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Original poster

Does anyone know what to do next?

15 replies

cantgetmyheadroundit · 02/11/2021 13:14

My 16 year old ds has decided he hates college, doesn't want to continue with education, and doesn't know what to do.
He only started in September, he was doing a games design course, as he didn't get the right GSCE grades to do A levels, and doesn't want to go to university anyway.

What the hell do we do now? He has no clue what he wants to do, is completely unmotivated, and anxious.

Out of the 4 dc in our family, he's the youngest. We have one university graduate, one in her third year, and another doing A levels. I wasn't expecting this, and I'm a bit stuck!

Does anyone have any advice please?

OP posts:
Leafyhouse · 02/11/2021 13:17

Get him on an apprenticeship? Earning money is always a good motivator at that age.

Whataday21 · 02/11/2021 13:18

Lots of colleges still doing open days for vocational courses. He basically has to pick something to do!

FortunesFave · 02/11/2021 13:19

Mine did this. I made her get a part time job. Made it clear that it's work or education. She's had a year of working part time (we're in OZ and new term begins in Jan) and she's going back to college!

As long as there's no depression going on, in which case he should see a doctor. Otherwise, tell him it's ok to leave college but he has to work.

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16 year olds
ParmigianoReggiano · 02/11/2021 13:20

Look for an apprenticeship,

www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Resilience · 02/11/2021 13:23

Are you in England? If so, he has to be in education or work-based training until he's 18.
It might not seem like it to him now, hut 12-months is so little out of his life overall, is it worth him doing resits to get on the original course he wanted?

TheLastLonelyBakedBean · 02/11/2021 13:27

He's 16 so he doesn't get to choose to do nothing but he does have a choice what to do. Is there somebody from the college who could explain his options to him?

Original poster
cantgetmyheadroundit · 02/11/2021 13:30

Thanks all, I'm looking at the apprenticeship route too. It's just difficult because he has no idea which direction to take.
I've made it very clear that he cannot just do nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
cantgetmyheadroundit · 02/11/2021 13:31

To be honest, the college aren't all that helpful. All the careers advice and stuff went under the wheels of covid in yr 11, so that doesn't help either.

OP posts:
Fupoffyagrasshole · 02/11/2021 13:34

He’s 16 - of course he doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life yet

He does need to something - it doesn’t matter if it’s not his end goal he has his whole life to work it out

So get him to get a job or do another course or apprentice - who cares what it is - he can always study something else in a few years!

I really wouldn’t worry

Original poster
cantgetmyheadroundit · 02/11/2021 13:38

Totally agree @Fupoffyagrasshole - my eldest didn't go to uni for 2 years after leaving school and getting a job. I've already told him that things will work out, it's a case of getting a foot up his arse 🙄

OP posts:
OfTheNight · 02/11/2021 13:41

Have a look at a Traineeship with a local training provider. www.gov.uk/find-traineeship

TeenMinusTests · 02/11/2021 13:43

I have a y12 too.

He has to do something.
So should probably stay on the course until he has something else lined up.
Did he research and choose the games design course in advance or was it a rash decision after GCSE results came out? (ie Is there a better suited course?).
Apprenticeships as lots have mentioned.
Or part time work and restart college on a different course next September.

If he drops out you should inform child benefit as you would no longer be eligible (I think).

ChilliChaos · 02/11/2021 13:49

Similar with my 16yo ds, except mine didn’t actually start the course. Just decided he don’t want to go. He went and got a part time job while he was figuring out what he wanted to do, really enjoyed it (and the money) and upped his hours to full time, knowing he can always continue his education in a few years time if that’s what he wants.

stingofthebutterfly · 02/11/2021 13:53

An apprenticeship is definitely the way to go, if he can find one he's interested in. Other than that, he could reapply for a college course next year. It's not too late to start an online learning course for exams next summer (AS levels, perhaps?)

I know someone has mentioned he's supposed to be in education or training until 18 if you're in England, but in reality they won't do anything about it if he isn't.

Karatema · 02/11/2021 15:45

My DS did this! We told him he could get himself a trade (apprenticeship), join up or suggest something realistic and go for it! He joined up! After a few years decided he'd made a mistake, took an Access course, went to uni and got a first!

Loves his job but needs to progress so is now self-funding his masters.

Admits, he should have listened, it would have been easier in his twenties but what's done is done!

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