What can a 16yo do with no qualifications?

[CollegeConcern]

My stepdaughters, though delightful, are not very academic or hard-working. Despite my best efforts, they have been slightly behind expectations throughout their school years and the eldest (year 10) is now predicted to get mostly 3s in her GCSEs.

Their dad went into a hard family trade they have no interest in, and their mum, stepdad and I went to university. From what I can see A-Levels and most technical courses at college require five GCSEs at 4+. She has no interest in childcare or beauty, and seems to be vaguely assuming she’ll get into A-Levels because that’s what her friends plan to do.

What options are there for her if she doesn’t get high enough grades for Sixth Form? Shop work or hospitality?

DD worked hard, school gave every support, and she got 3's in her GCSEs (2 for maths). Then - because she had been predicted 4s and had FE College course based on that - found herself a NEET because all the level 2 courses at the College were full.

Luckily she has an EHCP, and after a couple of months of hassle from me (and threats of contacting our MP/legal action) they are providing her with a tutor for a few hours a week to do English and Maths. She is getting work experience with voluntary work, and has places at College level 3 (if she passes English and/or Maths) or Level 2 (if she doesn't) for next year.

No-one seems to provide advice for children who struggle academically, the assumption seems to be that they aren't working hard enough. That isn't necessarily the case. If I hadn't chased and chased no-one would have cared that she is NEET. She wasn't anyone's responsibility (except mine!) so no-one cared or followed up.

Go to FE College open days, look at the range of courses available at each level. Get you SD to think seriously about which course she would prefer at each level, and get her to apply for them. Then, when she gets her results, she has a place and a plan whatever the results.

I agree that all DCs need a backup plan, in case they don’t get the grades they want.

No offence, but are they lazy?

noone cares esp about DC with SEN. HTH!

This is wrong. They can leave and nothing happens. You will get a phone call to make sure everything is okay but that’s it

At one of our local colleges there is a 'Year 0' you can join if you haven't achieved the required grades.

Seems every career needs qualifications these days. I had family and friends join the Army, Police, Fire & Ambulance services with absolutely no GCSE passes, as first careers, as late as the early 00's and went on to get promotions. As well as many other jobs that can lead to progression. Not sure when this changed.

I didn't get a GCSE in maths, and had a grade C in English, but I still got into a job in the civil service. It's possible to get a job and a part time course at college or even distant learning nowadays.

Yes - I completely agree with the above.

Which societies do you mean particularly?
There are plenty of places where education stops quite young, and some places (still) where educating women at all is discouraged.
Some European countries funnel people into trades and vocations earlier than here and many places where populations start work at a younger age than here.

I agree with you about decent teaching though, that makes a huge difference and should be expected.

If she likes animals then there are other animal related careers, dog grooming, veterinary nurse, working somewhere like Battersea Dogs home. I am sure if she looks round there are NVC qualifications that would cover careers in animal welfare.

@Bluebell865 if the LA is in breach of the statutory EHCP timescales, have you taken enforcement action via way of a pre-action letter then JR proceedings if necessary?

Hospitality / food prep
Hairdressing
Dental nursing

Absolutely this.

That is my next step. Sossen has a wait and waiting for that. I cannot afford a solicitor. I know they will name mainstream which pushed my child into 2 suicide attempts so next step is tribunal which has a 12-18 month waiting time. No matter how you turn it, families cannot win (even if we win in the end - DC will have years our of education and the tribunal hearing will be towards the end of y11 when they will have missed all GCSEs).

This!

I doubt she'll get any sort of apprenticeship with those results. Businesses taking on apprentices want hard workers who'll pass the college course that goes with the job.

@Bluebell865 when you look at a pre-action letter, it should be for failure to provide s19 provision as well as breach of the timescales. Any chance you are eligible for legal aid? If you are eligible, legal aid in your name can cover the pre-action letter.

If you have it appeal, you will be able to request an expedited hearing if DC is not in education.

Factory work, cleaning - deep clean, public spaces, supermarket shelf stacking, farm work.

My niece un expectedly got all 3s and 4s.
She swapped to a vocational course at college alongside redoing her maths gcse and is in her element. She's really found her calling now, she's also working weekends in a cafe.
She is hard working and creative, I don't think these gcse results are the be all and end all, just have to re think the options.

Round here there are 3 options post 16, 6th form college, technical college or agricultural college. The latter 2 offer level 2 courses which is what she’s looking at if she gets I less than 5 passes at grade 4+ but at least 4 at grade 3+. There’s lots of options and sometimes the option to progress to level 3 (which is equivalent of a-level). Popular options are hair & beauty, child care, health and social care, mechanics, trades, hospitality, uniformed services, animal care, land management, agriculture. She will have to continue with English and maths until she gets a gcse grade 4 or equivalent or turns 18.

I stand corrected. I thought it was mandatory. Maybe it depends on area of the country as I know someone whose DC was forced to stay in education.

It’s also important to know that a lot of 6th form colleges will either make you resit a year or switch to different courses if you get an E or lower at the end of first year.