What happens after Y13?

[PickingFruit]

DD hasn’t been interested in going to Uni since before sixth form. DH and I went, as did everyone in our family. We’ve said from the start that there’s no pressure from us to go. It’s her choice, we’ll support her decision. She’s prediction ABB minimum and is working very hard. Realistically AAB. Food science, psychology and geography.

She has a Saturday job, very sporty, has completed work experience in different fields. Sociable and well balanced. Mature for her age I’d say.

What are your 18/19 year olds doing who didn’t choose Uni? Genuinely interested!

Is she not interested in an apprenticeship either?

My son got a vocational qualification rather than A levels but Covid rather put a damper on that as gyms weren’t open for most of the time (he was a fitness and PT). He has worked in a gym since but he’s mainly worked in a mens boutique. So work where they can get it until they figure out what path to take and join a company with promotional opportunities. Another friend if his dropped out of uni and is working as a gardener in the summer and bar work in the winter. I think at 18 they don’t need huge career plans - just something to do that gets them earning and on a schedule so they can think about what’s next. My stepson went to Australia fir six months, came back worked a few jobs like call centres, then got a job in a hospital in the HR department and got a few promotions and now runs a department in his local council.

Yes. In theory. I suspect she’ll apply for some once her A-Levels are finished

I know quite a few people who didn’t go straight to uni despite good A levels. Of those who entered employment, one took professional exams in banking, a couple of others were sponsored through degrees by their employers a few years later, a few just stopped work and went to uni in their mid twenties. Quite a few also went the college route, sometimes directly sometimes after a spell of employment. A couple spent a few years doing ski/summer seasonal work abroad. Of those nearer my age they have made just as much success out of life as those who went straight to university, possibly more so.

My two boys are both doing vocational courses. If they don’t go on to further study then I will be expecting them to find full time employment once their courses finish. Maybe not something they want to do forever. If they wanted to work for a year to save money to go travelling or something then I would be favourable to that, for example.

Have a look at the notgoingtouni website - details of very many schemes for school leavers st blue chip companies. Also Euan Blair’s organisation (can’t recall the name) which gives opportunities as an alternative to Unj

The daughter of a friend did a Business Apprenticeship with the NHS. She’s now 21 and is flying up the ladder. She was very shy but is now very confident and assertive.

Applications tend to open in spring for September starts, after results may be too late until next Spring entry if there is one, so she would need to plan for the interim.

Neice looked for work and apprenticeships found none in her area so is doing anther one year course at college and still doing p/t work at weekends and free days. She wants to move out but can't afford to.

Two of DD friend who already ruled out uni and thinking along similar lines finished their two year btec and then do further college courses alongside p/t work.

One of DS friends got a coverted apprenticeship - there are rare and hard to get here- few other re-talking A-level or doing another course - and a few just doing their prior p/t work rest headed to uni - though most went to nearby ones

One of DD1 contemporties she fell out with spent nearly two years looking after A-levels before family stepped in and got her a job in one of their bussinesses. Most of rest went to uni - with one or two others joing family bussinesss or just working p/t jobs for a bit.

Thank you! Very interesting reading. She is torn between a business route and possibly midwifery. Areas she has expressed an interest in. She also adores children. Psychology is her favourite subject.

@PickingFruit I volunteered with someone who didn't want to go to uni (Brownie Unit). She did an early years qual at college and got a job in a nursery. She only stopped volunteering with us as she got promoted to a more senior position and the hours no longer worked. She's enjoying herself and has bought her first house with her partner in her early 20s.
I know of others (colleague's kids) who didn't go straight to uni and worked PT whilst figuring out what they actually wanted to study. Given how much uni fees are these days, that was probably wise!

The kids I know who haven't gone to uni straight after year 13 have done:
gap year - worked at home or volunteered abroad whilst debating what to do (ok, this doesn't buy you much time but removes the pressure of applying in year 13)
apprenticeship - a very good option if you can get although may still require financial support from parents if they have to move away.
working (extension from Saturday job) while applying to the forces.
working in a more vocational type role that doesn't require a degree.

I know a number of YP inc one of my own DC who didn't go to uni. It's a fair choice if it's not for her.

The YP I know did various things; got a FT job as an extension of their PT sixth-form role; volunteered in a role until they found a FT paid role in that area; worked in a range of roles linked to their college course; did a degree apprenticeship (very competitive to get tho); got a FT job that didn't need a degree (sales, financial adviser, HR role, local engineering firm, trainee hair stylist).

Without a degree you are never going to be a teacher or a doctor or a solicitor – but that’s fine if those sorts of roles are not of interest.

My DS got 3A* but didn’t want to go to university. He has moved across the country to complete a Level 3 IT apprenticeship with a high profile employer. It is well paid so he is able to support himself living in a shared house but it is a much steeper learning curve into self reliance than going university would be and much harder to find friends of a similar age as everyone else goes to university.

Without a degree you are never going to be a teacher or a doctor or a solicitor – but that’s fine if those sorts of roles are not of interest.

Actually you can become a solicitor without a degree (in theory) as the qualification route has changed to SQA which requires relevant work experience plus exams

Fair enough. Let’s say if you want to be a solicitor it’s probably a more straightforward route if you do a law degree or any degree and a law conversion course.

Pretty sure tho you need a degree for the other two roles I mention! My point really was that yes, there are some careers for which a degree is needed, but there are plenty where it is not – it might be one way in for sure (you can go into an HR role with a degree, ditto engineering) but it is not essential.

Another one who agrees going straight from school isn't always the best option - if your kid hasn't got any draw to any particular career it is a lot of money to spend learning something you might never use (other than showing dedication for the 3 years of learning that seems to impress employers). It does make a lot of sense to work in a field you think you might like, decide for or against it and then make steps to find a course that you might really benefit from and engage with more once you understand it will help you reach a more specific goal.

That’s where we are right now. Thanks

She might change her mind later, she might just need a break...
My dd did go to uni, but we had a couple of months where she felt a little lost and wanting too many things, so not sure what she actually wanted. She is also very academic and sporty. We really thought that she would take a gap year to figure out for herself what she wanted, but ended up going to uni in the end.
I have a friend whose daughter did a gap year and traveled, and she said she absolutely loved it, when i met her afterwards she looked very happy

Actually, is it worth doing some kind of careers assessement?

Quite possibly - maybe even some kind of psychometric test would be good. For her to see her aptitudes in black and white. She’d be all for that Thanks!

Apprenticeships are very competitive in many areas. If she’s interested she could do with looking at their requirements to support her application

Thinking about it, I bet there’s actually some sort of specialised life coach service out there for unsure 18 year olds. She has mentioned some travel within Europe with her bf.

think she’s just excited at the prospect of joining the adult world. She wants to save money and get a credit card to establish a credit score. Honestly she’s so different to the way my DH and I were back in the day!

I’m a year 13 tutor. Apprenticeships for next year are currently open and many will close soon. We have been preparing applications since the summer and research for months before that. Applications are all going in now. If she waits until her A-levels are done, she will be applying for the following year, so will need to take a year out.

The alternative is what a couple of mine are doing. Getting their grades. Taking a year out to work, do a ski season, work in the med on yachts or travel (I know that sounds fancy, but we are a normal state school sixth form!). Apply for apprenticeships while they are doing that for the following year.

A couple of my daughter’s friends have secured jobs as teaching assistants in schools. They enjoy working and having money in their pocket and the school holidays mean they have time to catch up with their uni mates. The transition from pupil to staff was a culture shock at first but they enjoy the work. The experience also means that if they wanted to study for a teaching degree in the future, they’ve got some life experience first before making that jump to teaching.