Should DS cut down on work in sixth form

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DS has finished year 11 and is currently doing about 11 hours a week as a tutor both self employed and employed. He also has to spend about 3 hours preparing lessons. He wishes to continue the same hours into y12 but I am worried that he will be doing so at the detriment to his A level grades. He is going to study 4 a levels (one is further maths though) and an EPQ as well as doing other extracurricular like Piano. He is aiming for high grades so I am wondering to tell him whether he should do less work when school starts so he can focus more in study and still have time for relaxation. Also how many hours of work would you find acceptable as his school does not give guidelines.

It doesn’t seem to give him time for a social life.

My parents basically gave me the first half term to see how I coped with the step up to A Level. I did not cope that well (as in I loved the freedoms a bit too much) after that they told me to jack in the Saturday job which was fair enough. I didn't need it as such and it was impacting my education which was more important than selling shoes

If he is reasonably motivated about his studies, I would leave it up to him tbh.

My dd has just finished year 11 too. She has a tutoring job and a cafe job, plus extracurricular activities, regular volunteering and a pretty lively social life. I think she will struggle to maintain them all, but she will know when it's too much and she will decide what needs to give. She actually thrives on being busy, so maybe she'll manage to juggle it all, who knows?! Some people just have more energy and need less down time than others!

That sounds like a lot.

I had a Saturday job and worked extra hours in the holidays. I look back now and really wish I hadn't. I worked far too much and the time would have been better spent on studying. I got to university but could have done much better.

I would encourage him to cut down a bit. He will work a long time if the retirement ages keeps going up!

Our school suggested no more than 8 hours during term time which is a weekday day or 2 half days which sounds right imo.

I think if he's serious and motivated about both his paid work and his studies then it's got to be his decision- some young people can be very focused and serious about their studies, is his tutoring relevant to his A level subject? He sounds disciplined and hard working, so long as he is happy with his workload and not stressing then I would leave him to it, maybe review when he gets his GCSE grades?

Hmm 14 hours a week is two full days of work. Does he tend to do it in the evenings? I tutor so I know well enough how intense it can be. I work full time as well (not a job I bring home at all, 9-5 role) and the most I will take on in tutoring terms is four hours a week plus prep.

I am aware that sixth form is not the same as my 9-5 role, but if he is doing FM and an EPQ he won't have many frees so he will find he has quite a bit of homework to do in the evenings.

Was he tutoring during year 11 or has this just been since he finished in May? If the latter, I think his current level of commitment will prove too much once he is back at school. Can he easily drop some without letting anyone down too drastically?

My DD tutored through sixth form and worked with just two students for an hour a week each, she found that plenty and she only did three A levels and no EPQ. HTH

Thanks everyone for your comments. I've shown him this thread and he has agreed that he will cut down when school starts. He barely has any frees on his timetable (2.5 hours a week) so virtually all homework will be done in the evening and weekends.

I take it the subject he tutors is a subject that he is taking at A Level? If so, I don't see a huge problem. It will support his learning and help him to understand the mechanics of his subject well. I don't think this is the same as working in eg a pub.

He sounds like he may not be a going out and partying/socialising type? If so , I think it will work out fine, with maybe some cutting back. My DS works hard (we came home from holiday at 6 pm the other day and he did an hour's history!) but he won't work after about 6pm normally. He does everything in the daytime, in free slots and straight after school. He does have more frees than yours though and his school doesn't do EPQ. Does he really want to do that? I know they are great and MN loves them, but they add extra workload and if someone is already doing 4 A Levels and on track for excellent grades, I am not sure what string they add to the bow if other enriching academic stuff is happening.

He sounds like he spends a long time planning his tutor sessions : can he work a bit smarter there?