Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off that the government has withdrawn funding for level 3 courses for 16-18 year olds

44 replies

Moominsarescary · 14/09/2012 10:01

the same week as they were due to start the course. Ds1 is 17 and has just finished his level 2 in electrical instillation.

He received a phone call from his tutor this week to say government funding has been withdrawn and the price of the course is now £3750. I have some money put away that would just about cover it but we can't withdraw it for another year.

There are very few apprenticeships and all but one wouldn't even consider taking him because he doesn't have a driving licence. Also I can't see many small businesses taking 16-18 year old on now as they would have to pay for the level 3. They're far more likely to take on 19 year olds who the government will fund.

We can't take out a loan and I don't think we can afford to pay that much in installments over the next 10 months. Ds is working but can't find a job with a permanent contract so we can't rely on him getting enough work to pay for it him self.

AIBU to think this is a shitty thing to do at the last minute, it's now too late for him to enrole on another course this year.

OP posts:
OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 14/09/2012 10:04

What?! Shock

That's outrageous! Your poor ds. Does he have any other options?

sooperdooper · 14/09/2012 10:05

That's hideous!! Surely they'll be left with hardly anyone on the course, who has that kind of money to hand??

qo · 14/09/2012 10:07

sooperdooper - the kind of people that that Tories think should be the only ones to access education. We can't have the proles getting themselves educated now can we

beancurd · 14/09/2012 10:08

That is awful, does the college have any bursaries? Bastards.

Original poster
Moominsarescary · 14/09/2012 10:18

The college have said they can't help, at the moment it's looking like his only option is to try and find more work and save the money so he can do it next year.

Funnily enough he hadn't even thought of learning a trade until 2 weeks before he left school. He wanted to do forensic science at A level or join the RAF but the school career adviser told him there were no jobs in forensics and the RAF were disbanding so he should learn a trade Hmm the school tried to talk him into staying on for A levels but by that point he'd been offered a college place to do level 2 so chose that.

It seems the government don't even want the working class to learn a trade now

OP posts:
blueraincoat · 14/09/2012 10:29

The career adviser is terrible! The RAF is still recruiting. They will be around long enough for your ds to have learnt skills and whatever else fully paid for. To be fair career advisers are terrible all round. I was told I shouldn't even think about law because the competition was too fierce, imagine if everyone thought that way. My sister was told working with horses was a silly dream but is her job now! They should realistically encourage not just say to people no this is what you should do.

Agree with with qo - idiot government.

Hope your son finds something OP!

ThreeEdgedSword · 14/09/2012 10:31

Wow, I just had a nose around the web and there really is nothing Shock.

Ironically, if he left home and started claiming benefits like the government tell everyone not to he would be able to get his course paid for.

Forensics is a hard one to get into, but to my knowledge the RAF are still recruiting. They are not disbanding, unless they're sending my friend to Afghanistan for a holiday...

Good on him for working hard to learn a trade, though. I hope everything works out for him.

HarlotOTara · 14/09/2012 10:33

I am very confused with this - I am employed by a college and education is free for students up until 19. We have students of your son's age doing level 3 courses. If they start at level 1 or 2 they normally move to level 3 in what would be school year 13 (17-18). I also have students I work with who are doing level 3 courses and none of them pay - I know this as have been involved in enrolment of some students in the last few weeks.

From this September students will have to be in education (or training) until 17 and from the following year age 18 - none of this can happen if education isn't free.

Original poster
Moominsarescary · 14/09/2012 10:34

blue I did try to explain that to him but unfortunately once he gets something in his head it sticks and the career adviser was pretty convincing when she told him it would be a waste of time.

As it turns out her advice to learn a trade will have been a waste

OP posts:
Original poster
Moominsarescary · 14/09/2012 10:35

Posted too soon, will have been a waste of time for many students.

OP posts:
dreamingofsun · 14/09/2012 10:35

the plumbing lecturer i knew said that people who had done especially badly at school had to pay less than those that had done well where we live - very illogical.

i guess if you are expected to pay for a degree because it will enable you to get earn money why shouldn't you be expected to pay for vocational qualifications (I don't agree with this argument - i think everyone should have at least one stab at a qualification paid for by taxpayer)

blueraincoat · 14/09/2012 10:41

Not sure where you are OP but just got this from Level 3 Electrical Diploma (not sure if same thing as you ds in doing) from a college near me and it says:

Course Fee:
If you are under 19 then tuition is free. There are also additional fees. You will need to buy some
stationery, textbook, lever arch folder and materials as well as a calculator. There are also costs for visits
to local museums and exhibitions (if applicable).

Not sure if this is all colleges this one is hardly a great college so would have thought it was similar everywhere...

Original poster
Moominsarescary · 14/09/2012 10:42

harlot he's 17, left school last year.

I've received the letter this morning, saying they can offer him a place but only if he pays due to the withdrawal of government funding for level 3 in his age group

It also states that he should be aware that this is the full cost so dispite your personal situation there is no funding to help with these costs. Which I'm presuming means even those who's parents are on low incomes won't get help.

Dp has phoned tge college and they've said it's the same for all level 3 construction/building type courses so plumbing, electric, gas, joinery.

OP posts:
cricketballs · 14/09/2012 10:42

I'm with Harlot in being very confused. Full time education is free for students completing a recognised qualification through an approved provider - levels 1-3.

Previously to complete the level 3 in Electrical installation you needed to be employed and this was completed part time - which meant that the employer or the student paid the fees. This was due to the qualification meant that you had to have hands on practical experience in the work place (dh is an electrician) I am guessing that this hasn't changed and the level 3 in Electrical Installation is a part time course which requires the fees to be paid

RuleBritannia · 14/09/2012 10:42

Could he do Level 3 at evening classes? That would cost about £300 - not sure about the price though.

Original poster
Moominsarescary · 14/09/2012 10:43

blue the college he is at still says on the website level 3 is funded. They've only just found out themselves so haven't changed tge website yet.

OP posts:
blueraincoat · 14/09/2012 10:45

:( That is crap.

anairofhope · 14/09/2012 10:47

Hi have you tried JTL they do apprentaships in electrian it might be worth giving them a call to see if they can help?

Original poster
Moominsarescary · 14/09/2012 10:49

cricket it must have changed as he was due to start until they phoned this week to say funding had been withdrawn.

Now it is only funded at level 3 if you are on an apprenticeship and 19 or over

rule I'm not sure about evening classes, we will have to look into them

OP posts:
anairofhope · 14/09/2012 10:50

Also use the yell pages and call all the elecric companies and construction companies to see if the are taking on apprentaies. Try british gas and eon as they take alot on and explaine about the course and how good his 2 year went and his grades and that he has a job as well.

Good luck

anairofhope · 14/09/2012 10:52

Or get him to call as it looks better Blush

blueraincoat · 14/09/2012 10:55

Some smaller companies do but don't advertise the fact. My dad runs a v.small business, not in electrics unfortunately, and he takes on one person every couple of years for their level 3 in his trade and gives them a wage. I think people just find him the yellow pages and ring up and ask.

anairofhope · 14/09/2012 10:55

Also the concil housing department as they have a quota each year for apprentaships. Ask for the housing repair and maintaince department and ask to speak to the electrian manager.

Original poster
Moominsarescary · 14/09/2012 11:10

Hes rang round places in the yellow pages, also spoken to the local housing authority as he did work Experiance for them last year. He's applied to a trade fair at the end of the month so hopefully that might be helpful .

Although I still think most businesses will now employ over 19s to get the government funding for the level 3

He's heard from one of the others who was on the level 2 this morning. She has got funding without an apprenticeship but she's 26, a single parent on benefits and she thinks this is why she has been funded.

OP posts:
fingersandthumbs · 14/09/2012 11:12

I think the College probably mean that funding has been withdrawn for this particular level 3 course not all level 3 courses.

Government funding for the level 3 2330 electrical course was withdrawn for 19+ students. It is due to be superceded by a new level 3 qualification 2365 probably this month, however funding is unlikely to be available for this course until next academic year.

If your son is 16 - 18 he should still be able to access level 3 funding for the 2330 course unless his College have had approval from the awarding body to run this course withdrawn.

It may be worth speaking to the Head of Engineering at the College or the Head of Faculty