Not being treated fairly

Hi Matt,

The impression I'm getting is that you're struggling as you want to be part of the education system but you don't want to follow the system's rules. I see two choices:

1. If you don't want to follow their rules apply for a job in a shop rather than an apprenticeship scheme then you would not have to progress your English and Maths qualifications.

2. If you do want an apprenticeship then you need to follow the rules that have been set out by the government and meet the qualification requirements

If you want to progress in the world of work many employers look for C's in GCSE English and Maths, or Level 2 Functional Skills in these subjects. It could open many more doors for you if you could get these qualifications.

It is a legal requirement that if you do not have L2 English and Maths you study towards these qualifications alongside your course. If you were unwilling to attend these classes it was right that the college withdrew your place on your course.

If you do decide to study for higher level qualifications in these areas it sounds like you need reasonable adjustments in place to help you feel less overwhelmed. If you do decide to enrol again it could be useful to talk to the disability team about the challenges you have and how they can support you, for example:

• Would it be better if you enrolled for just English and Maths this year, so you only had that to focus on that for now and you'd have less time at college to help manage your stress levels?
• Would an adult education class be better for you as it might have a smaller number of learners?
• Do you need one-to-one support providing alongside your course?
• Do you need an assistant in class to prompt you to use calming strategies if you're getting stressed out?

Its a key time for enrollment at college and many stand-alone English and Maths courses won't accept new students after the first six weeks of term so if you eant to get on with this before Christmas you need to make your decision quickly.

Hi thank you for your response, I'm struggling with it and the policy that are "legal" are not the same for all of us, as much as I agree with the system having to have set policies so that they know everyone has a good understanding and we'll educated because it wouldn't make sense employing just anyone. 

I'm saying this because I'm a law obiding  citizen and have always attended lessons in school/college, and my attitude has always been about the work. 

I went into college from school, not knowing where I was going did I get help with that? Of course one would think ask for help but my confidence in big changes isn't good I like things to be planned so that I know what's happening.

One time I  hid underneath one of the tables because I was avoiding the maths teacher, not because I wanted to,  that got out to everyone because the course manager made a mockery of it but then I suppose government policy justifies that, makes it right.

You say you didn't ask for help with the transition from school to college when you found this difficult. If people didn't know you needed help they couldn't provide it but this is something you could change next time now you older and wiser. Most colleges will allow you to speak to the relevant support dept face-to-face, by phone or via email. That way you have a choice of three communication methods in case you really struggle in some areas (I hate phones) and there is a lot of support available for autistic students if you explain you need it.

You seem caught upon the fact that you don't agree with educational policies. All types of humans and not just autistic people can have fixed thinking, were we can't accept the other point of view. It sounds like the people you had difficulty with in the maths dept are similar to you and there fixed thinking focused on what is and isn't acceptable behaviour. I teach and I know a lot of people who would see hiding under a table as being dis-obedient and naughty. It looks like if you do go back to that college it would be useful for your disability support team to speak to the people you found challenging last time to explain why you behave in certain ways and how they can get the best out of the situation. They could also to help you to understand the reactions of your course team.

Do you think you pursue the qualifications you need to be able to apply for L3 apprenticeships or are you going to look at other avenues, such as getting a job instead?

You say you didn't ask for help with the transition from school to college when you found this difficult. If people didn't know you needed help they couldn't provide it but this is something you could change next time now you older and wiser. Most colleges will allow you to speak to the relevant support dept face-to-face, by phone or via email. That way you have a choice of three communication methods in case you really struggle in some areas (I hate phones) and there is a lot of support available for autistic students if you explain you need it.

You seem caught upon the fact that you don't agree with educational policies. All types of humans and not just autistic people can have fixed thinking, were we can't accept the other point of view. It sounds like the people you had difficulty with in the maths dept are similar to you and there fixed thinking focused on what is and isn't acceptable behaviour. I teach and I know a lot of people who would see hiding under a table as being dis-obedient and naughty. It looks like if you do go back to that college it would be useful for your disability support team to speak to the people you found challenging last time to explain why you behave in certain ways and how they can get the best out of the situation. They could also to help you to understand the reactions of your course team.

Do you think you pursue the qualifications you need to be able to apply for L3 apprenticeships or are you going to look at other avenues, such as getting a job instead?