Leaving school after year 12 to start an apprenticeship (England)

[MrsMoastyToasty]

Has anyone's DC decided that they are not really suited for A levels midway through their course and that an apprenticeship would be a better option?

DS is struggling with his A levels. Partly due to the amount of self study, the college environment (the school where he did GCSE's didn't have post 16 provision) and his autism.

Yes, my DC did year 12 and wasn't particularly enjoying it, then did a weeks work experience and asked for an apprenticeship there! It meant they had to start again with Level 3 qualifications, as they were only half was through - and as the Level 3 apprenticeship took 3 years it means it took them 4 years to finish level 3, but they're now half was through their degree apprenticeship.

Did your DC leave immediately or complete the year?
My DC doesn't know what he wants to do for a career, which is means making the decision to leave that much more difficult.

This may sound obvious, but don't leave part way through without an actual apprenticeship lined up.

The other option would be to 'restart' y12 and do a L3 BTEC Extended Diploma.

However both options (apprenticeship/BTEC) require him actually knowing what he wants to do.

I am in the same situation with my son. Doing Btec and one Alevel and really struggling. There is a complete lack of support at his college and he seems to be getting more and more down. He has ADHD. Wondering if we should try a different college or if an apprenticeship would be better.

Apprenticeship is perfect for many children.
My sons apprenticeship (marine mechanics) happened because he was dyslexic & hated school, he said he wanted to be motor bike mechanic (racing....I refused as he would have had to be a engineering genius) & as we live in a place full yachting, he went to do boat mechanics & maintenance. Later he evolved from the boat yard to yacht engine room engineer .
He now earns an excellent salary, loves his job & has travelled the world.
The best possible outcome.

I did this. Dropped out Jan of y12, got an apprenticeship when they just came out, everyone thought I was nuts. Mine was a dodgy company so I ended up doing a Level 3 in 6 months and went back to finish my A Levels that September. Its a lot more regulated now.
I ended up struggling to find work with just A Levels, thanks to the work experience from the apprenticeship I found a job in a school and eventually found out I loved teaching dyslexic kids.
It's a much better path for almost all kids in my honest opinion. Uni is not what it used to be and tons of my friends who went uni, even to Russell groups, couldn't find work upon graduation and started in really entry level positions that essentially trained them in house. Basically an apprenticeship.
They're quite competitive now from what I hear.