Y11 2025-26 Results Day and Next Steps

This is my worry. It's more the thought of getting to 18 and leaving college having had no job at all that worries me. Especially as she's not sure she wants to go to uni.

We don't have any local 'ins' unfortunately. That's something I've noticed here too.

I read DS the riot act this evening after receiving mixed feedback in his end of half term report. Fell into work mode so he now has a written list of "deliverables" and timelines for progress checks, action completion and reviews, much to his consternation. I've told him if he doesn't get his butt into gear for the exams after half term then he'll need to reconsider whether VIth form is really the place for him or if another, more practical route would suit him better. Hopefully that will get him thinking.

No job here but if he moulders through half term I'm considering insisting that he completes lifeguard training over the Christmas holidays.

We haven't encouraged DS2 to look for work as I think it would be too much for him at the moment but he is volunteering regularly at running events. Occasionally he is paid but normally he gets a free event entry so it works out well for him. He hasn't paid to enter an event for months.

Welcome @MerryAquaKoala ! DS's school said the same about uni visits and advised to just settle into sixth form for now.

It's 50:50 in terms of sixth formers having jobs where we are, @BeasKnee . Jobs are very hard to get and those who are lucky enough to get one usually have an 'in' somewhere, ie they are recommended by someone or know a manager etc. And at the end of the day A levels are the priority.

Tbh the reason I'm keen to get DS2 at least doing something is because I know, from seeing DS1 go through uni and try to get work (so many graduates are coming out and finding nothing, not even basic minimum wage stuff, it's awful), that it is so much easier to get a next step once you've done some kind of job - doesn't matter what kind of job - just something. This is why I have encouraged DS2 to approach the charity shops and he is now volunteering 1.5 hours per week every Saturday afternoon. So it's nothing that is going to take away from study or socialising (or earn him any money) but if he sticks at it for six months or so he'll be able to put 'volunteer retail assistant' on his CV and hopefully get a reference from the store manager. Which will be useful in the longer term.

I tried to talk dd out of getting a job after she didnt find one at the start of the summer. Think she just wanted it ti fill time as was board and had split up with boyfriend. But will look good on paper as she has to take orders handle payments.

Seems dds group of mates all job hunting where as ds group.older none if them looked.

A lot of these jobs that would have been taken by young people round here are now often targeted by adults looking for second jobs to cover cost of living worries . DS1 had a couple of temporary jobs - expected to
be working with students but has ended up with adults as work mates - stuff like event parking and that kind of thing .

Phew!

Honestly, none of DD’s friends have a part time job! We’re not looking at all. The focus for us is school work.

Hi all can I join? Just found this thread. I feel behind now having read the last few posts! No job or uni visits here yet.. The school actually wrote to parents saying save uni visits until later and concentrate on getting used to A Levels for now.. Not miss school days. DD has changed subjects twice but she's finally settled now..

Thanks for all the ideas. DD isn't sporty in anyway so I just can't see any type of sporting activity/ refereeing etc. would suit her. She's never willingly watched a sports match if any type in her life! I think pot washing, waitress, collecting glasses type job would suit her but there just seems so much competition.

I am surprised by so many people saying that their kids aren't looking for work. Round here it really seems to be the done thing to get a part time job of some kind. I guess I should stop stressing about it if that's not the norm anyway.

DD found her job on indeed applied for lots. Its only 3.5hr on a Friday at a takeaway lucky to get it as no way she could do a job with more hours. Got another week to half term. But well done to those that have reached it.
Some clubs are bringing in an orange card policy to help officals hopefully that can enable some kids to be refs again.
Congrats to anymore upgrades.
Anyone know what advantages there are too applying early ? Couole of dds nates are applying asap.

My DS workload still brutal but it’s settled and it seems so has he. He’s not looking for a job and I would be against it anyway given the workload. He swims but too disabled to be a lifeguard (we know they would say no) he might qualify as a swim teacher though as that’s also in demand in the holidays.

we are putting our effort into a PIP appeal and then maximising relevant work experience

Yes @FlyingPandas it was awful tbh. I used to go and watch him reffing (I mean I usually was driving him there anyway) and some of the comments! He was often reffing matches for only a year younger than him and he wasn't super tall at 16/17 so I heard a lot of "is he old enough to ref?" and the like. Actually he had played since he was about six for more than one team and since he did GCSE and A level PE he knew a lot about the rules and theory of the game as well. He was a great ref but it wasn't nice. Occasionally I was moved to comment "actually the ref is my lad and he's only 17 so maybe give him a break" which tbf usually shut ppl up.

Yy footy can be horrible. Athletics (which DC also did) and American football funnily enough are both a lot nicer.

The other option that can work well is if there are any after-school clubs in nearby primary schools looking for play workers. These can be difficult roles for schools to fill as they typically need people 3:30 - 6 ish on weekdays during term time, which many older adults don't want to do, so they are often keen to recruit sixth formers. Plus primary school kids LOVE a teenaged play worker

We have four A level students doing just this at the school I work in, three afternoons a week each, and they all say it works much better than zero hours hospitality work. Because (a) they know exactly what hours they are working and when (b) there is no late evening work so they can fit evening homework/study in comfortably and (c) their weekends are free.

Doesn't work for DS unfortunately and neither would a paper round as he has to get a school coach at 7:30 and doesn't get back till 5. But might work for others. In terms of jobs it does very much depend on what an individual can manage though @Walkingbkwrm no way could my older DS have managed a job during sixth form.

Lifeguarding definitely a good option but you need to be a tough cookie to be a football ref - I know so many teens who did as your DC did @clary and quit due to constant abuse and hassle from parents and coaches. My youngest DS plays for a local league, and frankly the way some of the (very young) refs get screamed at by adults who should know better is absolutely disgusting. The world of grassroots football can be toxic unfortunately.

Re work, DD has quite a large book of babysitting families now and has put her rate up to £15ph. She does 1 or 2 evenings a week and can study once the kids are in bed so it works well.

She’s also planning to start tutoring soon as her school has a programme that trains the 6th form tutoring techniques.

However, every penny she earns is spent on clothes and make-up within a day of hitting her bank account!

Re jobs - I agree that lifeguarding and footy reffing are great ideas. Yes you need to get the training (and pay for it) but it's decent ££ and always needed. Also can flex to some extent around other commitments. DS2 was a footy ref for a season and the money was great plus he could say no if the match didn't suit. Obvs it is mostly on Sat/Sun mornings. He stopped in the end bc of grief from parents on the sidelines sadly.

My DC all had paper rounds with a local newsagent but I appreciate this is a dying option. But seven years after DD stopped doing hers, I still see a lad on the same round (it includes our street). So it is still a thing in some areas. The good thing about that was that it didn't cut across their after-school or Saturday sports and drama as a lot of cafe etc jobs will. It helped tho that we live about 3 mins' walk from school! wouldn't work with a long morning commute I guess.

I’m in awe of you all looking at jobs and unis and such. Here I have been pretty impressed at how DS has adapted to sixth form study but it is taking his all - can’t imagine him having a job too and he isn’t thinking about after sixth form at all yet, he hasn’t even decided which of his subjects to drop (on advice of school he started 4 with intention to drop one after trying them out).
One more week before half term here.

We’ve been to two open days so far and just booked by looking at individual websites. Booked Birmingham next for next month.

I think it's hard with time too. One of our neighbours had asked DD to do some tutoring though, which feels like it could be a good one as just the odd hour here and there.

Does anyone know if there's a calendar somewhere which has uni open days on? I've looked on line but the ones I've found have far too many and include virtual and real, it's hard to filter them down... I really want to see just the top 20 or so!

How are those working managing with school work? We’ve not entertained the idea of getting Dd a job. I honestly can’t see how as she does several hours of homework each night.

Look into things like pool life guarding, sports coaching, refereeing, cricket scoring, hockey umpiring. All pay and constant demand. They need to qualify but easy enough to do

No luck at all here. It's really depressing. So many jobs applied for and only one interview. She thought it went ok but they then ghosted her and didn't get back to her when they said they would and haven't replied to her when she got in touch asking if they'd made a decision. That really knocked her confidence. And now several weeks later and many more jobs applied for, absolutely no sign of anything else. I worry if she misses the Xmas temp work then she'll struggle in the new year too when all of them will be free (with experience) to get any jobs that are out there. I'm finding this as hard as the GCSE stress tbh.

Yes well done to everyone! Hope all DC are feeling settled in their courses now.

DS is celebrating a grade increase for his English language, which has now gone up to a 9. Seems to be enjoying all of his A levels though chemistry definitely the standout favourite for now.

Anyone's DC had any luck in finding work? DS is starting a weekend volunteering role tomorrow, we figured this would at least look good on the CV even if he's not earning any money from it.

We’ve made it to half term! (We get two weeks here!) It feels like an achievement with all the decision making about subjects, epq titles etc. So well done to all the dc!

We might also have to look into tutor dd struggled with mechanics homework.
Good to hear courses are going well.