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.

Just let him do the apprenticeship

Stop giving crappy unsolicited advice

Let him make his own decision

Which is best for him

The apprenticeship is clearly what he should be doing

NOT A Levels

My DS has just finished his maths FM chemistry and physics A Levels

They are bloody hard unless you're already getting predicted As at end of Yr 12

It's unlikely your DS will get good enough A levels to do what he wants at uni

This apprenticeship is brilliant and he should take it

OP you need to take a huge step back because I think you will ruin his career chances by pushing for A Levels he clearly won't do well in

He has asked for my advice. It’s not unsolicited. But thanks.

Very much this. He's told you what he wants to do.

I'm so sorry for this comment of mine

Stop giving crappy unsolicited advice

I was thinking of my own DM who always gives shit advice

Your DS has asked you for yours

Do the apprenticeship it's worth a lot

It's experience in the workplace and no one will care about his A levels or degree once he's started and in the throes of it

If they’re offering to keep the apprenticeship open for him, he’d be mad not to get his A levels. It’s only another year ( less than) …

Wow, was there any need to be so aggressive?

Argh you did pick up on that

I'm so sorry

Well aren't you a peach! 😳

My son went to university got a degree, had a break to work for two years, now another three years at university. He's on 26k.

Two friends did apprenticeship. One in cars, just bought his first house with partner at 22.

Second friend did plumbing with gas. Just bought his first house at 23.

They're all happy with their choices.

He would need to be committed to putting in the work. Is he? They're not easy.

Another vote for apprenticeship. A levels will always be there if he wants to do them in the future. I did well at exams and went to a good university. If I could do it again I’d do an apprenticeship. No debt and often higher earnings than some graduates.

I'd go for the apprenticeship, he's done well to be offerred it. If he does want a degree later on he could apply for a degree apprenticeship.

Take the apprenticeship.

I haven't read all your posts, OP. So I don't know if the company have given him a cast iron, copper bottomed promise to keep the offer open until NEXT summer.

It isn't a uni who might, given it's next year's bum on a seat, not this, so 🤷🏻‍♀️, whatever.

If it's a fast moving, dynamic company, they well not either wish to, or be in a position to 'defer' for a year. If he takes it, and it doesn't work out; he can finish his A levels/do a bridging/access course, later, in order to go to uni.

The apprenticeship won't offer that flexibility.

I know what I'd advise my son to do.

Yes, after considering all the alternative post 16 options, DC is going to try A Levels as they are the least bad option (their words!).

But it remains that if they are not the right fit, they will look again at alternatives.

Good luck to your DC, that sounds a good plan and agree, a relief to know they've got one!

My DS left college after failing / barely scraping first year A levels and moved to an apprenticeship. In his case it was definitely the right move as whereas he had been coasting along at college and not attending all of his lessons, he was really enthused by the world of work . A few years later, he is still working for the company concerned.

Op I can see your point, but this sums it up perfectly

@TheSquareMile
The company is offering the apprenticeship this year . There is nothing to say this will still be available in a year's time .

I'm not quite sure what the situation would be, to be honest.

OP says "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."

It's "a large well known car manufacturer", so I'm assuming that it's a company like Vauxhall or Ford ie a company which offers apprenticeships regularly.

My thinking about the A Levels is that completing them this coming academic year will be a challenge, but he is at home and supported and probably in the best position he will ever be in to focus on nothing but his studies. Although it's possible to do A Levels when you're older, it's something you have to pay for yourself; it's also harder combining studying with work when you're older.

It's a difficult one. I think that, if the company is a big one which can guarantee an apprenticeship place next year, there's something to be said for finishing the A Levels if he can.

Either way, it sounds like he has a bright future.

I think that in a few years we are going to wake up to what a huge con, university is. That a fair percentage of courses are a complete waste of time and money leading to massive debt with very little real benefit. Of all my friends and family I only know one person who is actually earning a living with what he studied at uni

Can he see how the A level resits go before giving them an answer? If his grades improve, I'd be tempted to say finish the A levels and then start the apprenticeship next year. If he's still getting E's, he may as well start the apprenticeship now.

If he stays on to do A levels his heart won’t be in it and he will just fail them all. It’s pointless. He could be a year in to his apprenticeship earning money. There’s no point to A levels unless he wants to go to uni and does he? Will he want to rack up a load of debt when he’s in a well paying (I assume) job after his apprenticeship finishes. I doubt it

Apprenticeship for sure. If that’s where his heart lies then the apprenticeship. No point in the a levels if he’s not interested. He will have qualifications via the apprenticeship which will mean a job for life p, even self employed and possibly capacity to work worldwide if that’s what he wants.

From an employer's point of view, especially in engineering, people who have successfully completed job-related apprenticeships are in very high demand.

I wouldn't even see A-levels that he's struggled at as a 'fallback' for an apprenticeship where it sounds like he will thrive.

Cut him some slack... tell him he can drop the A levels s soon as he has an offer of an apprenticeship agreement in writing from the employer.

Good luck to your DS, he sounds like he's on a great path now.