DS not enjoying college.. forced to stay until 18??

[scoobysnaxx]

Hi all,

My DS is not enjoying college at all. He will see out the remainder of his course which will be finished June time.

I know you have to stay in education now until 18.

The dilemma is that he turns 18 in October, a few weeks after a new academic year starts.

He hasn't expressed any interest in doing another course.

For the teachers out there and parents whose kids have been in the same boat, do ALL kids have to enroll in some kind of education/apprenticeship for a whole other year even if they turn 18 quite soon after it starts (September/October)?

I think they can have a job that offers training. What is their current course? Would they want to do something similar? Would they be happy on a day release type apprenticeship? There are always some that don't. I assume you would want him to have employment if not at college.

Technically they are meant too however there's no consequences if they leave.
No follow ups. No fines. Nothing.
The only thing that changes is if you receive Child Benefit or any other benefits that are related to having a "child" in school they will stop.
His choices are -
Changing to a different course
Doing an apprenticeship
Hanging around your house doing nothing and you funding his life (not recommended)
Getting a job.
He can literally just go and get a job. He could do that now at age 17 if someone is happy to employ him.

He should start looking now if he is interested in apprenticeships. Many companies have started recruiting for summer/autumn starts already.

Thanks all.

He has no idea what he wants to do.

Definitely won't be bumming around the house doing nothing. He'll have to start another course, start an apprenticeship or get a job.

I'll look at apprenticeships with him to see if any entice him. I'm also going to get him to go to the careers service in college.

It's good to know you're not actively penalised if they're almost 18 but haven't enrolled in something new.

You will lose child benefit and free prescriptions.
Otherwise no one will care much at all.

Think they are simply required to be in receipt of an education, so he could ‘homeschool’ - ie do an online course until October. Acc to the rules he can be in PT education whilst volunteering, so an online course and helping out in a voluntary role until October would cover him.

You 'can't ' homeschool post 16 if you didn't homeschool before iirc.

I did with my teen. She dropped out of 6th form college just before 17 and was homeschooled there after.

What course s n for one year?presumably not level 3.

@CautiousLurker01 well yes you can but I assume you had to pay the fees for any formal exams and if you received Child Benefit etc that will have stopped.

If it is a BTEC they can be run such that you get a certificate/subsidiary diploma after 1 year (and then the extended diploma after 2 years)

Yes, obviously paid exam fees/booked centres as an independent student where necessary - though you are not in anyway required to sit exams as a homeschooled child. You are only required - should the LEA request it - to provide evidence of a learning programme. No Child benefit issues, as we’re not eligible.

Not sure what either has to do with the statement that ‘you can’t homeschool post 16 if you haven’t before’… which is wrong, as I know two other families who did it when their DCs struggled with 6th form, post-covid. No issues for any of us.

Get him into an apprenticeship as soon as his course ends. Start applying in a couple of months. Not all apprenticeships start in September. Much easier to get in when younger as more are funded for the under 18s I think. You definitely don't want him getting used to lazing about.

The can't home educate for post 16 if you aren't doing already thing is a misconception based on the rules about claiming Child Benefit. This can't be claimed if home educating post-16, unless it is an existing arrangement.

Thanks - had no idea about this, as not a CB recipient sadly, since they changed the rules when mine were young. (🤬)

@MarchingFrogs Thank you for clarifying.

Yes that is why I wrote 'can't ' in quotes. I agree that it wasn't clear I was referring to CB rules.

No one cares really post 16 as long as you aren't claiming money from the government for them.

My SD dropped out of college in feb last year when she was 17, so year 12. Worked pretty much full time in retail, she already was working there at weekends and just took more shifts.
No follow up, no consequences, in terms of fines or expectations of education.

If he's interested in another course I think he would get funding for two more years (only) so he needs to decide and perhaps apply already to start afresh in September. If it's just the studying and environment he's fed up with, now would be a good time to start looking at level 3 apprenticeships.

Agree - vaguely aware that when we left college, as we left early/mid year, the HT asked us to state what our plans were and this were put in a form they filled in. I think this was so that they had covered off their admin as they get an allowance per enrolled student per annum so they may be an impact if you leave part way through (not what the Op is planning though). Noone ever contacted us to check (they did when we homeschooled in Y4 and 5, but it was literally one email and a phone call).

Re CB, no-one will chase that so close to a child’s 18th. Frankly, I’d get DC to limp along to the end of the year if you can and get his piece of paper, then focus on what his next steps will be (PT study, apprenticeship etc) and don’t worry at all about anyone bothering/checking up on you.

It's meant to be either education, training, or employment with some kind of training.

In practice it's not really chased up, especially that close to 18.

I'd leave it up to him to find a job. He has June until September so a lot of time.

Thanks guys. Reassuring to know it won't be chased up. Ridiculous if that's the case.

As I say lying about won't be an option. More study, apprenticeship or a job is the choice. He's very anxious so I won't let him avoid or put this off or it'll just get worse and more difficult for him.

No, it is a fallacy. You do not have to stay in education or be in an apprenticeship until 18.

In England:
You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.
You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:

• stay in full-time education, for example at a college
• start an apprenticeship
• spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school