[space]

Hey,

I am in need of some sound advice.

What do you think of homeschooling for AS/A Level? Is it a good idea?

Thank you.

[MrJohnDClare]

Personally, I would say it's a non-starter.
The level of guidance and discussion needed would make it very difficult to do from home.

Have you considered night-school?

But then what do I know!
I'll ask on the Teachers' forum - perhaps they'll have some comments to make.

[Mr Courts]

It is certainly not ideal, but it is possible IF you have a good teacher who will act as a tutor and help you. I have taught A-levels 'privately' before, and no matter how bright you are, as John says, the amount of guidance you need makes it virtually impossible to do on your own, but if (and only if) you have someone who knows what they are doing and can discuss your ideas with you, guide your reading and comment on your written work then it can be done.

Good Luck

[MrJohnDClare]

Thank you, Mr Courts.

One of the other teachers on the forum adds this:

Quote

John could you also point out to the homeschool enquirer that at A2 level coursework has to be undertaken. As this is marked by the school/college, I'm not sure what the practical implications of that element of the course would be for a homeschooler. Maybe there is someone else on the forum who does know - but it would certainly be something to look into before commencing a course.

[space]

Thank you very much for the input.

Yeah, well, I'm not from the UK though and plan to take on the International AS/A Level.

I withdrew from school after the IGCSE last year due to some personal problems and now I am thinking to returning to school but there is conflict between the subject combination. General Paper which is apparently useless as some Universities do not see it as a subject is compulsory. I want to continue with my subjects, Mathematics, Physics and History but there is a clash in the timetable for Physics and History. So the teacher in-charge told me that I have to choose between Physics and History and take on two more subjects, Economics and Business Studies. That's a class three impossibility. I detest Economics and Business Studies. I've taken those subjects before but didn't study due to a lack of interest and thus I failed the tests. Moreover, isn't this A Level and students should be doing subjects they like? I am not even planning to take the exam in school but as a private candidate at British Council cause I ain't gonna take GP but English and earn a Diploma.

If the subject combination did not get sorted out, man, I might have to study on my own.

[MrJohnDClare]

To be fair, the school can only offer what it can timetable so - and especially if it has a small 6th form only - you may well find that certain timetable combinations are impossible. In that respect, the History-Physics clash is just tough luck, and you will have to come to terms with it.

However, if what you say is true, the school is being very inflexible if it is insisting that you take instead a certain combination of subjects, against your wishes, and I would have thought it at least possible for you to, say, attend on a part-time timetable and therefore miss the subjects you do not wish to take ... and then surely everybody would be happy. It's not in the school's or the teachers' interests to have one very able, disaffected pupil scowling through hours of lessons a week! Could you not take them as free-study periods? etc.

Time to bring in parents, here, I suspect.

[MrJohnDClare]

Your case is causing some comment on the Teachers' forum, and another teacher has made a comment with you will find useful:

Quote

It may be possible for a home schooler to choose his own exam board, in which case he may be able to access CCEA and therefore be spared the coursework element. However he would need help to deal with the historiography demands which are applicable to our entrants
Good Luck

[space]

Yeah, my mother did appeal to the CEO who checked with the teacher in-charge.

There is five hours of Physics class and three hours of History class each week. If I were to take on both subjects, I would miss two hours of Physics class which initially, the CEO said that would not be beneficial on my side. Yeah, but I could deal with it. But now the school insists that I have to choose between Physics and History and take up Business Studies and Economics. They won't even give in by allowing me to take GP, Mathematics, Physics, History and either Economics or Business Studies, the required number of subjects. Fine, if that was how they wanted it to be, then they lose twenty thousand plus of school fees. I ain't gonna beg to return and struggle with two subjects I do not enjoy.

The free-study periods are fine, some students have them too.

I don't think that it is compulsory for homeschool students to take on coursework under CIE?

Got to check that out.

[MrJohnDClare]

It's a sad situation for you.
Keep us in touch with how you get on.