To not make my DD go to sixth form/college

[LetsTryThisAgain]

and instead let her do an apprenticeship instead?

My DD is 16 and in Year 11. She's very bright and is predicted mostly A's and a few B's for her GCSE's but she's not academically motivated IYSWIM. She is adamant that she doesn't enjoy school or formal education at all and wants to leave as soon as possible.

Career wise she's very arty and wants to do something involving art and design. She's been applying for apprenticeships over the last month or so with the aim of starting one once she's finished school. I should add that she's done that entirely off her own back without any input from me and she's secured a graphic design apprenticeship to start in late July/beginning of August which seems the perfect fit for her. She will get paid £100 a week for it, obviously not a lot but from a 16 year olds point of view that would seem a lot and she's very excited.

When I told my parents about this however, they were shocked. They said that she'd be "ruining her life" by not going into sixth form and "throwing her life away and not end up with a good job". They said that I should "make" her go to sixth form to do A Levels or at least college to do "one of those BTEC-y thingies" The worst thing is they've also expressed this to DD and she came home from a visit with them pretty upset. When I asked what they'd said, she said that "if they were her mum they would kick her arse into sixth form" . A few of her teachers also want her to stay onto sixth form too. sigh

The thing is though, she really doesn't like formal education and can't think of what to study if she did stay on. She's said she'd study Art and maybe English literature or History but she doesn't know what else she would study. When I asked about BTEC's at college as a possibility she said they appealed even less than A Levels but she would probably do an Art & Design one if she had to do one. The thing is though, I doubt my parents would even approve of those subjects anyway as they are of the belief that only Maths/Science subjects are worthwhile and arts and humanities are pointless. So they would probably whine about her choices there.

I don't want to force her to do subjects she's not really interested in and would probably end up doing badly because she's not interested if you see what I mean. So probably pointless anyway.

A few other people think I'm mad too by letting her do this, but most have been supportive.

Please tell me MNetters that doing an apprenticeship won't doom her for life.

(I'm a name changer for this because some people in real life know I'm on MN and I don't want them snooping my other posts)

I would let her do the apprentiship however, I would suggests she keeps her options open for as long as possible by also applying for sixth form or sixth form college. I would also suggest she asks to work at the Company where she will be doing her apprentiship for several weeks over the summer (for free if need be) so that she can make a more informed choice.
I don't think there is anything wrong with doing an apprentiship but I would be worried that there is the potential that she may not enjoy it especially if it's a small organization with no other young people.
I also think you should discuss any rent/chores etc issues beforehand. Eg, Are you going to expect her to save?

I haven't read the entire thread but as someone who advises young people (not in the UK) I would say she has two huge qualities in her favour: ambition and self-motivation. I think I would let her explore the path that she has organized for herself because at the very least it would be a great learning experience and she can find out for herself if her expectations are realistic. She is much more likely to retain her drive if she can follow her own interests and as everyone has already said she is so young she can easily return to further education at a later date.

It's also true that many young people are studying for degrees and taking on debt with no real idea of what they want to do if they graduate. When young people get work experience or are responsible for themselves and their working lives at a young age in my experience they are more focussed and realistic about what to study when they return to education.

She also sounds like a young woman who would make a good future manager or business owner. I always talk to my dds about being a leader or owner in any industry they are interested in as girls don't always seem to be aware that they could be running the show. Encourage her to take on responsibility at work when appropriate.

Oh forgot to mention my DB got his first job at 16 and now owns the company. Few people have done that in our generation but he went into an industry where the workforce was aging and did not have enough interest from apprentices at the time. He has been headhunted by competitors but prefers to be independent. He is very successful and has had to cancel holidays recently because he is so busy.

I have 3 DCs. DS1 went straight into a carpentry apprenticeship. Now in the Navy. DD went to residential Horse College. DS2 who did quite well in GCSEs was at college for 6 months and off his own back applied for the Navy too. College wasn't for him apparently. He starts very soon. As long as they are working and happy that is all I ever wanted for them.

Academia doesn't suit everyone and it's good that your DD has enough self-awareness to realise now rather than 5 years down the line.

It is absolutely fantastic that she has been self motivated enough to not just find an alternative, but to apply and get a course - I think this in itself would give me enough confidence to trust her judgement.