Options for 16 year old

[zzzoet]

I have a 16 year old who never wants to go back to a classroom setting again. What's her best option? If she finds an apprenticeship can it all be on the job training or does she have to go to college?

@zzzoet you need to have a look at this for her options here, scroll down to What are the options available for young people?

https://childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/participation-of-young-people-in-education-employment-or-training/

I would be talking to her about her reasons for the never stepping foot in a classroom again as she may well be limiting her options. It is quite a childish viewpoint to take. Both my children studied subjects at school that they didn't like, Ds2 in particular despised one but took the attitude of apply yourself, get the best grade you can in it and then move on. It is a stepping stone.

College/sixth form for A levels is just 3 subjects, alternatively BTECs in all sorts of things. Why don't you both look at option available to you locally? See if anything sparks her interest. There are apprenticeship fairs where lots of companies attend, have a google to see if you have any near you.

She has to be in either education or training until 18 by law.
Apprenticeships have a mandatory 20% off the job training per week. This equates to 1 day per working week and depending on the provider, is done either at college or through self guided study/learning on the job etc.
Apprenticeships have massively changed over the last few yeas and there is a much higher requirement for more academic theory rather than just purely learning a specific skill. The best Apprenticeships are in high demand and it can be hard to get on them.
I would speak to her more and try to find out exactly what she means by not wanting to step foot inside a classroom again.

She has to be in either education or training until 18 by law.
Apprenticeships have a mandatory 20% off the job training per week. This equates to 1 day per working week and depending on the provider, is done either at college or through self guided study/learning on the job etc.
Apprenticeships have massively changed over the last few yeas and there is a much higher requirement for more academic theory rather than just purely learning a specific skill. The best Apprenticeships are in high demand and it can be hard to get on them.
I would speak to her more and try to find out exactly what she means by not wanting to step foot inside a classroom again.

Sorry for posting twice!!

Education or training, have you missed that?

I have a daughter in a similar boat. It's worth checking out your local college and look at the range of courses/apprenticeships they do, there is so much variety on offer these days that cater for those that traditional school doesn't - especially some of the BTECS on offer. And I believe college is MUCH different to school, giving much more freedom than school. Definitely worth getting your daughter to look at some of the courses on offer and then go and visit the college.

For example, if she prefers creating things then there are some great courses in media, film & TV production (which have loads of practicals where you are learning everything from using a camera, lighting, editing etc). Also if she's creative there are great course graphic design animation, game design, fashion design. Or if she likes gaming there's even a course in E-sports. All of these will end in a decent qualification but won't feel going to school.

I'm not so up to speed in apprenticeships but know these are very hands on and also include work experience. Your local college should have lots of options!

Good luck, I hope she finds something that excites her!

She could do the 3rd option. Just get a job. The bit about “part time training or education” at the same time never actually gets checked or followed up by anyone. You don’t get into trouble for not doing that part.
The only issue that may come up is if she is made redundant she won’t be entitled to any benefits (like Job Seekers Allowance) until 18.

She can just get a 20h+ a week job. Many school leavers from working class families do this, they aren't going to be criminalised for it. Loads of options on jobs

• retail
• leisure industry
• hospitality/restaurants
• labouring, gardening, farm hand, type jobs
• working for your mum / dad / dad's mate / mums mate / uncle/ auntie etc etc

A friend of mine’s two daughters left at 16. Went into beauty business and never did a day at college. My hairdresser is an amazing young lady, now 21, left at 16, did one day a week at college but worked 4.5 days at the salon. She still goes to college occasionally to get a new qualification (lashes, nails etc), she is working hard to build up her skills.

Thanks, that's so good to know. Hopefully we'll help her find a good route which works for her.

If she hasn't passed her English or Maths then even if she does an apprenticeship you may find she has to attend college to do them as part of the requirements.

A FE College setting may be very different from a school classroom however, dependent on subject studied. Presumably she looked round some?

Also I know that some colleges with practical courses run real 'work' alongside such as a hairdressers for the public, or running a lunch time restaurant open to the public.

My nephew failed all bar one of his GCSEs and said the same about education. He ended up at an outdoor education college studying gardening and tree surgery and loved it from Day 1.

Passing GCSE maths was more of a challenge but it really is essential these days for almost any job..

GCSE,s are out next week and whilst im.sure lots of college courses will.still.be available she needs to.be thinking about what's she wants to do.ASAP
I have a non academic 16 year old who gets his GCSE results next weeks.I'm not expecting amazing results and he's also missed quite a lot of year 11_due to ill l.health he has a place on a level.two.course for creative media which fingers crossed he Will.get the grades for and im.assuming he will.also have to.resit English and maths .