If your DC did A Levels but didn’t go on to uni, what job do they do?

[TattiePants]

DS is 16 and in his first year of A Levels but not really enjoying them. He chose to do A Levels in the sixth form of his school mainly because he didn’t know what else to do and didn’t feel ready to leave school where he feels safe. He has SEN and hates change, has anxiety / panic attacks and has some struggles socially.

He’s almost sure that he doesn’t want to go to uni. DH and I will support him either way but are hoping he chooses not to go as we don’t think he’ll cope. However, he hasn’t a clue what he wants to do next and I’d love some ideas of what jobs other 18 year olds went in to. He has AS Levels starting in 2 weeks but after that we (and school) need to support him getting some of the skills he’s going to need for the workplace. In theory we need to arrange work experience for July and it would be great if he was able to get a part time job but that feels so far away from what he’d be comfortable with.

RAF intelligence analyst

My daughter did her A Levels last year and is currently doing an apprenticeship to become a climbing arborist or tree surgeon (though she is still working at ground level).

This was me.

Started at a local authority, then 10 years in the civil service. Escalated quickly there. Did professional exams and was a Director of HR by 38.

Bought a house at 19 which was the best thing I could have done.

@Italiancitizenship and @tinytemper66 they both sound really interesting although being terrified of heights and flying might be an issue!

@OnceAgainWithFeeling my mum did exactly the same role as you in the DHSS/DSS/Job centre plus.

DS also has SEN. He did a foundation course but uni was not for him. He's now a marketing assistant working on a company website. Suits him as he can work from home when he wants which helps with the social issues. It's not exactly high paying but we are just happy he has found something that works for him.

No flying but has worked with RN and has been on the HMS Queen Elizabeth on their maiden tour around the world.

Sorry quoted the wrong post! 🙄

Eldest did amazing in GCSEs and A-levels. School pushed university, we said year out. She didn't go to university and now works as a computer technician in a large company in central london.

Can you still do this in the civil service without a degree?

@alterego2 that sounds perfect for your DS and I’d love DS to find a role like that that he was comfortable in and could give him some flexibility if he needed it. Salary is the least of my worries for DS, just want him to be able to build up a bit of confidence and self belief.

Not me/DC, but I work closely with Early Careers and we get a lot of kids with A Levels who want to move into more technical fields.

I work on a mega project that takes people of any background & gives on-the-job training and qualifications to become anything from catering staff through to a welder, admin assistant or engineer.

Vet nurse. However a friends son has done an apprenticeship in engineering and is doing amazing. He had some SEN (not autism) if your son can get in to a trade he would do well for himself

Yes, you can still join the CS at entry level, I've just had a look through the jobs board and there are several entry level roles requiring GCSE's and nothing more. There are also apprenticeship roles available, which don't specify qualification requirements.

Barber. Doesn't use his A levels at all but he's very happy and they're there if he ever does want to study further.

@WombatBombat I’ve just googled Early Careers as I’d never heard of them. That’s really useful thank you. Part of the problem is not knowing which organisations are out there. After AS Levels are out the way I’m hoping school can point us in the direction of some careers advice.

@Gymmum82 a trade would be ideal if he could find one that suited him. He’s dyspraxic which may make some trades a bit trickier.

Ds dropped out of uni , but is now a technologist in a pharmaceutical company. He is doing an degree apprenticeship

Senior VP in Compliance with over 20 years experience in banking

DD has top GCSEs and A levels. Didn’t go to university. Became a dancer.

Very interested in this. DD17 is coming to the end of yr 1 A levels. She has all the issues you mention for your son, however she says she wants Uni. I’m honestly not sure she would cope at all. We have several chats every evening about her worries/low feeling. Her social anxiety is through the roof, but I’m going with her wishes for now. I’m hoping she will aim for a gap year at least to maybe give us all some breathing space/thinking time. I wish schools wouldn’t just ram university down their throats as the only real route.

Ds joined Local Government worked in school support department, then HR, then payroll systems. Local Government funded a degree, masters and other professional qualifications. He moved to the independent sector and has a niche role in finance.
Dd worked first of all on the counters in a bank, hated it and moved to Local Government and works in the pensions department. She will likely follow ds and move to independent sector once they have funded her degree.

Software engineer apprenticeship.

I'd recommend looking at apprenticeships - there is a huge range of options available.

My friend's daughter completed A-levels and bided her time for an apprenticeship in a bank in the City. Got a £30k pa job with fully funded training, degree etc. She did not want to take on the gov student loans. I don't blame her!!!

DS got his job through the local Job Centre. I insisted he signed on because I knew they would make him come in to see them which would make him leave the house. They were so good - they really wanted to get him into a job that would suit him but completely understood the limits his SEN imposed. I'm not sure that the scheme he worked on (Kick Start) still exists but I'm sure they have other newer schemes

@Swansandcustard its so hard isn’t it, you just want what’s best for them. We’ve said similar to DS, not going to uni in a years time doesn’t mean never going. Like you, I think we all need some breathing space. We recently had a meeting at DS’s school introducing us to the uni application process. School like everyone to write a personal statement even if they don’t plan on going to uni as people often change their mind and it’s good practice. At the moment that just feels like more pressure that he could do without.

One of my friend’s sons eschewed Uni and became an air traffic controller (don’t even need A levels) -training programme with NATS is quite brutal and it is a high pressure job, but the renumeration is pretty good, averaging £90000 pa. Retirement age currently is 56.