To let 17yo DS quit college for a f/t job?

[PoliteSquid]

My DS hated school, hates college and has no intention of carrying on with any kind of study. Although he’s only 17 and could decide differently in a few years.

He has been searching for an apprenticeship, head firmly in the sand about the 1 day a week of college/uni work!

This morning he has been offered a full time trainee role in an engineering company. It’s not an apprenticeship, it’s in house training. Well established company 2 big sites fairly local. It’s full NMW even tho he’s so young.

DH thinks he should stay at college as there’s only 4 months to go. DS wants to leave college immediately. I can see both sides but erring towards DS’s view. AIBU to let him take the job?

Another vote for taking the job. My DD did the same, hated being in education and was scraping by. Since leaving, she has excelled at work and her life has turned around in every way.

He should take the job. He's found a viable plan for the future. At 17 choices should be his to make whether you 100% agree or not. Teenagers need to be given control of their lives in order to make mistakes and just know how to make decisions/ deal with consequences while they are living at home.with support around them.

Absolutely take the job! He would be mad not to in this climate.

Ours has also done this was never happy at school or college told us he wanted to find a job instead, he got offered a job with a housing association trainee for first year, he is now 6 months into it and like a different lad, loves it and seems very happy and the guys he trains with he gets on well with so his plan is to stay for the foreseeable. I wouldn't make any of my children do something they were miserable with, aslong as there a productive part of society in what makes them happy then they can crack on

Job 100%

Take the job - I did the exact same thing at 17 and was the best decision I ever made. Some of us are just not cut out for further education and in my opinion the qualifications are pointless anyway.

There is no reason he can't complet college and his job at the same time. He has 4 months left in college before exams; he's basically done with college at this point and will be reinforcing his knowledge for the exams.

It also sounds like his job is relevant to what he's doing at college, so I can see no reason why he, you, and his possible employer wouldn't want him to finish his exams. Time off will be minimal for exams and wont be a surprise in terms of what days they are, so it's easy to plan around with his job.

It sounds like the job is not an apprenticeship-based one, so there's no conflict with doing both in terms of funding for college, etc.

My only concern would be, do they plan on putting your son through any exams, etc.? Knowing how to do a job and being qualified to do a job are very different things and depending upon possible progression, he may need that piece of paper.

Even as someone who always loved school, and made her own career out of it, I can fully see it's not for everyone.

Take the job. He'd probably learn tons more there than he would in college anyway. He'll be gaining far more skills, and some money. By the time he's 21, he'll be far more employable, and probably earning more than his contemporaries.

Good lord yes take it.

I have 2 degrees and work in construction and development - I would massively encourage young people to take this sort of route now - my specific career isn’t like that by many that I work with say the same and I have see people do this sort of entry to the field and go on to do just as well as their degree holding peers - only without debt.

Take the job, it's so much easier to learn when you can see the application, and seeing the work environment can incentivise for learning and growing. And you get paid and no debt. Take the job!

'Let' him?What are you talking about? He is 17, not 7.It is his decision - not yours and not your dh's. Stop treating him like a baby!

Absolutely take the job. My son's in the same boat that he doesn't want to go on to further education - I have no idea what he's going to do but would be happy with this option.
If he's in the same position as mine (Year 2 at college) then he's done all his exams. If he hasn't - could he go back in to do just his exams as and when?

Worth asking employer whether he can finish college first but otherwise it seems sensible to take the job if there is career progression.

Speaking as a teacher ... advise him to take the job.

His parents are financially responsible for him still.

Congratulations and Well done your son!
That sounds a fantastic opportunity - of course he should take the job if he’s keen. It will probably be the making of him.
My son was in a very similar situation- hated college, then had an apprenticeship offer by chance. Two or three years later, his mates who stayed in study/uni were asking him if he could get them an apprenticeship there too.
18 years on and DS runs his own successful business and I’m a proud mumma!

Another vote for take the job. That’s a great opportunity.

There was a recent report by one of the big recruitment companies showing that since the advent of CHATGPT (Nov 22) 33% of entry level jobs for graduates and school leavers had disappeared. I can well believe it. The new workplace reforms, Labour wants to introduce will hit young people hardest. It just won’t be worth taking anyone without experience. He will always be able to get back into education. He might not be offered another good job. If I were you I’d ask him to ask the college if he can take a year out to do the job. If it goes wrong or he doesn’t pass probation, he can easily return to college. Congratulations to him and good luck to you.

Take the job - my partner did similar in Mechanical engineering - his qualifications are all work based and a time served engineer is highly sought after vs straight from uni engineers in many sectors.

If you force him to finish his studies he will be disinterested anyway and it could prove to have been a waste of his time. The end goal is a job and career. Let him go. He can always repeat his qualifications later and probably do a better job of it then and be more motivated. If you do it DH way, he could end up with no qualification and no job, just regret.
I know you want to guide him as best as you can, but he is almost an adult and it is time for him to make the risky decisions himself. Let DS decide and find his own way.