My son is thinking of ditching A-Levels for an apprenticeship

[Justwingingitsince2007]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

My DS is in Y12. After doing ok in his GCSEs (not as well as predicted, but still good enough, predicted 7s, got mostly 6s and an 8 in Maths) he embarked on A-Levels (Maths, Physics, Chemistry). He has coasted all year, and has pretty much bombed his mocks, getting E’s across the board. His plan was always A-Levels, then Mechanical Engineering at uni.

He has resits in August to get into Y13, and to be fair has been revising throughout the hols so far.

However, he did his work experience at a large well known car manufacturer and off the back of that they have offered him an apprenticeship. They only offer 2 every 3 years. It’s a level 3 light vehicle maintenance qualification. It’s 3 years long. They have block release to their own specialist college. He will earn a wage.

He is volunteering there through the holidays and they have talked to him again about this apprenticeship. They have said he can have it now, or they will wait for him to finish his A-Levels and keep it open for him.

He wants to ditch his A-Levels and do the apprenticeship now instead. He couldn’t get into uni on this apprenticeship because it’s only worth 48 UCAS points. He says he doesn’t want to go to uni anyway now.

I think he should finish his A-Levels and then do the apprenticeship, so he has that back up, and he thinks he should just go for it now.

Will not having A-Levels hinder him in the future? I really don’t know what’s best. I know it’s ultimately his decision, but he wants my opinion and I want to give him the best advice.

I have A Levels and haven't needed them in any capacity since results day. What's his end goal? An apprenticeship is a great way into a lot of careers nowadays, especially if he doesn't want to go to university anymore.

Take the apprenticeship.

It's more useful and leads more directly to useful work that is needed.

He also won't be in debt.

I'd grab an opportunity like that with both hands in his shoes. Real world working experience will open doors for him too.

Take the apprenticeship he won’t need A levels once he’s finished that and come out with an actual qualification that means something in industry.

He should do the apprenticeship.
Later in life he can get into uni via mature student route if he wants or needs to
If he loves his job and will work hard he should follow that path now
Pushing to get more E s is pointless

Does he enjoy working for a car manufacturer? Is he interested in vehicle maintenance? If he does/is, then I'd say go for the apprenticeship. Experience trumps qualifications in an awful lot of careers.

That apprenticeship sounds like gold dust. I’d take that now.

If it were my child, I'd say take the apprenticeship. He can always take A Levels further down the line if he decides he does want a degree. Some kids just aren't cut out for extended academia and he is being gifted an opportunity to learn a skill that could open all sorts of doors. He won't be lumbered with debt either. The fact they keep asking him shows how good they think he could be.

Definitely he should take the apprenticeship.
He is lucky to be offered one.
Fantastic opportunity.

It depends if he is serious about this being a path he wants to take career wise, or if he needs to keep his options more open.

I have a child one year younger who sounds very similar and is about to start A Levels (grades allowing) but is not convinced that is going to be the right fit.

If they find themselves in the same position as your DS in a year's time, I will be encouraging them to grab the apprenticeship with both hands.

During the nightmare that was Y11, they said something that really stuck with me when we talked a lot about long term gain for short term pain. They said 'the long term won't exist for me if I can't get through the short term'.

I do see your concerns, but it does sound like he is hugely motivated (Volunteering? In the hols? With feedback so positive they are offering him an apprenticeship? Amazing!) to follow a well respected route into paid employment - no brainer for me! Really hope that if my DC doesn't get on with A Levels they can find a similar opportunity.

Good luck to your DS!

Tell him to grab the opportunity. Much better job prospect I'd say for him

He wants to do the apprenticeship so if you force him into A levels he's unlikely to work hard enough.

He will have no debt and real world experience, that is likely to be more valuable than a degree if he stays in that line of work.

If he finds he would benefit from a degree later he can go as a mature student when he's likely to be better morivated.

A friend's child decided to skip uni and take a job offer from somewhere he'd worked part time. He has been promoted several times and has no debts, a (mortgaged) house and family. The absence of debt is a big advantage.

Is say go for the apprenticeship. No point getting bad grades in a levels you don’t want to do. After the apprenticeship, he could always do a higher level apprenticeship. You can even get degree or masters-level apprenticeships if he wanted to continue and do something like mechanical engineering.

My DD is about to go into Y11 and we already know she won't be doing A-levels because they'll be too stressful. So she's looking at doing a vocational Level 3 BTech in the sector she eventually wants to work in. It'll earn her enough UCAS points to go to uni if she wants to. It's actually been a relief for us to discover there are alternatives to A-levels. It's also worth looking at T-Levels.

I think a level 3 qualification is equivalent to A levels. I would ask him whether he can progress with both this employer and other employers with a level 3 apprenticeship. Will he have options to be promoted in future? Would other employers accept the level 3 apprenticeship if he wished to move in future?

I agree. It sounds great. Your son must be pretty good if the firm has offered him an apprenticeship and they don't offer many. That is something to be proud of.

I run a garage. My mechanics earn 40k+ the best earns 50k. The apprentice at 17 is on 10ph.

It's his life, mate; it's good choice and you have to let him make it.

Looks pretty unanimous for the apprenticeship! I just wish I could shake the worry about giving up his A-Levels, but he loves the work and it really seems like he has found the thing he loves doing.

It just feels like such a fork in the road. And I don’t want him to regret his decision, whatever that is. But I can see him being really suited to this, and I think it’s likely he will take it.

The comments have been really helpful - thank you.

I totally get the worry. But he sounds like he's got his head screwed on and this firm really wants him.

Hmm. A difficult one, I can see both sides of the equation.

I would be inclined to suggest saying that he would like to take up the apprenticeship next summer.

The last year of his A Levels will be just 10 months and he will be done and dusted by the end of June, all being well.

Knowing that something good will be there for him when he leaves school could be a massive incentive for him and could make this coming academic year much more bearable.

I'm suggesting this as the way to go as having the A Levels under his belt could stand him in good stead if things change. If he needs to look at other job opportunities after his apprenticeship, the A Levels will be a qualification he can draw on. He might, for instance, decide that he would like to do something like Motorsport Engineering; success in his apprenticeship plus A Levels could open doors in that direction, if he wished.

https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/motorsport-engineering-beng-or-meng

I think that's what I would suggest - going for the last year of A Levels with new confidence and an apprenticeship to look forward to.

Take and do the apprenticeship

They are rare and not given lightly

Another saying to take the apprenticeship.

If it’s a L3 apprenticeship qualification then I think that’s equivalent to 2 or 3 good A levels anyway, and if it’s something he enjoys and chooses then he’s more likely to get better grades. He’s very lucky, it sounds like a great opportunity!