Would let a 16 year old leave school?

I left on my 16th birthday, 5 days into my GCSE year. I had a full time job lined up and hated school and wanted to earn money. When I was 18 I realised I would have been better sticking it out for my exams and spent the next 8 years working full time and taking (and paying) two evening classes a week to get my exam results and finally getting a job with day release to sit further qualifications.
I did it and am now an Accountant but I so wish I had stayed in school then college and University, I wouldn't be told though

My late MIL had the same problem with my SIL, who wanted to leave school at 15 (you could leave at 15 back then). She made her go and work in a pub kitchen before she left, whereupon SIL decided that she hated it. MIL told her that this was the kind of job she could expect to have if she left school with no qualifications.

SIL buckled down to work after that.

What will he do instead?
I don't agree with posters saying his life is over if he does not get his GCSEs now. You can get them at any time. There are lots of options out there for people who did not finish school for whatever reason.

[quote Sillawithans]@ghostyslovesheets he's not my biological child, I'm his guardian. I've been in his life since he was 9. When he first came into my life I was absolutely appalled at the level of basic Maths and English he couldn't do, called a meeting with his school to get him to where he should've been but he's just never caught up. So frustrating.[/quote]
Got you - I'd have a good meeting with the school and discuss how they can support you - also you REALLY need to identify what his career ideas and aspirations ARE

I see you are in a different country!
If he prefers practical things, then there would be colleges he can attend?
I am from Spain. Around 16 was the age where wewent to an academic secondary or a trades one. Depending of what you wanted. In the trades one they had lots of subjects to choose from, and then they had to go into specialities, in other colleges.
To be honest, it suited some people better to learn how to melt and fold metal than the Middle Ages history. And then they became electricians, plumbers, heating engineers, builders, and so on, if they wanted to get into the next college.
You cannot really say that trades get less money than university graduates jobs these days.
Which alternatives are there to school? Will he get a full qualification? Because whatever you do in these times, you do need a piece of paper saying you are qualified!

Will he get his Junior Cert at least? Doesn't he legally have to complete 3 years of secondary?

Are there loads of well paid job where you are for people with no qualifications - in the UK Maths and English is usually required for most trade qualifications - especially past GCSE level

Can you speak to a careers advisor and they can talk about another pathway?

Can he sit GCSE maths and English via online learning or college?

Can he consider a college coarse? Some are equal to GCSEs -

You must be on education till 18, in England. If not school, apprenticeship or similar, must be within the group considered education not legally - they can't be forced!

It’s very difficult to say without knowing which country you’re in. There will be some places in the world where leaving school at 16 with no formal qualifications is far more common than in the uk (where it isn’t permitted to leave education at that age in England)

Ignore my last post! If you aren't in the UK, it doesn't apply.

However think seriously about giving him this option. Education is the passport to most stable, secure, good jobs. Yes there are some who don't fit that mould and do well, but this takes a different type of person. Someone with resilience, resolve, tenacity, intelligence, drive, highest expectations to work against the tide to achieve. Does your son have those qualities? Does he have a passion for something? Does he have initiative?

If he doesn't then he will likely end up in a low skilled, low paid job. Which is absolutely fine if that is his ambition, but it isn't an easy life living on little. It's not something I'd advocate for my children.

You must be on education till 18, in England. If not school, apprenticeship or similar, must be within the group considered education.
But, in the rest of UK, it looks like you can still leave at 16.

What do you intend him to do? Does he have an alternative to school that he likes?
Also, not sure you can actually leave without GCSEs? He may regret this later on in life. As he cannot leave till the end of the year (I think?), why not going to the exams, and then leaving to do what he wants?

life is full of silly rules - so is working life - is he going to leave jobs because he hates people or doesn't like the rules - maybe he needs to knuckle down

also if he's your child why don;t you know why he started school 2 years late?

Y11?

It would be over my dead body.

Honestly- it is so, so much harder to get qualifications when you are older.
The need for qualifications pop up everywhere.

OP
What is he planning on doing? What kind of life does he want to have?

[quote Sillawithans]@Littlepaws18 I have a pain in my face explaining that he would end up in low paid jobs but at 16 he can't see further than next week.[/quote]
what is his long term career goal?

he's be mad to leave with no qualification and you'd be mad to let him - the long term impact will be awful

If he's year 11 he can't leave if he wants to - not unless you want a fine and he wants no qualifications

if he's 16+ then he can but he shouldn;t if he doesn;t have at least 5 GCSE's including maths and English

What does he WANT to do - now and long term - he may well need to continue his education but that can be via an apprenticeship or college

But if he's year 11 my god he needs to stay!

Is there anything your DS enjoys? Is there a trade or apprenticeship he fancies? Traditional learning isn't for everyone and he could be successful if there is another route he wants to go down!

I think you would be U to let him leave without a plan!

And without any GCSE’s I don’t think he’d find himself with many options in life.
I think all jobs require some basic maths and literacy qualifications.