A'Levels -what is the alternative?

[otpot]

So DD worked her socks off and did brilliantly in her GCSE's. However she has no motivation re A'levels. She is not enjoying the work, cannot be bothered ,not interested. To be honest, I suspect the success of her results combined with a fabulous summer make getting back to the grindstone rather hard. However, she wants to drop out, but what is the alternative? It has never been on our radar so we don't know where to start. Any advice gratefully received.

What does she enjoy? Any college courses she might like?

Look into advanced apprenticeships. The better ones pay well and as well as learning a trade she will also get more qualifications which while not as versatile as A levels wont rule out higher level study later if she wants.

rolls royce run a well regarded scheme but there are lots of others in different fields according to her interests.

I think the advanced apprenticeships are for post A'level. If she leaves A'levels, what does she do - as she is 16 I don't think she can work full time? I am completely confused as to what the alternative to A'levels are. She wants to be a teacher (!) so that suggests the A'levels university route but she has fallen at the first hurdle. She is not particularly passionate about anything else - she is brilliant at English and psychology, but has lost all interest in further academic study. I plan to have a word with school in the next week - she cannot be the first student to have floundered so soon.\

As others have said advanced apprenticeships required A-Levels as they are level 4 to 7 qualifications
I run a middle level apprenticeship which does not require A-levels, but as quite tight entry requirements and is very vocational. It gets a part level 4 qualification and can be topped up to level 6 at a later date. It also competes professional registration too.
I have to say it is not any easy option you work 4 days a week, go to college one day a week and still have all the assignments that the straight level 6 college based version has.

You do need to be exceptionally motivated to be successful in this type of qualification.

No. Higher apprenticeships are the post A level ones. Advanced apprenticeships are for those with 5A*-C GCSEs and usually last 3-4 years after which you have level 3 qualifications equivalent to 2 A levels at least.

Have a look here It does seem some of the advanced apprenticeships are shorter in duration and don't necessarily do the 2 A level equivalent thing, but they are definitely for post GCSE and with good GCSEs your dd should be able to aim high.

Unfortunately for teaching she would need a degree, the 'teaching' apprenticeships seem to be mostly for teaching assistants or childcare as far as I can see.

My Dd2 has just finished a Btec level 3 at a vocational college, it was a brilliant course and prepared her well for the world of work. The college was well respected in its field and she walked straight into a summer job in her chosen area following her course.

She was not ever going to do A levels so we had time to prepare but a few of her friends swapped to Btecs at this time 2 years ago!

If she really hates it, move now before the courses are too established.

Oh and by the way Dd3's course was the equivalent of 2 A levels points wise and there was a parallel course which was equivalent to 3 so enough points for Uni too.

Good luck and dont be afraid to follow a different path

She could work or do voluntary work.

The duty to continue in education specifies that young people who are in work or voluntary work for at least 20 hours a week only have to do part-time education and young people who don't comply aren't subject to criminal sanctions anyway so she may as well do what suits her best.

There are loads and loads of courses for non a level types ....
Here's a college that specialises in them
www.totton.ac.uk/im-a-school-leaver-(16-19)/16-19-full-course-listings.aspx
the employment prospects from some of them are much better than A levels and even some degrees!