Back to apprenticeships for 14 year olds???

[Hulababy]

TES article about "Time off school for apprentices to learn a trade"

Seems a good idea and an extension of things like re-engagement programmes. Wonder how it'll take on and how many schools wll be affected. Know of some pupils I teach who'd be better suited to this kind of action. Sure it only mentions something like 100 places though - so very limited

What do people think?

I haven'tn read the article (yet) but yes it sounds like a great idea. Education is far too academic. This would have been good for my brother 10 years ago. He always wanted to be a mechanic from an early age. No interest in academic subjects. Is now a very good mechanic but could have done with somebody encouraging his vocational skills instead of trying to get him through GCSE's.

Bring back grammar schools and let academically inclined kids do their exams and go on to uni. Then give the practical kids some practical education which will actually mean something to them!

I think it's a great idea. My dh is a builder and has had a string of "apprentices" sent to him by a friend of ours who is an educational psychologist. All these boys have been permanently excluded from school and are getting home tutoring which means they have the time to do work as well. My dh pays them a small amount and they work on the days they don't have class. It is sort of authorized by the council, but mostly just organized by us. The council certainly wouldn't approve of my dh paying the boys, but ther reality is that that's really what gives them the incentive and makes them show up to work. In every case it has helped the boys and in some cases has made a phenomenal difference in their lives. It also seems to make them appreciate their schooling more as it gives them a reason for wanting to learn the math and english that goes along with the building work. My dh was one of these kids once upon a time and he is just trying to rescue kids since no one did that for him.

Pleased to see others agree with this. Just wish it would be available to more than 1000 pupils - maybe after the trial more kids will get this opportunity.

I hope so too. My h also works with excluded kids and I'm sure less of them would get excluded if education was more relevant to them.

My DH did an engineering apprenticeship at 17 and still works for same employer at 38..he later did a part-time business studies degree, which they gave him time off for. So many people do study later in life now the apprenticeships don't have to be a choice not to go on to further education.

I think about time this was introduced. It will mean excluded children may have a chance and be able to reach their full potential. Not everyone is university material. larsxx

I think that it is a great idea, would help the kids themselves, and society as a whole. it would be so much better for them to work at things that they can do well at than to be force fed into a system that doesn't meet their needs.

I hope that it isn't jsut aimed at excluded or disaffected pupils though but also for those who just want this type of trade - you know the ones who work hard but don't necessarily suit or desire an academic route though school.

They spoke a little about this earlier on Radio 2 and it seems like most people feel it is good, but some concerns over funding. Who pays for the training, etc. Not sure about all this nbut I hope it isn't just down tot he companies - many of these trades may struggle to fund someone's training and it would fall apart. I hope Govern,ment funding will sort this.