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Secondary education

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Original poster

Part time jobs whilst in 6th Form

94 replies

Horsemad · 25/08/2013 20:14

DH doesn't want DS1 to have a weekend/holiday job whilst in 6th form as he wants him to be able to concentrate on his studies more.

I disagree and think apart from the money, it equips the student with time management skills, social skills etc.

DS is quite happy to take DH's money and not work!

School didn't help; at the 6th form open evening they advised against them having jobs.

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Ragwort · 25/08/2013 20:16

I agree with you, I used to work in graduate recruitment and it was quite obvious to spot those young people who had never worked.

What about baby-sitting though? You can still study whilst earning a bit of money; also remember that part time jobs are much harder to get these days. Or what about a voluntary job that will involve commitment and getting on with other people?

Original poster
Horsemad · 25/08/2013 20:26

Babysitting is a good idea. He's a lazy devil and is quite happy to be subsidised by Papa. Angry

He was in air cadets until DH told him he would have to stop going whilst he was revising for GCSEs - now he won't go back. He doesn't have any other hobbies, so thinks it's acceptable to play computer games 16 hrs a day! ( I turn the router off so he isn't on it that long, but would be if alloeed )

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Doodledumdums · 25/08/2013 20:28

I really think it is a good idea to work during 6th form, it is so easy to spot graduates who have never worked, and I really don't think it helps them at all.

Original poster
Horsemad · 25/08/2013 20:36

It doesn't but not sure how I can convince DH...

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BeckAndCall · 25/08/2013 20:40

Depends on the school he goes to, the extra curricular activities he does, the duties he will have at school etc.

My DS's school didn't 'allow' boys to have part time jobs but my DDs school does. dS would have managed with a job but no way could DD - too many other things going on!

Mumzy · 25/08/2013 20:40

I think working one eveni g and a Saturday all day is enough and will look good on cv. The problem is if he's offered more shifts so you need to think how to handle that one before it happens

mummy1973 · 25/08/2013 20:46

Your DS will need to want a job regardless of your and DH's views. I actually agree with you BTW but I think it's pointless unless your DS will find and keep a job. Can you convince DS of the benefits?

Original poster
Horsemad · 25/08/2013 20:47

He doesn't do any extra curricular activities, it's so frustrating.

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Original poster
Horsemad · 25/08/2013 20:49

That's the problem mummy1973, he is given money by DH & MIL, so the incentive isn't there. Angry

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noblegiraffe · 25/08/2013 20:51

Most of my sixth formers have a job, usually shop work. Shops like Build a Bear and the Disney shop like hiring teenagers, a few of the lads work in B&Q or Homebase. Mostly they balance it well with their studies but a couple have had to be told to cut down on their shifts. One of them earned enough money to buy a car!

TheAlphaandtheOmega · 25/08/2013 21:29

DS had a supermarket job all through 6th Form. He worked Sundays and Friday evening so it didn't interfere with his studies and got loads of extra hours in the hols. He ended up earning loads and now he's at Uni a job came up in the same supermarket chain which he got, so now he has plenty of work for the hols.

It boosted his confidence no end and I sure will be a very positive thing for when he leaves uni.

TheAlphaandtheOmega · 25/08/2013 21:34

I shouldn't worry either about turning down extra shifts as plenty of people want them as supermarket contracts are for quite low hours and people want to make more money than their basic hours.

DalmationDots · 25/08/2013 21:49

DD went to a very academic 'full-on' girls school (lots of things on offer and pressure to be keeping up with academics plus an array of extracurricular) but she managed to work Saturdays throughout sixth form and in the holidays she would do the equivalent of 3 days a week. She coped fine, but she is quite disciplined and would keep on top of everything quite well. IMO she learnt how to balance things much better than if she had just done school things and the money she earned is now invaluable as she uses it to pay towards uni living costs. She made some great friends at her work too so she saw it as a bit of a break and social time as she enjoyed going.

mumslife · 25/08/2013 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Horsemad · 25/08/2013 22:04

I really need to persuade DS a job is A. Good. Thing.

Most of his peers have some kind of employment & I wouldn't mind so much if I thought he'd study more if he doesn't have to work... but I know that won't be the case. Angry

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BackforGood · 25/08/2013 22:06

I agree that working adds an extra dimension to a young person's CV (and also their respect for money), but I'm not sure it's dh you need to convince - it's your ds who needs to 'want' to work.

monikar · 25/08/2013 22:09

The argument for not having a part-time job in the sixth form is that it will interfere with their studies, but realistically will they be working all the time they are not at school/college? Most teenagers will spend some of their time on fb etc. and computer games so one way to look at it is that there will be less time for these activities.

mummy1973 · 25/08/2013 22:12

Maybe it's more of a what he enjoys and wants from life kinda chat? Maybe he needs some help thinking about other opportunities and things outside of computer time?

BellaVita · 25/08/2013 22:12

I think we share the same DS Horsemad Grin

However both DH and I agree he should be getting a job - he currently gets £50 a month from us. All clothes, toiletries etc are bought by us. He just pays for his top up and never goes out, just sits at his computer playing games.

He starts college on the 9th Sept and DH has already given him the big talk about how his Internet is going to be restricted and will only be on for college work.

He finished school for study leave on the 10th May so will have had nearly 4 months complete computer time.

It will do them NO HARM!

exoticfruits · 25/08/2013 22:18

He could do with a job and interests for his CV. Having said that part time jobs are difficult to get, depending on where you live.

Beveridge · 25/08/2013 22:20

FWIW, I'm a secondary teacher but in Scotland so the intensive year for our lot is S5, as that's the year that you do Highers and it's a fair slog. However, S6 (should you choose to stay on) is traditionally more enjoyable (unless you totally stuffed up S5).

Given my experience as a pupil and teacher, I have decided that my DCs will be advised not to have a job if they decide to stay on till S5 and I would be prepared to give them an allowance (nothing crazy) but it would be entirely effort-based i.e. if they are not putting in the study hours, the subsidy goes.

The expectation would be they look for a part-time job as soon as they have sat their last S5 exam. Not sure how the pace of A levels compares but 5 Highers is pretty much all-consuming from August to May. I had a part-time job in S5 and my marks definitely suffered, I needed to spend a lot of time studying to get the grades I needed but I was not allowed to give up my summer job (my mother would not let me. I have no idea why. I remember desperately trying to study for mock exams in my teabreaks. It wasn't great ).

higgle · 25/08/2013 22:27

DS1 worked every weekend at Tesco - both days, while he was in the 6th form, he got into Oxford and had £7k saved up by the time he left home. It was very good for his confidence and a good entry into the "real world" DS2 has worked at a local chinese restaurant and takeaway and also made good money. DS2 has been really befriended by the Chinese staff, who are mainly post grad students and has a whole new social life as a result ( and invitations to go to China), he is off to a Russell Group uni next month. I think it is really important to encourage young jpeople to work and study too.

titchy · 25/08/2013 22:32

I somehow doubt all those 6th form colleges tell their prospective med or vet med applicants not to get any work experience!!

Seriously if he's bright and ambitious he will need something none study related on his UCAS form, especially as he has no extra curricular (seriously your dh thought it was a good idea to give up cadets- what planet is he on?????). Tons of AAA students each year with no uni offers because they had no depth to them.

Do him a favour and make him get a job or do voluntary work or something.

mumslife · 25/08/2013 22:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Horsemad · 25/08/2013 22:39

Bella - it's uncanny how similar our boys are!
If mine doesn't get a job I will personally unplug the router more! Grin

He will NOT be having anything like the amount of pc time he's imagining.

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