The Student Room Group

What can he do?

Hi we have 15 year old son who has struggled with mental illness for 7 years and been unable to do school. He would like to try and attend college a year sept. Been told he needs 5gcse. Don't need top grades but he will not be able to sit exams due to illness and was wondering if we could do any equifequiv like btec to get him a place if he is better by then?
We live in Wales. Also what is minumum he could go into college with in Wales? He will never do exams but could do course work with help and guidance.

Thanks.
Original post by Deano47
Hi we have 15 year old son who has struggled with mental illness for 7 years and been unable to do school. He would like to try and attend college a year sept. Been told he needs 5gcse. Don't need top grades but he will not be able to sit exams due to illness and was wondering if we could do any equifequiv like btec to get him a place if he is better by then?
We live in Wales. Also what is minumum he could go into college with in Wales? He will never do exams but could do course work with help and guidance.

Thanks.

Why can’t he do exams? If it’s due to being in a room with everyone else and then stress of the environment if he can get a medical note to confirm this they can put him somewhere quiet to do exams and maybe give extra time.

I don’t know if they have colleges like City College in Wales or other inner city colleges a lot of them will allow you to retake GCSE’s... that is unless his school/sixth form will let him.

Once he has the GCSE’s he needs he’ll be able to go to college. Make sure when he chooses his GCSE’s he picks the right selection so that he can go on to do the A levels he wants and perhaps further study after that if he wants to.

Does he receive support for his mental health?
Reply 2
Original post by Little Popcorns
Why can’t he do exams? If it’s due to being in a room with everyone else and then stress of the environment if he can get a medical note to confirm this they can put him somewhere quiet to do exams and maybe give extra time.

I don’t know if they have colleges like City College in Wales or other inner city colleges a lot of them will allow you to retake GCSE’s... that is unless his school/sixth form will let him.

Once he has the GCSE’s he needs he’ll be able to go to college. Make sure when he chooses his GCSE’s he picks the right selection so that he can go on to do the A levels he wants and perhaps further study after that if he wants to.

Does he receive support for his mental health?
hi he cannot do GCSE as he doesn't attend school for 1 he has a tutor 1 hour a day as he has lost all trust in school, even saying the word school causes panic attacks. But he can learn. He is also way behind others of his age. That's why he needs to do it as btec, he also does most of his work in dim lighting due to irlen syndrome. And has terrible anxiety and ocd. Finds it extremely difficult to leave the house. He is in treatment plan but will take quite a while so doing something like btec if possibly get 5 equivalent. If he gets that and treatment works he could then hopefully attend college. But school exams are not an option right now or near future as cause way to much stress.
Original post by Deano47
hi he cannot do GCSE as he doesn't attend school for 1 he has a tutor 1 hour a day as he has lost all trust in school, even saying the word school causes panic attacks. But he can learn. He is also way behind others of his age. That's why he needs to do it as btec, he also does most of his work in dim lighting due to irlen syndrome. And has terrible anxiety and ocd. Finds it extremely difficult to leave the house. He is in treatment plan but will take quite a while so doing something like btec if possibly get 5 equivalent. If he gets that and treatment works he could then hopefully attend college. But school exams are not an option right now or near future as cause way to much stress.

He can do his GCSE’s or BTEC privately can’t he as he’s home schooled, as in just do the exams somewhere privately... check your council education department to ask what you should do and explain where he wants to be and what the barriers are. Or perhaps there’s some distance learning he may be able to do?

Is he getting support for his mental health and why does he think he’ll be able to go to college if he’s not able to go to school? Is it specific other kids or bullying or something?
Reply 4
Original post by Little Popcorns
He can do his GCSE’s or BTEC privately can’t he as he’s home schooled, as in just do the exams somewhere privately... check your council education department to ask what you should do and explain where he wants to be and what the barriers are. Or perhaps there’s some distance learning he may be able to do?

Is he getting support for his mental health and why does he think he’ll be able to go to college if he’s not able to go to school? Is it specific other kids or bullying or something?

Hi he is still registered with school and does only 1 hour a day at home. If I'm honest school don't want him as he struggles so much and has terrible panic attacks. The help he gets is private as our local cahms is terrible and been awful over the years and they loosing staff every other month so never see same person.

Tutor has said his best chance of qualifications are btect as he could not sit long enough for an exam and would not concentrate anywhere long enough. As for college he may never go but would like to get qualifications to try at some point. And hope treatment will work and help thanks.
Reply 5
Original post by Deano47
Hi he is still registered with school and does only 1 hour a day at home. If I'm honest school don't want him as he struggles so much and has terrible panic attacks. The help he gets is private as our local cahms is terrible and been awful over the years and they loosing staff every other month so never see same person.

Tutor has said his best chance of qualifications are btect as he could not sit long enough for an exam and would not concentrate anywhere long enough. As for college he may never go but would like to get qualifications to try at some point. And hope treatment will work and help thanks.


Hi again didn't know btec could be done privately.could you send me a link to this please.
Thanks
D lloyd
Moved to Secondary School, Sixth Form and FE College

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