply to other schools/collegues until we find one that will take him in 6 form for his desired subjects with Bs?

Hang on to 6 form by doing MFLs (A* on paper)?

Get the Digital Marketing Aprenticeship?

Get a different IT Aprenticeship (not many options after GCSEs, Help Desc aprenticeships require a lot of communication and interaction...)

What other routes are there into IT degrees?

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titchy · 20/08/2014 18:44

Hmm Other routes - foundation degree, foundation year, access course then degree? BTEC rather than A levels?

Digital marketing may not be marketing or designing something appealing btw - it might be translating what the designer wants into code to put on the web.

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Olivevoir · 20/08/2014 18:45

How about retaking his science gases to improve his grades? Another year to consolidate understanding and learn exam technique (academically and emotionally). In the grand scheme of things, 3 years of further education as opposed to 2 is not a big deal. Many kids do it...and with a statement, he is able to access free further education until he is 25, so could, in theory, do his A levels more slowly too. Dd (who has a statement and has similar issues but not as bright though achieved Bs and Cs last year at gcse) is about to start A levels with Nisai online academy and it is being funded by the LA as she couldn't cope emotionally with FE college and a L3 Btec last year and dropped out half way through the year. They offer science gcses and retakes. Take a look at their site.

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cricketballs · 20/08/2014 18:52

If exams don't suit him then look into BTEC; whilst the initial course title would be IT, the modules available in this qualification are wide and varied. A lot of unis accept BTEC Extended Diplomas and as its vocational/practical a lot of employers also like it

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MumTryingHerBest · 20/08/2014 19:04

HisMum4 Marketing is really not a career for Aspies Data mining/data warehousing, database development/management, interactive web development/management?

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NWgirls · 20/08/2014 19:41

OP, like MumTrying I also think you are rejecting digital marketing too easily - it might potentially be very well suited to "Aspies" given that it is computer-based and analytical. I am not an expert and know nothing about what the curriculum covers - but I know some example tasks:

  • analyse "cost of customer aquisition" of different marketing channels
  • analyse "lifetime value of customers" - ideally with clever segmentation, and including churn rates over time, online behaviour, where/how/when they were acquired
  • test and analyse the impact of small changes to the online service/offer through "split runs" e.g. showing 50 people one version and 50 other people another version, then rolling out the best version on full scale
  • build / improve tools to do the above in an automated way
  • decide where to allocate marketing spend (e.g. google ads vs. banners vs. email lists vs. online coupons vs. various offline ads/channels), leveraging some of the above analyses, trying to meet quantified objectives for revenues, margin, users etc

    For a Minecraft-fan who even knows some programming, the motivation to study this could be aiming to work on optimising online games! (Also applicable across ecommerce, not a small market these days)
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nostress · 20/08/2014 19:43

The academy my son attends offers a new media and games development BTEC.

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Phaedra11 · 20/08/2014 20:06

Yes, I would be looking at BTECs. Our local 6th form college does a level 3 BTEC extended diploma in IT, (the tutor takes pains to point out it is not office based IT) which is equivalent to 3 A levels and apparently has had a high number of students who've gone on study computer science type degrees at university.

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HisMum4 · 20/08/2014 20:26

Thank you Titchy. Yes, the Digital Marketing is about a fair amount of coding, so it is an option. Could you explain a little about the other pathways?. Do you mean that if he takes the aprenticeship, he could go on to foundation or access degree without A levels? How could he go back on track while working?

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joanofarchitrave · 20/08/2014 20:30

If your ds hates exams and underperforms in them, is work a better track for him than aiming only at academia?

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HisMum4 · 20/08/2014 20:32

Olivevoir, thank you for reassuring me. I will look into Nisai right away.

Could they really retake GCSEs if they are not below C? My main worry is that once out of school, DS will be out of the Statement system and then we basically don't know what would happen. If DS underperformed in the familiar, supportive school, he might really screw up in the aprenticeship - will he keep the job at all after being on the phone with those Marketing customerss and telling them not to distract him from his coding ...:)

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MumTryingHerBest · 20/08/2014 20:49

HisMum4 I was a Marketing Director before I had children and my OH is a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

A levels are not the only way forward for some professions: www.cim.co.uk/Home.aspx

Also

www.dmu.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate-courses/business-intelligence-systems-and-data-mining-msc.aspx
If you have no formal academic qualifications but do have extensive industry experience we will consider your application on an individual basis.

Knowledge of and application of data analysis is a fundamental requirement in marketing these days. Every penny in the marketing budget has to be fought for and the best way to do this is to demonstrate measurable results and bring in the sales leads.

You will need to do more research around this area as my knowledge is out of date but I am sure you will find a number of ways forward.

Also bear in mind that companies such as these have marketing departments (as I worked for one of them and my OH worked for Microsoft for a fair number of years ;-))
www.gartner.com/technology/home.jsp
www.forrester.com/home/

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HisMum4 · 20/08/2014 20:52

is work a better track for him than aiming only at academia?

This is what we had in mind when applying for the apprenticeship. 85% of people with ASD are not in paid employment. I read horror stories on MN about young men on the spectrum dropping out of university and even out of IT jobs, because they panic and "look incompetent" when customers "shout at them" and while they are capable of solving a technical problem.

So yes, being in a job and staying in a job might be more important for an Aspie than having diplomas and not being able to access a job.

But it is a huge leap into the unknown. Being a PhD myself, I suppose I fear any other career routes, and I understand that I need to suppress my own bias. This is about DS, his life and his future.

A huge step to take - an irreversible exit from academic education into employment at 16 with unknown prospects for the long term...

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MumTryingHerBest · 20/08/2014 20:52

HisMum4 will he keep the job at all after being on the phone with those Marketing customerss and telling them not to distract him from his coding Not everyone in the marketing department is customer facing (if it was sales they would be) and not everyone involved in marketing is in the marketing department.

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MumTryingHerBest · 20/08/2014 20:56

HisMum4 A huge step to take - an irreversible exit from academic education into employment at 16 with unknown prospects for the long term... Plenty of people go back into education after many years of employment. There was a 45 years old woman on my degree course.

I understand where you are coming from and no mater what direction you take there will be a fall back option for your DS.

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cricketballs · 20/08/2014 21:06

If he has a statement then this support will continue into college, speak to the colleges support departments

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HisMum4 · 20/08/2014 21:07

MumTrying, thank you. I absolutely hear you.

Would you say, in the case of taking the Digital Marketing apprenticeship, should he just dive into it if he gets the offer? He would be taking the first option avalable, an act of faith. (I am just talking to myself, it is a jump in the deed end, faith is all you need).

It is a local company, not in the league of Microsoft... Would a blue chip company hire him afterwards?

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grassroots · 20/08/2014 21:08

If he could get the A levels (C or above) - I don't suppose he might be interested in this technical apprenticeship??? Bit unusual, and without knowing your son difficult to know whether it might suit?
It just seems as if it might cover all of his interests...
www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/technical-apprenticeships.aspx

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HisMum4 · 20/08/2014 21:09

jump into the deep end

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HisMum4 · 20/08/2014 21:21

mi5... yes, if only we could get to A levels Wink. Need to see his maths results tomorrow. It will be either no go, or a glimse of hope to appeal and get into Maths A levels along with languages and then take the apprenticeship in IT?

He already has a portfolio of IT code, which he did as a hobby, after school. If he continues with that he would have something decent along with his A levels to apply for an apprenticeship after 6 form.-- this is the PhD talking again. Confused

Jump into the Digital Marketing job or cling to 6 form? that is the question.

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frogsinapond · 20/08/2014 21:26

A vote for an advanced apprenticeship here. These are for people with GCSEs and last 3-4 years combining work with a level 3 BTEC and possibly HNC/HND. With a high BTEC and/or HNC he could apply to university as well as having very valuable work experience. He could continue to a full degree via OU while still working if he wanted.

There are a number about in engineering, but also a few in IT eg: here I would definitely at least look at some of the engineering ones too, but it's probably rather late for getting onto one for this year, so I'd be thinking how to strengthen his chances for next year and apply to a fair few then as the good ones are fairly competitive.

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MumTryingHerBest · 20/08/2014 21:28

HisMum4 Would you say, in the case of taking the Digital Marketing apprenticeship, should he just dive into it if he gets the offer? If I was making the decision personally I would say no don't just dive in. However, I am the type of person who researches to the smallest detail before making a decision (time permitting of course).

I really hate to say this but only you and your DS can make this decision. However, no matter what decision you make there will always be options available afterwards.

You are comfortable with the academic route for good reason, it is what you know best. There is no reason for you not to explore this area. Just don't convince yourself that it is the end of the line if it does not turn out how you hoped.

My advise is don't discount an option until you have an idea of what that option can initially provide.

Gaming is an extremely competitive area to get into and I imagine a large number of teenage boys/young men (older men like my OH) would jump at the chance and consequently applicants queue around the block. However, IT on the whole is an ever evolving arena and, as a result, has many varied routes in.

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HisMum4 · 21/08/2014 00:10

The apprenticeship involves a
City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in digital marketing 7513-30.

So it is not a BTECH or HNC/HND. Assessment is via QCF, whatever it means. I think it is work place assessment based on portfolio of work.

74 credits - what does this mean? Is it less than one A level?

They say in the broshure that they teach :

• Search - SEO and PPC
• Design
• Online advertising
• Email marketing
• Social media
• Image and video editing

Mumtrying, what do you make of it?

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HisMum4 · 21/08/2014 00:11

I should add it is a 12 months appreticeship.

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funchum8am · 21/08/2014 00:20

If he has B grades in the subjects he wants to do for A level there may well be a school or college he can find to take him, even at this late stage. Do try calling around, you never know. The school I work at requires a B grade plus our own maths test to do A level, and C for any other subject. When he only has his preferred subjects to focus on he may find academic study more manageable, and get good enough grades for a degree course.

Having said all the the other options you are considering sound really interesting and positive too! Very best of luck.

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MumTryingHerBest · 21/08/2014 00:32

HisMum4 Thu 21-Aug-14 00:10:01
The apprenticeship involves a
City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in digital marketing 7513-30.

So it is not a BTECH or HNC/HND. Assessment is via QCF, whatever it means. I think it is work place assessment based on portfolio of work.

74 credits - what does this mean? Is it less than one A level?

They say in the broshure that they teach :

• Search - SEO and PPC
• Design
• Online advertising
• Email marketing
• Social media
• Image and video editing

Mumtrying, what do you make of it?

HisMum4 do you know what SEO and PPC means? - Search engine optimisation and Pay Per Click - this is pure play on-line advertising - based on what you have said so far, not right for your DS, although an understanding may be of some use at some point.

Design is very vague,

Online advertising is too vague

email marketing - quite useful for the majority of businesses. It involves writing a promotional email and sending it out to prospects with a view to them buying/signing up to something or expressing an interest in something. Useful to know how but not a major selling point for your DS.

social media - twitter, facebook, instagram etc. social media is the "in thing" and considered "a buying influence " but what exactly will your DS be doing and to what end?

Image and video editing - again can be useful but what exactly will your DS be doing and to what end?

None of the above incorporates the data mining/warehousing/real programming that is very much in demand with regards to marketing.

Can you PM me any links etc. I will get OH to have a look at them and let you know what he thinks? He is at events all week so comms. is slower than usual but I will kick butt and get you some feed back as soon as possible.

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