"Mum how can I possibly fit in a part time job ....

[BigSandyBalls2015]

...... you do realise I'm in year 11 don't you, under enormous stress, with sooooo much revision to do".

Said my DD last night, with a completely straight face, after spending the entire day lying on the sofa under a blanket with her phone, before heading to a mates to get ready for a party

I had a part time job when I was in the sixth form but not before. I do think it's unnecessary pressure at the wrong time. The first thing to give way if a teenager doesn't have time to do everything is the school work and that's not something I would encourage.

Fair enough noblegiraffe.

The changes to the GCSE in English mean a lot of extra revision. I wouldn't be keen on them getting a job at this stage. However, she's taking the piss a bit if she's spent the day doing nothing! She should be reading her English set texts!! (Can you tell I am an English teacher?!)

I worked during my GCSEs, and did competitive swimming training 3 times a week. I still got good grades. There's plenty of time for studying (and socialising) too. You don't have to study every waking moment out of school, so there is time if you make it.
For those asking where are these jobs? I worked at various times during my GCSE and A Level years, in a shop on a Saturday, a fish and chip shop, a paper round and as a waitress in a hotel.
Definitely doable. YANBU.

It's in a garage that's only open Saturday mornings (apart from full time mon-fri obviously). When he started he was 'only sweeping the floor and making tea', though always came home head to toe in oil!! He's done his gcse's and is now in college to get his mechanics qualifications.

My DD is 14 and already asking for a Saturday job. She'll probably start asking the local cafes, coffee shops and retail shops when she's a bit older. She'll not likely get a Saturday job that'll be even close to what she wants to do when she's older though.

Very judgemental there Edmund - the 2 aren't mutually exclusive you know.

Have you seen the exam papers these days? Along with a new whole set of stresses teens are dealing with these days! It's very easy to say 'when I was her age, a million years ago, I went to school, had straight As, worked 58 hours a day, ran a business, did all the housework' etc. I think that youth passes by so quickly, more and more pressures are put on teens to grow up as fast as possible. Along with the fact that it's difficult enough for adults to get jobs these days, without teens trying to find appropriate work that won't clash with trying to study and other factors. Perhaps once they are 16, work experience would be appropriate (especially voluntary work in an area they wish to have a career in), but under 16, I think kids should be kids.

I had a job in a local jewellers for 5 hours on a Saturday. Then I worked at Scummerfield supermarket for £2.13 an hour. Showed me what i'd be in for if I didn't pass my GCSE's. Made me work harder and I came out with good exam results and a first class degree.

Working from 16 provides you with the life skill of balancing competing life interests. I have several friends who now do UCAS acceptances at Universities and the ability to balance work and academics like this are treated positively.

I worked during A levels and found it really hard. It meant I didnt get a day off and was just overwhelmed, making it much harder to concentrate on study. I was also depressed but the two reinforced each other iyswim, it wasn't simply the depression making everything hard.

EMA doesn't exist in England anymore afaik (don't know about Wales/NI) but was a bit of a blunt tool. Would have sent me over the edge to see friends who were actually better off that us in disposable income (eg. friend who was youngest in family so older ones were working already, compared to me having younger siblings) get £30 a week whilst I was exhausted and overwhelmed having to work for that. And being expected to buy more things with it.

I wouldn't expect my dd to have a job in year 11.

EMA doesn't exist in England anymore afaik (don't know about Wales/NI)

It's available in Wales.

I've worked since 14, still managed decent enough GCSE, A Level and then degree results. Of course all post graduate study has been alongside working.

I don't think it's unreasonable for a 15/16 year old to work say 6 - 10 hours through the week after school or at weekends. Even baby sitting etc.

I don't see anything wrong with having some time for relaxation and seeing friends. There's no rule to say every spare minute must be filled with productivity.

Is there any particular reason you want her to get a job?

Jobs are really important IMO. Meet all sorts of different people and get vital experience. Teens shouldn't need to spend all their spare time studying for their GCSEs

Year 11 isn't THAT hard except it can be for some, we don't all sail through it. Some people have to really try hard to achieve what others do without even thinking. And then there is the obvious one, it depends what you want from it. I want my child to achieve at the highest level they possibly can, some parents just want their children to 'get through it' without consideration for results anyway.

Yes, year 11 certainly can be THAT hard.

Both of my 6th form dd's have jobs dd1 has held hers through out GCSE levels and did perfectly fine with her grades.

She works Thursday from 4-9 and Sundays from 11 - 2 30

DD2 works in her school during lunches on the payment system 3 lunches a week. She is looking for a weekend/ evening job like dd1 has

I work in a supermarket we have plenty of teens who does a job with a weekend day 2 weekend days or a weekend with 1 evening shift. None go over 10 hours a week. More than 1 of them are straight A students and does well in their studies..

Possible to do that and socialise too.

Jobs are really important IMO. Meet all sorts of different people and get vital experience. Teens shouldn't need to spend all their spare time studying for their GCSEs neither should they spend all their time working. There should be a study and social balance. Then if there is any room for it, a job. This vital experience of work doesn't have to take place when you are 15/16. It's possible to gain the same experience at 18/19.

I did a paper round at that age.

But.... School and homework is the equivilent of a FT job hours wise.
How many adults spend a day chilling when they can after a hard week at work and then socialise that evening, have a lay in and spend the rest of the day doing errands?

And the workload will only increase as the year goes on.

Yes meadows of course there should be a balance which is why at school you usually have a Saturday job. I don't expect OP thinks her daughter should do 30 hours a week

FFS I just meant that you don't have to spend every spare minute studying. It's not a PhD. Putting a decent amount of work - fine. Spending every moment cramming so you have time for normal, everyday activities such as socialising or washing up for an evening in a pub for some extra pocket money - not fine. It's not like employers take much notice of them anyway.

I had a job from the age of 14 (2 jobs from 16) and did fine in my exams. My son found that nobody would employ him under 16 so has just secured a part time job in year 12 (summer born so only just 16 in August). It can be combined with school, there's no reason why a day spent at work in a shop is more likely to mean exam failure than a day spent traipsing round shops with mates.

My dd got a part time job ( in Topshop) in yr 11. She wasn't the most academic of girls at the time and had been overlooked in many subjects because of her dyslexia and dyscalculia but very practical and sociable
However despite everything she got 12 GCSEs (4As the rest Bs and Cs)
She went to college after GCSEs as preferred the modular aspect of BTEC business (although could have done A levels as well)
The part time job gave her the drive to do well after her GCSE/BTEC and to do a business related degree as she saw how it 'worked in real life'
She still works there during Summer and Christmas holidays from Uni and is expected a 2:1
Meanwhile her brother had a perfectly good job in Waitrose last Christmas but handed in his notice after in March as it interfered with his social life
damn missed out on the staff discount

I worked a day a week in year 11. I also played two instruments, was in an orchestra and a band, helped out with kids gymnastics after school once a week, and went out a couple of nights a week. I got straight A*s in my GCSEs. That was 1998 so perhaps I'm a clueless dinosaur but surely it depends on the child, and the OP is in a much better position to judge whether her DD can juggle work and school. I suspect that if I hadn't worked I would have spent my Saturdays shopping and spending money rather than earning it- rather than studying.

I agree with sukey- if your child needs so much extra support that they need to study more often than not (ignoring relaxation time of course) for GCSES- which are, after all, basic qualifications- then no, they shouldn't get a job. But most children shouldn't be in that situation.

I had a part time job from 15 and girls straight As at GCSE. Do all the posters who agree with the op's dd just give their teenagers handouts? Maybe wait until after GCSEs but after that she should earn her own money.

Loving all these people who worked 40 hours a week from the age of 13, had a fantastic social life and got all A* , 3 As at A level then got a first and are now well on the way to becoming leader of the known universe. This thread reads like one of the those "when I were young we lived in paper bag etc." Sketch.