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?

You say you're new to MN, might I suggest that you'd get a better discussion of the subject if you didn't use shouting capitals and weren't so aggressive with those who disagree with you.

Of course schools are going to encourage the brighter students to do A levels, it would be strange if they didn't but as @noblegiraffe says if you go to a college open day you will find exactly the same for non vocational options.

Individual views will be coloured by experience, in my case I didn't notice any undue pressure for my DC to stay at school for post 16, as a parent I see it as my job to teach them to think for themselves and find out what options are available for their futures, what the school thinks isn't going to feature in any decision making in my house

@TeenPlusTwenties
Sorry - not engaging with a person that feels the need to demean! I just KNEW that when I said 'lots of contacts' this would be used as a battering stick not regarded with the helpful intent.

@OneMamma that’s not so bad then. In professional services firms it’s common practices to use apprentices to do the grunt work like audit or secretarial work before getting rid of them once they have enough experience to be paid a bit more. I don’t know some people who’ve convinced the firm to let them study then give them a training contract/whatever once they’ve finished but only a couple. I can see how in something that’s a bit more high value like what you do it wouldn’t be worth the effort to only get rid of them afterwards.

Thank you. He has said he is thinking of having a shot at Oxford and Cambridge and I think he’s looking forward to getting his teeth into A Levels. He’s not going to go to his current 6th form though as have explored lots of alternatives.

Why go to 6th form when you can get EXACTLY the same level of qualification as an Apprentice AND end up with at least £600 in your bank account every month - and I'm being asked "why wouldn't you want your child to go to sixth form" !!!

Same level, but not the same qualification.

Most of us want our children to achieve their best and feel that the best route for a lot of them is a levels and then uni. As a teacher, I certainly feel that a school sixth form is the best place for that, tho that's JMO.

You seem to be a fan of apprenticeships, I am not, for reasons to do with personal experience. Certainly I know that an apprenticeship would not be a good way for Ds2 to get on to a biology degree at Warwick uni.

I am not anti college, one of my DC was better suited to a different route.

I can't see why a school wouldn't talk about its sixth form offer, but IME they also give plenty of airtime to other options via careers fairs and the like.

I don’t understand what your gripe is at all?

Your children get a choice, it’s not like it’s forced on them is it.

@coconuttelegraph - interesting that you highlighted I was aggressive by using capital letters which is to HIGHLIGHT words but made no mention of those that put abusive statements, whilst swearing and generally 'rounding' - not much of a community spirit - I think there's a lot of people on here for a good row and whilst your comments on the surface appear to be well - intentioned, without the balance, they serve only as enablement - so thank you.

@Jellybeansincognito - since when is a concern a gripe?

Op, instead of arguing the toss and getting defensive with everyone who doesn’t agree with you, spend that time looking for apprenticeships that suit your dc. They may want to do A Levels and stay at school and may have given that impression to the school which is why they suggested they stay. I hope for your dc that you give them room to breathe and make their own decisions in life.

That's fine. You're not really engaging anyway as far as I can see.
You've done a lot of SHOUTING and asserting, but not much any actual discussing or suggesting other ways, or providing helpful information to other board users. With guru at the end of your name I'd think maybe you might have information to share, but you're not doing that.

Let's start again.

Are you saying:
^Has anyone else found that schools don't really make the advanced apprenticeships routes visible to their more academic children? I had to do a lot of digging to see what was out there, as school careers advice seemed to only push A levels?'

My answer:

I found the whole stuff around apprenticeships as clear as mud. Even the nursery one my DD started at 18, which is a really standard type of apprenticeship. School were good (it doesn't have a 6th form) at making options clear, but the whole apprenticeship tuff is even more obscure than BTECs and they were hard enough to find out info on.

@PostNotInHaste
I'm not entirely sure so would recommend some impartial advice but if you're child prefers the classroom environment then I would agree that 6th Form/Uni etc would be their best route (smiley face) lol

For info: On MN if you want to highlight words you italicise them with ^ either side.
Capitals is deemed Shouting and is considered very aggressive & rude.

I wasn't highlighting agression by the use of capital letters, I was pointing out that on MN the convention is not to use the shouty capitals, the convention is to bold if you want to make a point. Of course you don't need to observe the ways of any forum but you also can't complain if posters don't react in the way you want.

Answering posters with exclamation marks at the end of your point does, yes, read as agressive. I don't understand what "serve only as enablement" means so don't know if you are insulting or complimenting me.

@TeenPlusTwenties - thanks - lesson learnt, as a brand new, newbie - unaware - I could still do with a tip on emojs though (laughing face).

Often it isn;t just a choice between staying on at 6th form and doing A levels and an apprentiship though and schools should be encouraging all options.

Ds's school does not offer music as a subject. Luckily for ds who wants a career in music me and his dad are both musical and knew about the various routes such as A levels at a local college or another school, specialist music school or a Btec at a local college.

The school does offer Btec dance and theyt push kids intrested in performing arts onto that course. However it's really not very good and the school shoudl be advising anyone with the right level of talent to apply for a specialist college either locally (we have great one locally) or how to obtain a government award to train at a centre of excellence. (my dd is training at one such place)

The range of options available at many school 6th forms is very limited and schools should advise accordingly.

@sammyjguru being a teacher for 21 years and being a HOY 11, for 12 of those in varying schools.

Most schools I have worked in actually do a really good job of steering students in the direction they wish to follow.

At my school we start careers at year 7 right thorough to year 11. Each department talks, gives information on career paths. We have career fayres and have local colleges, apprenticeships ect .... come in to talk to the students.

Just because the school
promote their own sixth form doesn't mean they have neglected other careers advice.

At all schools I have worked in over the last 20 years they have the careers adviser come
in to year 11 where they have a 1-1 with each individual year 11.

If you're on a laptop then the words for emojis are at the bottom of the page. e.g. without spaces [ smile ] will give
Don't know where they are on mobiles.

We are a friendly bunch on this board when people are open about their agendas and don't shout (whether on purpose or accidental).

@Mamato2gorgeousboys
When you reply in a chat forum - it isn't defensive and arguing, its responding to a chat - again, interesting that you jump on the band wagon of the consensus opinion rather than actually commenting on the spiteful behaviour of the participants

@TeenPlusTwenties
I wouldn't agree with the 'friendly bunch' - still can't work out those damn emojs though

OP, do you understand that you’re being rude, or do you treat everyone like this, I wonder? If it’s the latter then you must find the world a pretty unwelcoming place ...

Op you’re missing the point - it’s all about how you reply. IMHO you have waaaay too much time on your hands

We are friendly when people don't appear to be aggressive or obfuscating first. We are also aware sometimes we get people pushing/selling stuff without being open, and that also gets people's backs up.

Have a read through the threads, you'll see how helpful and supportive people are here.