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Higher education

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Original poster

Apprenticeship Withdrawn

251 replies

Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 07:13

Not sure why I'm writing apart from maybe to vent.
Ds applied for a degree apprenticeship with the civil service. Tests and interview in April. He applied with A level results in hand. A*AA (requirement is CCC).They took until the end of June to let people know. He was told successful and then yesterday they withdrew his offer and put him on the reserves list (dept he was allocated now not doing). He does have a uni offer but in a different subject he's now not sure about.
Anyone had experience of this? Any advice. He's pretty upset and want to support him in making the right decision for him.

OP posts:
WhatTheHelll · 10/07/2025 11:27

I think he’s presumed he was successful.

TheSquareMile · 10/07/2025 12:04

Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 09:51

Global sustainable development.

@Perplexed20

Which subjects are his A Levels in, OP?

burneraccount15 · 10/07/2025 12:10

WhatTheHelll · 10/07/2025 11:27

I think he’s presumed he was successful.

Are you being deliberately provocative? He was successful, was advised of same and the offer has been rescinded as the department is not doing the apprenticeships this year. Do you read the news? Have any idea what's going on in the CS? People like you wind me up honestly, happens all the time on this site, OP posts clearly about a situation and someone swans in to say that's not what happened. OP I feel for your son, very upsetting, I would ensure he contacts whoever he can to ask about the possibility of reallocation to another department.

Hols23 · 10/07/2025 12:12

WhatTheHelll · 10/07/2025 11:27

I think he’s presumed he was successful.

Wrong. Read the thread.

Justtrying · 10/07/2025 13:14

@Perplexed20 my company have just announced our latest batch of apprenticeships we have offices in Derby, Warrington and Manchester. DM if DS wants more info, if he looks on LinkedIn he should find them, they were advertised on Monday.

Rabbitsockpeony · 10/07/2025 13:51

YourWildAmberSloth · 10/07/2025 08:19

Your son needs to call OP, not you. Civil servant here - we won't welcome parents phoning on behalf of their children. If the department is no longer running apprenticeships - he should be offered an apprenticeship in a different department. Does the letter say anything apart from the apprenticeship has been cancelled? To answer the question, while this hasn't happened to me, I have seen it happen before. usually due to a drop in headcount. Departments are told their budget for the year, and realise they can't take on as many people as planned. Its crap and I can understand he's disappointed.

Show quote history

What part of anything the OP has said made you think she was going to be doing anything on his behalf? She’s been very clear. He sounds driven, resilient and awesome.

RainbowBagels · 10/07/2025 15:58

Its really disappointing that at a time when apprenticeships are being pushed so much by government as an alternative to University that the actual government are going round withdrawing them! My DS was thinking of applying for an apprenticeship with the CS instead of uni too, but he'll likely go to uni because they are so competitive.
Having said that, has he asked if he can do a L3 apprenticeship this year and then go onto the Degree apprenticeship next year? It might be worth a try, and he'll have his foot in the door.

Justwaits · 10/07/2025 16:14

He's v diligent and his current job loves him but the contract ends

what is current job?

Justwaits · 10/07/2025 16:16

littlequestion · 10/07/2025 09:14

No problem with accommodation at Warwick - it isn’t allocated till after results. There’s plenty. Was the deposit for private halls? No deposit required for uni owned ones.

Good point

ofteninaspin · 10/07/2025 16:33

Global Sustainable Development at Warwick is an interesting course. (DS looked at it when it was very new.) Why does your DS now think it is the wrong course for him and what subject would he prefer to read instead?

Original poster
Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 18:23

Justwaits · 10/07/2025 16:14

He's v diligent and his current job loves him but the contract ends

what is current job?

He is working in the NHS. The contract is only for 1 year though and no funding for another.

OP posts:
Original poster
Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 18:24

Justtrying · 10/07/2025 13:14

@Perplexed20 my company have just announced our latest batch of apprenticeships we have offices in Derby, Warrington and Manchester. DM if DS wants more info, if he looks on LinkedIn he should find them, they were advertised on Monday.

Edited

Thanks!

OP posts:
Spirallingdownwards · 10/07/2025 18:25

My son's friend had this happen last year. They kicked up a fuss about it and the apprenticeship was reinstated!

Original poster
Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 18:25

TheSquareMile · 10/07/2025 12:04

@Perplexed20

Which subjects are his A Levels in, OP?

Show quote history

Economics, Chemistry and Geography.

OP posts:
youreactinglikeafunmum · 10/07/2025 18:25

With those grades, I'd just go to uni

Maybe take a year out so he can see what he wants to do, and travel x

Original poster
Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 18:26

Btw, I'm purposefully ignoring those with English comprehension issues and thanks to those pointing out there are people who aren't reading the thread or mind reading.

OP posts:
Original poster
Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 18:27

youreactinglikeafunmum · 10/07/2025 18:25

With those grades, I'd just go to uni

Maybe take a year out so he can see what he wants to do, and travel x

Another year out is sn option. He is a late summer birthday...nearly autumn...

OP posts:
Original poster
Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 18:31

StMarie4me · 10/07/2025 10:53

Could he look at the bank Apprenticeships?

He did. And applied.

Lloyds rejected with no feedback but that was not degree and I assume they thought he'd be over qualified.

He got down to the last 10 for one and they told him they thought he'd be bored.

OP posts:
friskybivalves · 10/07/2025 18:36

Which dept was he meant to be joining? Some are def more interesting than others…

TheSquareMile · 10/07/2025 18:39

Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 18:25

Economics, Chemistry and Geography.

Show quote history

@Perplexed20

Those are good subjects.

What kind of job do you think he would be happiest doing in the long term?

GinandGingerBeer · 10/07/2025 18:40

I’m a civil servant and also have a son who went to Warwick. If he is privately educated he’ll do ok at Warwick. If not, as he’s been in work too he might struggle. My son did. Students pretty much treated it as an extension of boarding school. There’s bugger all around it and leamington spa is a bit of a shit hole if your son is used to a city. My son absolutely hated it. But he was state educated and lived in a city. I’m sure many do get on with it who aren’t privately educated but my DS has very left field views! Hated the privilege and lack of awareness.
re the apprenticeship I’d get him to call and ask where on the reserve list he is. He has his grades in hand, not all of them will.

Original poster
Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 18:46

So to answer question.
He looked into apprenticeships because I thought they'd suit him. He has to have a point whereas for dd love academia for academia sake. They are both bright but different.

He is state educated and what he really loves is problem solving.

OP posts:
Original poster
Perplexed20 · 10/07/2025 18:51

GinandGingerBeer · 10/07/2025 18:40

I’m a civil servant and also have a son who went to Warwick. If he is privately educated he’ll do ok at Warwick. If not, as he’s been in work too he might struggle. My son did. Students pretty much treated it as an extension of boarding school. There’s bugger all around it and leamington spa is a bit of a shit hole if your son is used to a city. My son absolutely hated it. But he was state educated and lived in a city. I’m sure many do get on with it who aren’t privately educated but my DS has very left field views! Hated the privilege and lack of awareness.
re the apprenticeship I’d get him to call and ask where on the reserve list he is. He has his grades in hand, not all of them will.

Thanks. I think his plan is to call next week.
It also sounds like Warwick might not be for him, then...

What I don't want is for him to go and be miserable. I'd much rather he took another year.

OP posts:
TheSquareMile · 10/07/2025 19:05

@Perplexed20

OP, would RN Officer appeal to him? Some Warfare Officers specialise in meteorology, oceanography and hydrography, which might interest him.

Problem solving skills would be a distinct advantage!

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/roles/rbp-warfare-officer

Elbowpatch · 10/07/2025 20:21

GinandGingerBeer · 10/07/2025 18:40

I’m a civil servant and also have a son who went to Warwick. If he is privately educated he’ll do ok at Warwick. If not, as he’s been in work too he might struggle. My son did. Students pretty much treated it as an extension of boarding school. There’s bugger all around it and leamington spa is a bit of a shit hole if your son is used to a city. My son absolutely hated it. But he was state educated and lived in a city. I’m sure many do get on with it who aren’t privately educated but my DS has very left field views! Hated the privilege and lack of awareness.
re the apprenticeship I’d get him to call and ask where on the reserve list he is. He has his grades in hand, not all of them will.

That is very odd. The vast majority of students who go to Warwick are state educated. Why would they treat it as an extension of boarding school?

Moreover, Warwick University is situated on the outskirts of Coventry, a city with plenty of student accommodation.

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