17 year old abandoning A-levels halfway through. Can't decide what to do, no interests. Anyone in the same shoes, please?

[Polarbud]

My stepdaughter has one more year to go at college but has decided to call it a day this summer. She has no idea what she would enjoy studying or what she'd like to become in life. She's totally lost. Could you please give me some ideas what we could do with her? She's very clever and able but lost all motivation. How could we give her some guidance and ideas about the kinds of things that are out there?

[Haberpop]

My daughter did this. She was thoroughly miserable at 6th form so she completed her AS levels and left. She found herself a job, loved it, went back to college to do an Access course and now has a degree and is a teacher. It was a slightly more long winded route but she feels it was right for her, she acknowledges she probably worked harder at Uni than she would've done at 18 because she knew just how much a degree meant to her future career.

[Polarbud]

Oh, thank you, this fills me with hope! Although the law might have been different back then with regards to school leaving age. According to the government a child in England either must stay in full-time education, start an apprenticeship or traineeship or
spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training until they're 18. So the problem is that my stepdaughter can't just get a job like your daughter did and take her time to decide. She will need to do some form of studying from September and I'm not even sure whether it's too late now to enrol in anything. Are there any services out there provided by local or national government? How does one know what apprenticeships are available, for example?

[errorofjudgement]

This UCAS link on apprenticeships might be a starting point for your DD
www.ucas.com/apprenticeships-in-the-uk

[corythatwas]

ds did this, and then went on to do BTEC at a different college; has just finished his first year; he is planning to look for an apprenticeship after Sixth Form

[Bekabeech]

The law is they are supposed to be in education or training but there is no enforcement. There is no mechanism of the enforcement.

My DD managed to get a place on a Prince's Trust scheme when she has to drop out due to glandular fever. It was very useful in building practical skills and helping to explore possible careers.

[endofthelinefinally]

Has she spoken to the careers advisor at her college?

[educatingarti]

YY to something like the Prince's Trust scheme.

[Clairetree1]

she can at this stage apply to a different school or college and restart her sixth form studies in a different subject - however she only has one chance to do this, she will be too old by this time net year.

[snowsun]

My daughter did a Extended BTEC. She needed to do a course that felt like it had purpose or relevance to the working world.
A levels for her felt like learning facts just to get an exam but not for any other reason. She needed to feel that what she was doing had a bigger purpose than that. She loved the BTEC.
My daughter also needed to work and she managed to get a part time job from one of her work experience placement.

[lljkk]

"According to the government a child in England either must stay in full-time education, start an apprenticeship or traineeship"

What Bekabeech said about No enforcement. There's no punishment, she can be as much NEET as she likes. Might be lots of letters from council but beyond that no punishment for you or her.

DS also did Prince's Trust which will get council to stop writing letters. :)

I couldn't imagine what to do when I grew up. I needed to work for a few yrs first. Apprenticeship could be good.

[Polarbud]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and for the useful advice.