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Original poster

So if half of 18 years olds are going to uni, what are the other half doing ?

48 replies

Effybriest · 11/08/2021 13:56

Not seen much discussion about options other than university. What about the young people who didn't get 3 A* in A'levels ? We are struggling to find decent apprenticeships locally and ds isn't prepared to travel for more than 45 mins on the bus Hmm. Even level 3 apprenticeships seem to be asking for work experience and one indicated that a degree would be desirable. Ds is happy at the moment but come september when his friends disappear off to uni who knows how he will feel. Is anyone else in a similar situation ?

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 11/08/2021 14:01

My Ds2 left school at 19 and just did various jobs for a while ( factory packing, school cleaning) until he managed to get an apprenticeship about seven months after leaving school. I think he was pretty lucky to get the apprenticeship, it wasn't widely advertised and we only heard about it through a friend who works in that area.

clary · 11/08/2021 14:02

IME most 18yos who don't go to university (try to) get a job. That's what my DS1 did (catering industry) and a friend's DD (hospitality) and a close friend of DD's (admin/office role).

I agree, there are not many apprenticeships post A-level. What does he want to do long term? Can he find a job in that role - even if it starts off as a training type role?

If he doesn't drive, could he learn - that might open up more options for him.

PlanDeRaccordement · 11/08/2021 14:03

You don’t need 3 A* to go to university.
What does your DS want to do? Because no university usually means apprenticeship, job, or military.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Higher education
CremeEggThief · 11/08/2021 14:05

He'll have to be prepared to travel 90 minutes each way on the bus to meet conditions for UC/JSA, if he can't get a job immediately. Who does he think he is with that attitude?🙄

Babyroobs · 11/08/2021 14:05

Sorry I meant to add as long s they are doing something and not stagnating, I don't personally think it matters if things take a while.
My ds1 ha just graduated from Uni and is just doing a hospitality job. I had hoped he would at least go for some kind of graduate job but he seems happy working in a cafe/ Gym, taking advantage of the perks of the job and if I question if he is planning to stay there long he talks enthusiastically about possible management opportunities etc, so I guess there may be chances to progress. They will all find their way eventually !

girlmom21 · 11/08/2021 14:09

If your DS isn't prepared to travel it sounds like he's the only person limiting his own opportunities.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 11/08/2021 14:12

I think hes limiting himself and with that attitude he'll be lucky to get anything decent. You also dont need 3 A*s for uni. I think you're son needs a bit of a reality check.

NannyAndJohn · 11/08/2021 14:13

He's lazy, sorry.

Before Covid, an average commute would have been around 90 minutes each way.

gogohm · 11/08/2021 14:16

In reality they need to either work locally where options may be limited or travel then possibly move to where the job is. There's lots of options out there but he needs to be the one being proactive not you. Many school leavers take jobs in hospitality, retail or warehouses which don't require experience, some then go into having careers in these industries often studying pt - even McDonald's has a management training scheme! For others they go onto further study or other areas of work. Don't forget about more practical jobs eg building and allied trades, come beginning of September he'll be eligible to sign on and they can often help with courses

clary · 11/08/2021 14:16

Yes meant to add, both my other children are at uni or about to go and neither got A* x 3 (or even x 1) at A-level. Most people don't, whatever you read.

If he doesn't want to go to uni tho then that's fine. But he needs to do something.

gogohm · 11/08/2021 14:18

@NannyAndJohn

Average commutes are not 90 minutes each way, around 90 mins in total (45 mins each way) seems about right, remember outside of London in more common to commute by car, typically here it's 20-30 mins

Sprogonthetyne · 11/08/2021 14:19

Travelling more then 45 minutes to do an apprenticeship, work that might have progression or training, college (diploma or career specific skills), year to get work experience and maybe learn to drive so he has mor options.

What dose he want to do?

Original poster
Effybriest · 11/08/2021 14:25

I absolutely agree and I'm pulling my hair out. So b**y frustrated. Sailed through his GCSEs with little work but did okayish (got 10 mainly 6s). Against my advice did A'levels rather than a btech (better suited) and went to the local sixth form college rather than his school one where results are much better. Ended up with 2 Cs and an E. Admittedly he received appalling careers advice from the college and had to study a subject he disliked but was reasonably good at.
He just doesn't get how competitive apprenticeships are and naively thinks one will just materialise in front of his very eyes. He spends most time with his dad (we are separated) and is heavily influenced by him. I actually feel like leaving him to it Sad.

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 11/08/2021 14:28

I didn't go to university (left school in 2006). I went to work.

Original poster
Effybriest · 11/08/2021 14:30

He wants to do IT, software development or cybersecurity. He's been looking for support desk jobs in IT but most are the other side of the city we live near so although 20 mins in the car, by public transport it's more like 1:30 hours or more such is the poor provision here.

OP posts:
PenguinIce · 11/08/2021 14:41

Is he able to drive? Once he has the apprenticeship he might be able to afford a car so he would only have to use the bus for a few months. Definitely worth it if the apprenticeship has good prospects and is in something he wants to do.

Suprima · 11/08/2021 14:50

@Effybriest

He wants to do IT, software development or cybersecurity. He's been looking for support desk jobs in IT but most are the other side of the city we live near so although 20 mins in the car, by public transport it's more like 1:30 hours or more such is the poor provision here.
There is a lot of opportunities in dev, but support roles are more competitive. Can he code? Is he learning to?

A software dev apprenticeship isn’t going to fall into his lap. There are lots of roles out there but many of them doing have the capacity for trainees.

There are non-uni-going kids who have spent their time at college learning Python and have a very desirable skill set. What skills does he have at the moment?

PlanDeRaccordement · 11/08/2021 14:50

Military is always an option for that field. They have cyber regiment that train you (for free) and he’d come out with certifications and qualifications that would be useful in private sector.

www.gov.uk/government/news/armed-forces-announce-launch-of-first-cyber-regiment-in-major-modernisation

Nitgel · 11/08/2021 14:52

Can he go back to college to do a Level 3 in something he likes

Original poster
Effybriest · 11/08/2021 14:57

He did an A'level in computer science , got a C but actually got mainly Bs in assessments etc so feels a bit demoralised about that. He spends most of his time on his computer, loves coding, I've sent him links for code academy etc but not sure he's followed it up.
When I compare him to myself at that age, getting up at 5:30, walking into town and taking numerous buses, massive career change after Uni which put me out of my comfort zone, I despair tbh.

OP posts:
igelkott2021 · 11/08/2021 14:58

@NannyAndJohn

He's lazy, sorry.

Before Covid, an average commute would have been around 90 minutes each way.

It categorically would not. For people travelling into London, yes. For non-professional jobs it's unlikely you'd travel much above 30 minutes due to the cost and the low salaries.

A limit of 45 minutes seems reasonable to me. However, if there's nothing in that radius he might have to look further and suck up the cost in time and money.

He is not lazy, ignore the sanctimonious and badly informed on this thread. This is CHAT not AIBU!

CremeEggThief · 11/08/2021 15:00

Definitely leave him to it then, especially if he lives with his dad. It's not your responsibility to sort his life out for him and he won't thank you for it or appreciate it anyway. My DS can be a bit like yours by the sound of it, although thankfully as we don't have a car he's never said anything that entitled about travelling on the bus. Let them crack on.

Suprima · 11/08/2021 15:04

@Effybriest

He did an A'level in computer science , got a C but actually got mainly Bs in assessments etc so feels a bit demoralised about that. He spends most of his time on his computer, loves coding, I've sent him links for code academy etc but not sure he's followed it up. When I compare him to myself at that age, getting up at 5:30, walking into town and taking numerous buses, massive career change after Uni which put me out of my comfort zone, I despair tbh.
The thing is, computer science a-level isn’t good prep for industry. A first class computer science degree isn’t good prep for industry either. There are so, so many opportunities in software dev and so many engineering roles but the reality is- lots of these are small operations who don’t have the bandwidth to turn these computer sci pupils into developers.

If he is passionate about the software development side- it would be good for him to really invest his time into getting actual qualifications in coding (code academy and coursera are good) and really brushing up his skills.

Once he has a good portfolio of skills- he’ll be laughing. There is a lot of money to be made and no need to even go to uni…

Babyroobs · 11/08/2021 15:05

@Effybriest

He wants to do IT, software development or cybersecurity. He's been looking for support desk jobs in IT but most are the other side of the city we live near so although 20 mins in the car, by public transport it's more like 1:30 hours or more such is the poor provision here.
Can he take driving lessons ? Honestly I think it's the best thing kids can do to improve their chances of finding work. To be honest though my ds now has my car and I am car less !!
CremeEggThief · 11/08/2021 15:06

Is there any scope to challenge results, however? As that doesn't sound right or fair if he got mainly Bs in assessments to come out with a C overall.

Igel, it doesn't matter what the norm for the commute is. The Jobcentre expect people to travel up to 90 minutes each way for zero hours contract jobs, minimum wage jobs, apprentice jobs, any jobs. I used to be a supply primary and nursery teacher and I often travelled 2 hours each way by bus and some of those days might have been half days. So no, I have little sympathy with teenagers who are too entitled to use the buses.

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