oh wise ones... Any options for a very bright sixth form drop out??

[Gimmeabreak]

I am a name changer

At a loss as to what to do with DD (17 year 12) who is bright but done virtually nothing since starting year 12 and has today got a clutch of dreadful results that reflect this...

She's out tonight on a school trip so not had a chance to talk to her but think (judging by last parents evening) that school may well suggest she leaves

Her school is high flying and gets great results and they cull students who wont work and get appalling results

They've warned her many times....

So - faced with this ...What options/schemes/education could she do??
She is clever enough (14 gcses all A /A*) and can work well if focused - she has a saturday job in a highly esteemed shop/cafe and is fabulous - attentive - always turns up - works hard

If i sound chirpy about this - I am not but need to move forward for her sake..

ANY advice or help would be great as we really feel lost at sea!

Start her own business?

Full time at the shop, poss with business studies/managerial day release course?

catering/front of house training?

Gap year once she's earned enough to travel. Reassess.

No Pressure to continue education right now as long as she's doing something.

What subjects is she most interested in? Would she want a science based career or an arts one or a people one?

I have done some work recently promoting the option of being a dispenser in a pharmacy (community or hospital) for students in a similar position to your DD. It is one of the few careers that you can train on the job whilst earning a salary and eventually become a member of a recognised professional body without having to study for a degree.

Let me know if you'd like to know more!

Does she have career in mind, or general area she is interested in as a career.

Is there anything in particular that has gone wrong between GCSEs and A's or is it purely she worked hard for former and has done little work for latter?

Level 3 vocational course at college
Apprenticeship
Internship somewhere - but may be difficult to find without connections in current climate and ta her young age

My SS dropped out of 6th form to our horror!! It was the whole school environment that did not gel he changed tacic and now at college excelling on electronics course. Sometimes school not for everyone !

Local College? My DD messed up 6th form, i cant say she has any actual results. She left last summer, had had health problems and depression. Shes now studying at the University of Life, ie au pairing in Paris. Has mafe some great friends and spends evenings writing out french verbs, school style! Coz she wants to make sense in her texts to french friends. Dont really know where its leading but shes learning alot!
Go with the flow and dont force anything, but thats only my opinion. You often have to try alsorts and then find yourself on a path you never imagined. Difficult age.

SES i AM interested -yes

She was studying sciences with maths (chem physics maths furthermaths) all were A* GCSE ....

She was looking at engineering - or possibly accountancy?

She is a good public speaker ( that's what she's doing tonight ) her schooll had suggested law?

we were thinking about apprenticeships??

weevils how did you find out about that?

I will PM you in a bit with more info. Obviously this is a very specific answer/option and probably one of many that she may wish to consider but happy to give you as much info as I can :)

Like imnotmymum was going to suggest 6th form college? If she is at a very academic school and not applying herself there may be an issue with the environment or peer group - maybe she is bored of being at school with all the rules and expectations? Maybe she wants to be treated more like an adult, and needs to be in a more self-motivating environment? 6th form colleges often seem to suit high-fliers who need a bit more space to find themselves and respond better to the less structured environment ?

I went to a v. academic school and noticed that a lot of bright girls did very badly at A level - however when they retook their exams at 6th form college many of them did brilliantly. They had just had enough of school!

Accountancy - could try and get a training contract with a firm to do AAT which can give opportunities to higher qualifications) all earning as you go and gaining experience. This won't be easy to get but if she can sell herself. She should gen up on AAT first though - know it is what she wants to do because you work and study at the same time.

Or, a level 3 Business Diploma.

Or, while waiting look at correspondance courses for bookeepers.

A few ideas there.

Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer? No idea if this is realistic, maybe someone here will know.

I was going to suggest an apprenticeship. It sounds like she enjoys her saturday job, and maybe she would be better in a more "hands on" environment rather than in a sixth form where it is all written work?

yes mylittlemiracle - without being specific her employer is a small high powered family chain with very high standards and sje has really risen to the challenge

not so at school...

all the advice is so helpful ...SES thank you am very interested!

Credit to my DD, she worked it all out herself and lined herself up a job at the beginning of the summer to start end of the summer. Then went to Maga, creamfields etc etc. Job ready for 1st Sept.
Will PM you.

Weevil thank you i would be really grateful - i think some time-out might be good for dd and as i said she is already 17.5 so could travel.....

Is it totally impossible to turn it around with re-sits and more application for the summer exams? According to DS we have had some shocker results too.

It may be an idea to step back from trying to 'fix' this for her, let her take responsibility for the next step.

Not Going to Uni website

senua - none of the grades were NEAR her predicted 4 A/A*

that website looks very helpful thank you

This really is so very helpful - mumsnet at it's best thank you all

Can she resit the year?
I have seen this a LOT with my daughters' friends over the last couple of years.. very high GCSEs but NOT prepared for the transition to A level and some hideous shocks at AS results time. Some had chosen the wrong A levels others just hadn't worked .. my DD2 was one of these.. she cruised thro GCSE..all A/A* then did badly at AS. She had to BEG to be allowed to continue one of her A levels as she got an E at AS summer exams but this year has pulled her self together and is back on track for BBC.. got a C today in the exam paper she failed completely last year and was 1 mark off a B... (the others were fine) so it CAN be done. She just didn't realise that A levels were going to be so much more work! My elder daughter saw several of her friends crash at AS too..some did leave but several resat the year, pulled their socks up and are now at University having done well the second time around..so it CAn be done.

But that depends if A levels are really right for her.. if she loves working she might well be happier doing that! My DS1 (19 next week) didn't want to do A levels..did a Btec and is now in a job he loves working in the community with disabled adults.. he never wanted to go to University and is going to study as he works. Ironically he is doing a job hands on, which DD2 is going to do as a degree..and they will probably be on the same salary when she qualifies as a LD Nurse! Different means to the same end....!

Could she get to 2 x A levels, Grade C or above? If so then this might be worth looking at:
IBM Apprentice Scheme

Mira yes she should get that at least in worst case scenario

Just feel utterly depressed about it today!

dd is old for her year medusa - and i don't think she would relish another year at home!