Is a Level 3 apprenticeship qualification worth anything?

[thebigwave]

DS (16) has been offered an apprenticeship with a local business, studying Level 3 Business Administration. He's got GCSEs and is at college but isn't enjoying it so thought an apprenticeship might be better for him.

I assumed this would gain UCAS points allowing him to progress onto perhaps an HNC in Business but it appears you don't get UCAS points from an apprenticeship.

So now we're not sure if it's the right thing to do. Does anyone have any experience of apprenticeships and whether or not you can go onto higher education?

@thebigwave I am a senior leader in an Apprenticeship provider. I would say your DS sounds exactly the type of person an Apprenticeship would suit. Persevering with A Levels IMO will not lead to good enough grades for Uni. Some DC just don't thrive in a formal education setting whereas learning on the job + getting a proper wage + actual workplace skills sees them flourish.
I've seen many learners start at a Level 2,/3 and work their way up through an organisation to a L5/6 all whilst earning a decent salary and having no student debt.
If DC don't have a love for a particular subject/feel drawn to a certain vocation then Higher Level degree Apprenticeships can be much more beneficial than the traditional A-levels/degree route.

Is there another vocational course he woukd prefer instead of the A Levels? T Levels? Apprenticeship routes are normally to go onto a higher level apprenticeship and hopefully a degree apprenticeship. If he wants to go to Uni later he could do a foundation year

@Angrycat2768 They really are not when dc are 16. They start lower and work up with the company incrementally. Around 5000 18 year olds start degree apprenticeships each year. Far more adults start. Many of them are employees or career changers. So getting in at level 3 is a very good route into working and studying. It just takes longer,