Schools - I'm begining to believe they treat our kids like a financial transaction

[sammyjguru]

Does anyone out there have concerns about the advice being given to their child about their future careers? Both of my children are at this crucial stage and I became uncomfortable when the more academic one was being put under pressure to go into 6th form - I spoke to some of my friends and they shared this concern with their own experiences, I've delved into this more and there is a growing pattern/concern that our children may be being given advice that is in the best interests of the school and not for the student - anyone else share my concern or had a similar experience?

@TeenPlusTwenties - sorry, can you not embark on a healthy opposing discussion without resorting to insults - hobby horse?

Sorry my bad - apprenticeship wage is £3.90 an hour.

I started this forum discussion to ask about other experiences

Really? Then why don't you expand upon your view with sufficient detail for other people to understand where you are coming from and what you specifically would like to see, rather than repeating vague stock phrases over and over and capitalising random words to shout at us all?

For most academic students, A levels are thw best option because they are the gateway to the next level of study (ie university). The school isn't being disengenous in encouraging academic students to take A levels.

However sixth forms do need bums on seats to afford to operate. If courses aren't full (in our place this is now at least 8 students) then they don't run.

@PostNotInHaste
Thank you for a valid question, I won't be on here for much longer as it seems I have misunderstood the mumsnet forum, this is my first time and what an unpleasant experience, people very keen to judge, be rude and personal!
Qualifications are about levels, Level 3 & 4 qualifications, be they A Level or Level 3/4 Apprenticeships are at the same level - does that make sense, not quite sure how best to explain it - there is a common misconception that A Levels are a higher qualification to an Apprenticeship where in actual fact this isn't true - however, some Universities (not many) may not accept the amount of points accrued if you gain an apprenticeship rather than an A Level.

I'm VERY involved in my children's career choices and decision

You'd never guess... 🤣🤣🤣

I work in law and we have tKen on some apprentices recently. In some areas they are treated almost the same but in a lot the overall academic rigour is lacking. They haven't studied as wifely and struggle to get some of the more abstract concepts you study in depth at law school.

It's a fantastic alternative route and especially for those who may not have considered university but it is absolutely not EXACTLY the same qualification at all. It is more likely to lead to high level paralegal type roles and sadly as pp said many law firms are snobby and won't look twice.

Not sure whether similar issues exist in other industries.

You sound a bit evangelical about apprenticeships, they are good, but only one of a number of options and need to be looked at in context

@PeakingDuck - oh - another bitchy comment - how helpful, original and inspiring!

What you will find though that those apprenticeships that offer good qualifications and a high wage at the end, usually go to the brightest students and generally once they have completed A levels.

The majority of apprenticeship that are offered after year 11 are generally either low skilled or of a manual type.

Most students by the time they are year 11 generally have a fairly good idea whether they want to stay on school, go to college or an apprenticeship.

Schools tend to focus their limited time and resources where we believe they are vulnerable students who could fall into NEAT
or students that have been identified as not having any idea what they would like to do next.

OP. Not insulting trying to understand why you are posting.

What angle are you coming from?
Have you had a bad experience with your child?
Are you tasked (but who?) with pushing apprenticeships in NAW?
Are you a careers advisor?
What?

As it happens, my DD1 started but did not complete an apprenticeship at 18.
We are considering one for DD2 though she'll probably just do a BTEC.
A friends DS is doing degree apprenticeship.

But if you want a discussion you need to be a lot clearer about where you are coming from and what you want to discuss.

Ah ok, thanks. We did look at them for DD but she couldn’t find anything suitable . I think that’s the issue though, the points accrued - there’s a potential to cut down post 18 options so I think most people look at keeping things as wide as possible for as long as possible , given that a lot of 16 year olds don’t know what they want to do at that point.

We haven’t looked at anything other than A levels for DS as he would want as wide a choice as university as possible.

@titchy
No, MINIMUM £3.90 an hour, a lot of employers offer more, and given that the person is a trainee, learning both trade and qualification and are in fact a large drain on employers time and resources for a significant amount of time, and if they were at college or the clearly much coveted 6th form, they would get ZERO - you make a good point!

Of course it’s a sales pitch. I bet when you go to the apprenticeship talk they don’t tell kids to do A-levels instead. Or if you go to the college open evening they don’t suggest sixth form.

@PostNotInHaste - can I suggest (and I'm slightly scared on here lol) - that you speak to a careers advisor outside of the school, especially if they have a 6th form? There are very few universities who won't accept apprenticeship students, I believe we are talking the likes of Cambridge, Oxford - so it shouldn't limit choice, but I'm happen to help if you would like more information - I have a lot of contacts (I'm going to get accused of showing off now lol). :)

@noblegiraffe - sadly, I have to agree

@OneMamma I did say most and not all
Yes you can find some really good apprenticeships post 16 but unfortunately they are few and far between. Plus I would imagine highly competitive to land such a great apprenticeship.

@OneMamma really? Most firms I know just get rid of the majority once they don’t need them anymore (I.e. they get too expensive). Obviously a minority stay on and are supported through further education so that they can progress but they really seem to be in a tiny minority.

So OP what is your background, with your 'lots of contacts' ?

It really reads as if you have an agenda but you don't want to say what it is.

@OneMamma - sorry, this is my first ever visit and i'm getting a lot of messages and still trying to work out how to use it and also allowed myself to get embroiled in tittle tattle as I felt personally attacked from the start - I was trying to raise a concern outside of my child's experience, however I appreciate your comments - although I can't find the supportive comments you have mentioned - not sure my thread is fully populated though - and I STILL can't work out how to use emojs (sad face)

@OneMamma apologies, just realised you weren’t talking about firms. Is in excess of 50k where they hit the salary ceiling then?

@cascade31
Can you explain the source of your data?