Failed my first year at uni due to neglect, is it better for me to retake my Alevels?

Not clear on your thinking here - why did you fail year 1 and why has that made you want to retake A Levels? How would you fund taking a year out to re-do A Levels, will you work? Degree apprenticeships are incredibly competitive, I don't see why anyone would employ someone that has shown they can't manage the academic side unless you are looking at a very different area?

Failed Year 1 due to my mental health reasons on the second half of my year. As you said, no one would employ someone who failed their first year unless I can prove I can change; therefore redoing A levels might be my best chance to prove that. getting into a better University would also be okay. Failing my first year has made me realise how important it is for me to work harder and not to sound rude but you seem to be suggesting giving up in further education which is something I will not do.

No I'm suggesting you don't go backwards - if you had mental health difficulties last year and have evidence of this then you can get an extra year of undergraduate funding. So if you are now managing better why not carry on with your degree, repeat and carry on, or choose another uni that suits you better. Repeating A Levels will be a huge financial drain and really a waste of time.

You can apply for CPR for extra funding if needed. However, you have 3 years plus a gift year anyway and I would suggest retaking the year. You have realised you need to work harder; so do exactly that, retaking your A-levels is a waste of time in my opinion if you are already at university.

Failed Year 1 due to my mental health reasons on the second half of my year. As you said, no one would employ someone who failed their first year unless I can prove I can change; therefore redoing A levels might be my best chance to prove that. getting into a better University would also be okay. Failing my first year has made me realise how important it is for me to work harder and not to sound rude but you seem to be suggesting giving up in further education which is something I will not do.

At many (if not most) universities first year counts for little if anything towards the final classification. Unis are aware that the first year at uni is often a considerable change for most students both in terms of academic style and expectations, as well as their personal situations.
Employers are on the whole I think rather unlikely to be looking at individual year or module results when applying to grad jobs and rather looking at your overall classification I would expect. Therefore failing first year is not necessarily going to be a barrier to employment if you are able to continue on to complete the degree successfully. Perseverance in the face of adversity is, after all, a useful skill in an employee.
As above other unis are likely to have concerns anyway, and retaking A-levels will not necessarily ameliorate a poor performance in first year at another uni (and yes, you must declare that study if reapply through UCAS to other unis).
I think you should be opening a dialogue with your current uni about what options you have Re: retakes and what if any mitigation can be applied in view of the health issues. You should also be getting documentation about those issues including when they occurred, how they impacted you, and if relevant any details as to why they may have prevented you from submitting a request for mitigation earlier.
I think you're getting too hung up on trying to "rewrite history" by thinking you can retake A-levels and pretend like what has occurred never happened. However ultimately that's not possible (it's mandatory to declare your previous studies at uni when applying through UCAS again as indicated) and also, it did happen - for better or worse. You need to adapt and learn from your mistakes, not try and erase them. So accept that it happened and engage with the process with your uni - speak to your personal tutor and to your student union, get the relevant evidence from your GP/therapist/counsellor/specialist/etc, and see where you get to with an appeal. There's no harm in appealing - worst case scenario it's rejected and you're in the same situation as if you didn't appeal anyway. Best case scenario you may be permitted to resit the year without capping of results.

If another uni has concern over the failed year elsewhere, I doubt retaking AL’s is going to change their mind.
I think you’d be better appealing based on health grounds - presuming these weren’t declared and / or reasonable adjustments weren’t in place.

thank you for the response but your response has made me feel less confident in my future appeal as I never considered what the university offered when I was suffering.

Failing my first year really changed me to work harder and stay in education but I am not sure on where to go, my uni says I must appeal but that will not work if I got poor performances. After some online research I have found out that retaking my A levels might be my best chance to prove I have changed but also get higher grades in general, I also want to change into an apprenticeship - Is this an advisable plan to do?
Also on retaking my a levels in general, I read it costs £500 just to book an examination room & I want to do Maths & Physics which I previously got a B & C in. Will it really cost £1000 just for those two? Going in year 13 or collage I feel is impossible as the year has already begun. Or should I try an apply for an apprenticeship now?

thank you for the response but your response has made me feel less confident in my future appeal as I never considered what the university offered when I was suffering.

It is easy to get a GP to write up a letter if you explain the issues to them. Surgeries will charge £20 or so for the letter though.

Hi @simlobey,
Sorry to hear you are having a difficult time at the moment. I see you have had some informative replies, even if it isn't exactly what you wished to hear. I truly believe going backwards is not the next step. Appeal with the university, provide any evidence you can and explain your side. If this does not work, although you have to declare you previously studied at that university, there is no harm in applying to others if that is your determined route.
Aside from universities, I feel an apprenticeship could be an excellent option! These can be open all year round as business open them at different times.
I recommend taking this time to really think about what you wish to do, what makes you happy and drives you forward? Take this chance to make the right pivot in your life.
I hope this helps, please feel free to ask me any questions,
-Sophia (University of Central Lancashire)

Many students don't declare health issues until it is too late - this is pretty common.
I would speak to your Student Union, they should be able to offer advice on putting together your appeal. As above, a GP letter would be a good start.
Please note that any appeal would have to explain why you didn't raise anything until it got to this stage.