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Original poster

Raise the school leaving age to 18?

16 replies

LittleSarah · 10/11/2006 09:48

here

I don't know about this.

I left school at 16 (about a month before my 17 birthday) with four good highers and a place at uni. I wanted to work and save money for a year.

My brother - very dyslexic (not that I am excusing him) - never did well at school, almost expelled from one, expelled from another, never went back, has no qualifications and is currently, well, he had a job selling the Daily Record last time I saw him, but, well, I don't know how long it will last.

Anyway, being made to stay at school til 18 would never have helped me, I doubt it would have helped my brother, stay on to get expelled agained? (With a load of other trouble makers?!)

But, OTOH, I guess there are some people who it would help raise their aspirations, and improve their opportunities...?

OP posts:
hana · 10/11/2006 09:49

18 is standard age of leaving highschool in north america

expatinscotland · 10/11/2006 09:50

I think it's a waste of time to cover everyone w/the same blanket and make 'em all stay in till 18.

TheHighwayCod · 10/11/2006 09:50

another way of getting out off paying benefit

southeastastra · 10/11/2006 09:51

there should be more opportunities for 16 year olds they're not all academic more apprenticeships!

expatinscotland · 10/11/2006 09:51

And North America is fucked up. I know, I'm from there.

lucycat · 10/11/2006 09:51

heaven forbid!

When I startd teaching the old timers would still talk of the year from hell when they raised it to 16 (this was about 1972) and all these disallusioned kids who were desperate to leave school had been told that they had to stay another year!

Bramshott · 10/11/2006 09:54

Surely not, without introducing proper and relevant vocational education from age 14 on??

expatinscotland · 10/11/2006 09:54

EXACTLY, south!

All this talk about the skilled trade shortages and yet funding for apprenticeships getting the ax.

Not to mention apprenticeships being off limits to people over 26 - how daft is that? Especially as we all know we'll have to work longer in life.

University in the US is now a pre-requisite to the most basic of jobs. So you have people saddled w/massive debts w/watered down degrees qualified for FA.

The value of many degrees isn't very high now.

Shame to see the UK go down the same path.

Bramshott · 10/11/2006 09:55

Lucycat - my dad was teaching in 1972 and had the bottom-setted final class - i.e. all those who'd been planning to leave and had been told they couldn't . . . [shudder]

hulababy · 10/11/2006 09:56

I don't think it would be a good idea. Not all children are cut out for school.

I'd prefer to see an alternaticve option to GCSES starting at age 14 TBH. Had too many pupils in clklasses who don't want to be there and who gain nothing from being in class, and neither do fellow puoils due to disruptions,

Some schools were (still doing?) some trials with alternatives at 14 which I thought was good. At 14, as starting Y10/GCSE years, pupils could opt for a vocational approach to learning rather than GCSEs and academia.

EG (sorry ifthey seem very gender specific/stereotyping but the pupils themselves chose the vocation, ot school)

One girl, aged 14 wanted to work with children but didn't get on at school. Was arranged for her to go to college 1 day a week on a childcare related course. She had 2 days in a local nursery gaining experience and also gaining credits for childcare course. And then 2 days in school doing basic skills in english, maths, basic science, life skills and IT.

Another boy wanted to do construction work on leaving school. Similar situation. He did one day at college, two days at school and 2 days on a building site, learning skills such as brick laying.

The first girl I mentioned literallychanged overnight. She went from being a real PITA at school to be a model student almost. The nursery thought she was wonderful - she turned up early, went home late and the childrena nd parents love dhere. The nursery offered her job when she left school. She did very well on her childcare course. And she passed literacy/numeracy exams to Level 2 plus gained accrediated qualifications in the other subjets.

lucycat · 10/11/2006 09:58

Slightly off track here - did anyone see 'Break with the Boss' on Living TV last night - the girl who got the promotion was an ex pupil of dh's, she got 4 grade A's at A level two years ago, but couldn't face the thought of Uni debt so got a job instead - and very nicely she's doing too - if your career path is open to you without Uni then quite often you are better going in at 18.

TheHighwayCod · 10/11/2006 09:58

ROLF@expat

lucycat · 10/11/2006 09:59

Bramshott - and I bet he still talks about it now!

thousands of teachers scarred forever

Mercy · 10/11/2006 09:59

Mad idea imo. It should be lowered if anything, or a system as per Hulababy's post.

MrsBadger · 10/11/2006 10:08

compulsory school till 18? bad plan
compulsory education/training till 18? good plan, especially if including the option to start at 14 as hula outlined and 16-18yos in work doing one day a week at college.

Original poster
LittleSarah · 10/11/2006 10:39

Yes, I agree with everyone about apprentice ship stuff. I often wonder if there had been something like that at my brothers school if he might have been in a trade by now.

That kind of thing would certainly have been more helpful for him.

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