Originally Posted by
aeroalexGR
I have just started Year 12... I've got around 23 hours in a C172 and I've began my PPL and managed to even do my first solo 1 month ago...
Unfortunately, I didn't do as well as I wanted in Maths GCSE, and got a B; even though I was predicted and was expecting an A or above. As a result, couldn't do AS Maths at school, and now I find myself in a bit of trouble... However in my rest of my subjects I got the rest As and A*s.
This is because that without Maths I cannot get into Uni entry requirements in London for something like Air Transport Operations or something like that. Which leads me to my next question... is uni worth all the money (taking into account the huge tuition fees)? (career opportunities-wise, not partying, social etc.) What courses would you recommend? Is there no way to get into City for example without the B in A2 maths?
The The Air Transport Operations with ATPL course looks good, however I found out that it has been discontinued. Anything like this to come in the future?
What would you advise me to do ?
Thanks!
If you want to do a technical degree, yes, you need Maths A level, and a B in maths GCSE should not prevent that. It sounds like you are up against a fairly classic conflict - between you shooting for the course and grades for your desired degree course, and your school shooting for the best place in the league tables.
In my opinion, if your school is putting their place in the league tables ahead of your career aspirations, then there's a problem. The first solution is go back to them and argue the case why you should be permitted to do A level maths. If you lose the argument, then frankly, they aren't what you need, and jump ship.
Which gives you two choices. One is to do the extra A-level elsewhere, most likely in evening classes: that option is perfectly reasonable and should be open to you in most parts of the UK. The other is simply to leave and study somewhere that will allow you to take the courses that you want and need.
A school DOES NOT have the moral right, and should not have the legal right, to jeapordise your career in pursuit of their position of a higher place in the league tables.
That said, the majority of professional pilot jobs don't actually require a degree, and as PHF rightly said, it's not a job backup, so think hard about why you want it. If you are still convinced that you really want that technical degree, then don't let the school bully you into doing the wrong thing for yourself.