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Original poster

foundation apprentiship

14 replies

onepotwonder · 01/02/2024 07:33

Does anyone have experience of their dc doing a foundation apprentiship? My ds is interested in one but it is 2 full days a week at college. It means he would miss 2 days of school so I don't think it is something he can do. It would be too much for ds to catch up on 2 days work for his other highers. He has to take 5 subjects so it would be 4 highers plus the foundation apprentiship.

How have others managed to do it? Are they taking less subjects or are they very good at catching up with missed work?

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sassanach · 01/02/2024 09:57

careers adviser here. Its a lot of work and does not leave much time for other subjects. In fact many FA providers discourage taking other Highers. Sometimes you also have to do additional work at weekends or holidays depending on the FA chosen. There has been a problem with some FAs not having enough employers to provide the work experience element so its not always as great as it is made out to be. Despite working in the careers sector, I am not an advocate for FAs as I've seen so many complaints about them from parents and employers alike! I guess ultimately it depends on which one your DC wants to do though.

Original poster
onepotwonder · 01/02/2024 10:51

Thank you very much for your reply sassanach. You have helped me a lot. This has confirmed it is not the right thing for ds. It is the Financial Services one in Glasgow he was interested in. It would be too much for him while studying for 4 highers.

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TooOldForThisNonsense · 01/02/2024 11:20

At our school a FA is 2 subjects worth so it would be a lot with 4 highers. My youngest might do one but he’s unlkely to be doing many if any highers. Could yours do the FA in s6?

Original poster
onepotwonder · 01/02/2024 11:51

Thank you for your reply TooOldForThisNonsense that's interesting that it is worth 2 subjects. I think my ds will struggle with 4 Highers. I think it is too much for him. Not much support from school with this even though he is under the guidance of the support for learning dept.

Yes he could do it in S6 if it is a one year course.

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TooOldForThisNonsense · 01/02/2024 15:18

That’s a shame. I reckon my youngest will be doing 1 higher if that and even not that if he can’t get half decent grades at N5 x

Original poster
onepotwonder · 01/02/2024 16:16

It's a stressful time for them. If my ds was old enough to go to college this year I would encourage him to do that. Even though his results were good for prelim nat 5s I think he will struggle with the Highers.

I hope everything goes well for your youngest.

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TooOldForThisNonsense · 01/02/2024 18:57

Thank you - same to your son. We are in similar position as mine won’t be 16 til the end of the year so can’t leave until Christmas at the earliest

TeenTraumaTrials · 01/02/2024 19:22

Interested to hear that in some places a FA counts for 2 subjects. In my LA it's just one so 4 periods a week but takes 2 years, so my issue is that although it's the equivalent level to a Higher, it takes 2 years to get and although the school insist that Universities accept it I'm not seeing it yet in Uni materials and they ask for HIghers in one year. I think I'm still on the side of just doing 5 HIghers in S5 and getting them in the bank if you can.

Vettrianofan · 01/02/2024 19:58

DS looking at forensic science at his local college and also sound production. He doesn't really fancy the FAs available but it's good to know how many subjects that would have taken up.

I can't get over how much choice young people have nowadays at college compared to when I was at school years ago. There are loads of interesting courses to try out in S5/S6. Psychology and politics both sound like really interesting subjects at that age. DS considering crashing H Modern Studies.

Original poster
onepotwonder · 02/02/2024 06:50

#TeenTraumaTrials* the fa ds is looking at is 2 full days so that is more than 4 periods a week is it. It takes 2 years and is worth one higher. I agree with you. Makes sense to do one higher instead of 2 year fa.

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Original poster
onepotwonder · 02/02/2024 06:51

It is 9.30am to 4pm 2 days

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Original poster
onepotwonder · 02/02/2024 06:54

Vettrianofan I agree lots of great subjects. But am struggling to find anything da can do. He is going into S5. I think he will have a better choice for S6 if he stays on. I had hoped a fa would have been something he could do. But seems like too much work if it is counted as one subject choice

OP posts:
lapochette · 02/02/2024 22:44

I would look at doing highers in S5 and once you have them in the bag maybe FA in S6 alongside AHs.

Original poster
onepotwonder · 03/02/2024 13:36

Thank you and yes that is what he has decided today. It makes sense to do it that way 😃

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