A levels or apprenticeship

I just asked dd about this as one of her best friends did psychology and she says it was lots of maths, and formulas to learn and info about how the brain works. She says a lot of people say it's not what they thought.

Politics is good,she says, if he is interested in the news and how the political world in the UK and the US works so if that's him then it's a good choice.

I wonder how many people would choose the same A Level subjects again if they could go back and do it again.

Yes psychology has the most dissatisfied student group at dds school.

Wise words from @clary. DD's school had a lot of students drop out of psychology because it wasn't what they expected. This is always the danger with untried subjects. Psychology has a very heavy workload, and you have to memorise loads of case studies by people with difficult to spell and unpronounceable names.

Hi op, hopefully he will enjoy his A level choices. I would advise tho that he thinks v carefully about them - you implied in a previous postage had chosen two of them mainly because he didn't do them (and thus dislike them) at GCSE. If I misunderstood, apologies.

I would counsel that psychology is not easy (well, no A level is) and involves a fair bit of science and maths - he's clearly bright enough for that but if he really doesn't like those subjects psych may not be the best choice. Similarly, I believe gov/pol can be rather dry, again, best taken due to enthusiasm for it rather than as a "well at least it's not French/chemistry/Eng lit" way. Anyway, just worth thinking about. Again, sorry if I have misconstrued.

Dd1 did A level and uni
Dd2 did apprenticeship

Both enjoyed their choice
Both now earn the same

My dd is doing A levels: Maths, Physics and computer science she wants to go to uni and study a STEM subject. Her friend is doing psychology, sociology and art and she is more like OPs ds and probably doesn't want to go to uni, she might look for an apprenticeship after A level or a job. I would say they are about the same intelligence but dd is much better at maths. The friend is having an easier time than dd, the courses dds friend chose are just not as intense and although she is still having to work hard, she doesn't feel that pressure to get A,A,A* or whatever that you need for a good uni. So I think if your DS does decide to say on for A levels picking courses he is interested in and are maybe not the most intense will make A levels more bearable.

Can't do BTECs, can't go to college! Honestly OP, you need to start getting on board with the A levels and look for a tutor if you suspect your ds will do badly and therefore disappoint your dh and you in some way when you've spent so much money. Sounds to me thst you are so worried about this you are considering him leaving at 16.

I'm amazed you and your dh have such different approaches to education. You seem to be very apologetic and unenthused by your son's private school and quite determined to undermine what your dh thinks to the point you are happy to let your ds leave school at 16 and work in a pub! Madness.

An A Level in Business (or BTEC, or T Level) would cover the broad themes of business which would apply to hospitality, which is why I find it interesting he isn’t interested in it. For me, it suggests that his focus is perhaps a bit too narrow.

I can see the potential benefits in him going straight to an apprenticeship that he’s interested in…but also A LOT of pitfalls. First of all, what is the qualification he’ll actually get? How many A Level equivalents is it worth? Is it transferable to other careers/areas of interests if actually in a year he goes off the idea of hospitality? He’s very young and with Covid won’t have had that much work place exposure I assume. So is he just interested in this because it’s all he knows?

My concern with students going straight into apprenticeships at post 16 is the fact it CAN limit their options. Now for some kids that’s absolutely fine - for others it’s a short sighted move that is ultimately not the best choice. In my opinion, hospitality falls into the second bracket - it’s tough work, unsociable hours, not the best pay and also as the last year as proved, can be unstable work. It can also be difficult to pivot from hospitality into different careers. So if after 2 or 3 years he realises he doesn’t want to do that for the rest of his life…he’s left needing to look at retraining which could be costly.

The fact he’s being quite my way or the highway about it (apprenticeships or subjects I don’t really like because I won’t move school) suggests to be he perhaps isn’t thinking about this in the most mature way possible. There could be fantastic meet in the middle options at local colleges. With that in mind I think it all needs a lot more discussions (and all being willing to consider other viewpoints and options) between the three of you.

Also, I know you’ve said the employer has said they want to train up their apprentices through the levels - MANY employers say that. Don’t take them at face value. How many apprentices are on each level? How many progress through each level? What is their success/failure rate? How is each level delivered? What is the criteria for being able to progress? Who is the accrediting body for each level?
There are many, many fantastic apprenticeships out there. But also, LOADS of rubbish ones.

I knew A levels wouldn't suit DS so I found a level 3 extended Diploma BTEC which was so much more him. It's equivalent to 3 A levels and he did it at an independent school. He came out with the equivalent of 3 A's at A level which he would never have got had he studied A levels. There are exam modules in the extended diploma and the combination of assessment & exams is great for uni. There are a few uni's who still want an A level as well but most will accept on it's own. There are also some great degree level apprenticeships which would be accessible with either A levels or equivalent BTEC. Is there a reason why DS has discounted BTEC's? There are some worth the equivalent of a GCSE and others much higher so it pays to understand the certificate, extended certificate, diploma, extended diploma before completely ruling out.

My younger daughter is in a very similar frame of mind. The bottom line is she is just totally fed up with school, mostly due to the horrible couple of years they've just had. She has ADD and lives in the moment, so all she can remember is the stress and anxiety of non-GCSEs and none of the nice things about school.

On the other hand, she doesn't actually have any firm ideas about what else whe would do. So we've reached a position where she's made a positive choice to give A levels her best shot, on the basis that sixth form will be a bit of a fresh start and hopefully she'll rediscover her mojo after a good long break.

If she bombs this year, we have accepted that she may end up doing a three year "sixth form" by heading off to college and starting something new in year 13. But at least she'll have given it a go.

What happens beyond the age of 18 is anyone's guess, but in the absence of a positive choice to do something vocational, I'm of the view a trio of A levels is the best way to keep options open. Ask me this time next year whether it was the right decision!

If he’s not interested in business I’m a bit shocked he wants to do hospitality - there’s surely quite a bit of crossover!

It’s also REALLY late in the year to have these conversations - has he not had any careers or progression support at uni?

All apprenticeships are competitive. He shouldn’t just assume he’d get it. Check out the awarding college/ institute and their ratings. Some are v poor.
Could he get a pt job there? Some places look swanky but have appalling cultures and exploit staff.

DD's BTEC in T&T was not nearly as 'hands on' as we had been led to believe. Far too much assessing by writing rather than verbal or showing. The nursery apprenticeship was far more 'show' and less 'write', though of course that could just have been the difference between the courses.

He's a clever boy! If he's not a hard worker then swerve traditional subjects and do business, PE/Food tech and one other (a language would be great he could then work abroad in hospitality)

Food tech is no longer available as an A level though.
My suggestion would be to look at a level 3 vocational course such as a BTEC in Travel and tourism / hospitality that provides work experience in the sector rather than concentrate on one employer at this stage. I do know one or 2 young people who started apprenticeships who ran into problems because their employers had financial difficulties.

(btw she ended up doing a degree at a middling uni, absolutely loving it and is now doing a masters! — still loves working in the pub though!)