Doesn't want to go to uni, but doesn't know what they want to do ...

[GrilledSneeze]

Had a great lower 6th and just starting upper 6th but still seems a bit lost as to what they will do when they finish next May.

We've had chats, offered suggestions but nothing is inspiring them!

Anyone else in this position?

One of ours wanted a year out between school and uni. Thought about applying and deferring a place but was told that it wasn’t feasible ; unis are keen on getting bums on seats (and guaranteed fees in the bank) at the moment. So, he applied the following year. Pros- the pressure to make a (wrong) decision is off, there’s more time to think about where he wants to go and he'll be applying with the grades he’s got not predicted ones, Cons - he’s at home for another year, or most of it. 😉
i don’t know your circumstances but is a year out a possibility? Will your DS school support a 7th term Uni application? If you give him the option he might surprise you with his alternative plans.

Yes, happy for them to take a year out to decide what they want to do/apply to uni a year later if that's what they decide to do.

We are fortunate enough to be able to support them bug would require them to be "doing something" in that time - for their wellbeing/sense of worth iyswim - perhaps be a mix of travel and work of some kind / volunteering but most definitely not loafing around.

I’d say take a gap year, get a job any and reflect on life. I ended up leaving Uni in the first year ended up with a 3yrs gap then went back best thing I did and we are actively going to encourage our kids to do the same as it really does focus your mind more. Doing a min wage job gives you far more life skills and head space. Hope it works out for them.

DD (who finished Y13 in the summer) is in the same boat. We've told him we expect him to do some sort of work - voluntary or paid, or he undertakes some further education - college course or university. Dossing round the house is not an option.

I think it doesn't hurt to take some time to decide what you really want to do - I know an awful lot of students who start university and then drop out, and that's a very expensive mistake. And they have lots of years of working - they don't have to get it right at 18!!

I have one of those with the added complication that he has Long Covid. We have agreed that he will help out in the family business until he gets better and/or decides what he wants to do next.

My DD took a year out after Y13 and was then ready to start university. She worked in a nursery and then retail. Plus some ad hoc bar work. Plenty of life experience before settling down to learn again.

Check out the not going to uni website- lots of ideas.