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?

Wow you are so rude.
Literally angry about nothing.

Have a good day!

We also have journalists trying to start a bun fight.

If I have offended anyone today with my shouting - I apologise - this is my first time - I wasn't aware that capital letters would be deemed shouting and/or aggressive - I still can't work out the emojs - I don't know what you all mean with DD's etc, etc but I genuinely thought people would share their experiences, not tell me what I should and shouldn't do with my child - there appears to be a lot of 'rounding' on here and mutual agreement if you are not a regular - not found it welcoming - I accept responsibility for my shouting errors and that may have been a contributory factor, but some people are mean, personal and well, just unnecessary - please be patient and try and imagine me with a big L Plate on my back whilst I'm navigating my way through - it took me ages to work out why I could only see a handful of messages!

@Wolfiefan - ohhhhhhh - never even thought of that - I think my expectations were 'off' of this site - I found it very spikey from the start but may be that I was just shouting at everyone lol!

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,

Well the qualification gained via an apprenticeship may well be level 3, however that doesn't mean it's the same as 3 A levels, or that it's will be accepted by universities. Or weirdly enough as a stepping stone into a higher or degree apprenticeship....

I’ll share my experience as a teacher:
Careers services in schools are patchy. When students ask me for advice it’s really hard because I have had no careers training at all.
Schools have to promote their 6th forms. Teachers jobs are dependent on student numbers. We’re not going to advise students to leave because we have to pay our mortgages and feed our children.

People generally do share experience if they feel they have something relevant to share. And also if the original poster (OP) shares first.
If your first post said I’m worried that DS (darling son) is being pushed into A levels by school. How do I find out about other local options? Does anyone know about apprenticeships?
Then you would have received very different replies.

It’s not just the shouting, you are also being very passive aggressive and sniping at people. Surely you are aware that you are not sending off good vibes here?!

@ElloBrian example please?

No, I’m not going to waste my time trying to teach you the basics of good manners. You started a thread to ask for information, several posters have told you that it’s not clear enough what you’re asking, either clarify what you want to know or thread’s over. Goodbye.

If I had an academic child, then, all other things being equal, I'd be recommending they did A levels as I believe they are more flexible. However if there was then a good degree apprenticeship to be had I think I'd be very supportive of that.

I'd be supportive of some other apprenticeships in place of A levels for an academic child if it was really clear what career route they were going down, and if it could lead to a degree route if desired.

@CuckooCuckooClock - thank you - I appreciate your point and the underlying issue - but if what you're saying is true - then this means my opening concern is correct - that there may be an issue with pushing our children in the wrong direction because of a conflicting agenda?

OP — ‘Thos is an OUTRAGE, agree with me

MN — it’s not that black and white

OP — AGREE WITH MEEEEE NOW! ITS THE LAW!!!!!!!!! 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻

However if there was then a good degree apprenticeship to be had I think I'd be very supportive of that.

You need A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

example please?

You're not the teacher, we didn't all have a meeting and decide your style is coming over as rude, no one has to give you examples, you can see it's a perception shared by many.

Maybe step away and accept that it wasn't a great start, you can always name change and post again asking your question in a more neutral way as others have suggested

You need A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

I can't speak for all apprenticeships but I know that isn't always the case, there are ones that you can start with GCSEs and work you way up to a degree. Maybe it's a case of specifc terminology but you can end up with a degree through the apprentice route without A levels

@coconuttelegraph - so no example then?

Yes I think your concerns are well founded. I have had similar concerns myself when I have heard schools pushing their own sixth forms over other sixth forms in the area. There is a conflict there sometimes.

OP what does your child want to do? Have they expressed an interest in a specific profession? Why do you think an apprenticeship would be a better route than a levels, of your child is academic? Are you annoyed because the school have confused them or given conflicting information?

I agree with posters that say a levels are a sensible route for an able child, to allow them more time to think about what they want to pursue, before they specialise. Yes they get paid when doing an apprenticeship, but unless the money is really necessary, that's just a bonus.

@LouReidDododo - clapping hands emoj - see, I still haven't figured it out - thank goodness for 'lol's'

I'm not the poster you asked for an example she/he has answered you aleady.

Good luck with whatever it is you are trying to acheive with this thread, if you get what you want you should be grateful that posters have taken the time to engage with you, you haven't made it easy

@DaveGrohlsMuse my post wasn't about my child

My tuppence worth, from admittedly limited experience of 2 (independent schools):

School A - "We're better than school B for 6th form, because they are selective, whereas we see you as family and your GCSE results don't really matter".

School B - " You're going to find A levels difficult if you don't achieve 6/7 in your chosen subjects, and we also require a 5 in maths because we know that's what universities want".

I do think school A should make it clear that getting a decent pass in an A level subject you only got a 4 in is going to be tough, rather than only pushing the "we want you to stay" line, especially as it is a selective school.

@CuckooCuckooClock - thankyou, much appreciated, I think you may be the only one on here that understood my point - I will take it as a learning curve when I look back through the thread but I can't help but feeling there is a real 'bandwagon' tendency on this site, thank you for putting your head above the parapet (damn, really wish I could get the hang of the emoj's). :)

OP the school is a business trying to sell
It's sixth form, just like schools do to attract Year 7s. It is perfectly normal. I have experience as a parent of a Year 11 boy and as a form tutor to Year 11 as part of my teaching job. Unusually for MN I am the parent of a pretty average child who wants to do A Levels.
School have done the hard sell but as a parent we have visited various open days. DS's school and mine have both had visits and assemblies from a variety of colleges and have had careered interviews.
There are options BUT it really is a decision that the child needs to make - the parents' role Is to facilitate visiting other options