Quitting A Levels

[Hping]

Hi, my son is in Yr 12 and is hating his A Levels. He has no idea what he'd like to do, so college and apprenticeships are no good, he works at a local pub in the kitchen. My question is, can he leave his A Levels and work more hours at the pub, until he decides what he wants to do?

Not really.

Under 18s are meant to remain in some form of education (school, college or work with a training component).

He could use the upcoming summer holidays as his thinking time and enrol in something for September

They're supposed to stay in education until 18. However, I know several that haven't. Nobody actually checks...

Isn't it "Education, employment or training"?

I thought they could leave school to start a job or an apprenticeship but not just to do nothing.

No, it's Education or Training
Many people change course after a false start.
Why is an apprenticeship not feasible?

Yes they can leave with permission from the school but they have to have found a job. I can't remember where I rang, somewhere in education as I wanted to know as in a similar situation.

No, I don't think they do need permission. What school / college is going to give it?

From Gov.uk:

England
You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.
**
You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:
**
stay in full-time education, for example at a college;
start an apprenticeship or traineeship; or
spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

Thanks for your replies, wow, it's really mixed. I'm going to talk to a career advisor as I just don't see the point of my son doing A levels if it's affecting his mental health and he is not enjoying them.

Catering course at a college? If he's interested in that with his job.

Best to take advantage of the further education opportunities while they are funded. Could he apply for a college course that interests him (rather than thinking it has to be related to what job he might want). They get more time off at college, so he could continue working and maybe increase his hours.

You don't see the point in him finishing his education so he has options in life beyond working in a pub?

He can go back to college at any age but he won't get funding if he has 3 A levels even if they are grade E.

Jamie Oliver started working in a pub kitchen.

Yes & No.

In theory he should stay in education or employment with training.
In practice no one will care if he doesn't provided you don't claim benefits. If he leave you can't claim child benefit nor I think can he get free NHS prescriptions.

Only you and he can judge how much he is hating the A levels. But it is easier to get them now than later in life. otoh He is entitled to 3 years at 6th form level if needed, so if you could identify a course he'd enjoy then swapping for September is far better than flunking A levels with fails or Es.

College might only be 3 or 4 days a week, so he could keep up the pub whilst getting a qualification.

I agree with quitting the A levels of its not for him but doing a part time college course while working sounds good. I do think these days you need some qualifications behind you so I agree with the rule that 16-18 year olds should continue their education, but something more vocational will be better for those that are not so academic.

As someone who absolutely hated their a levels (got terrible grades and I tried really hard. I would suggest looking at apprenticeships etc there's lots! I ended up doing a diploma and topping up to a degree in a vocational subject and didn't find it as challenging than the a levels!
Could he look into something in hospitality? X

I agree if he's really not enjoying A levels then he should quit now. A levels are hard and the pressure in year 13 is intense, especially post covid as so much curriculum has been missed. You should really try and encourage him to sign up for a college course, even if only one year, or some kind of apprenticeship which will also give him money, so there may be more incentive there.

Quit but look at the vast range of other courses out there

His school / college should offer support. He might prefer a BTEC and could probably start that in September.

Yes he can leave without anyone's permission.
In theory he has to stay in education or training, however, it's not something that is enforced so if he can find a job until he decides what he wants to do longer term then he can do that.
Probably worth working through the summer and looking to see if there are any suitable college courses starting in September.

Is he working in a big pub chain? As many of them have their own training and courses; some offer things like "Route into Management".

Alevels are not the only things that widen career options - they aren't for everyone and I agree it's pointless if he's not enjoying them. There are many, many options available and he could always return to Alevels if he wanted in the future.

For a lot of people A Levels are actually limiting.

if he doesnt complete his a levels he can get funding until the september before he turns 19.
DD retook her first year of A alevels and still didnt do very well, so she moved to local college to take a BTEC in Health and social care. She is September born and started term 2 weeks before she was 19. She was fully funded for next 2 years. Went to top uni for her course and got a first.