Any advice for teen boy that doesn't want to do anything post GCSE?

[JPW1974]

Son didn't get the grades for 6th form, and is devastated. Angry, won't talk.
Has places at college for other topics, but at the moment saying he won't be going as it was our idea, he never wanted to go.

So, at the moment, he will be doing nothing when the next term starts...

Anybody else found themselves in this situation? If so, any tips on how to get out of it and move on?

He passed maths and English, so great news and massive relief there, but only got 33/40 points needed for 6th form.

I think the main issue at the moment is the feeling that failure as so many of his friends are going to 6th form.

I just don't what happens if he continues to refuse to do anything else.

BTEC in sports ?

So he only just got the results today? He's upset. He needs time to process. It's a big decision. Give him a few days at least.

School leaving age - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
These are the options if in England:
You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays. You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:

• stay in full-time education, for example at a college
• start an apprenticeship or traineeship
• spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

Honestly I'd try and encourage him do some work at McDonalds as a temporary. It was the best thing that ever happened to DS1. Fully occupied all day, working with young people, learning lots of transferable skills and some (actually decent) money in his pocket. I always think it looks good on a CV too - people know you're not afraid of hard work if you've done a stint at McDonalds. They were really good supportive employers through Covid too.

He can treat it as a temporary job until he decides what he wants to do (as DS did) but DS has stayed in the industry and is now flying high with head office.

I was going to suggest this too with an extra a level in biology or maths. It’s got lots of potential uni options (if you have the extra a level)

The problem lies in schools treating all students as if they should go to sixth form, when this is only a good idea if they offer a broad enough range to cater to every type of student. If he is not super academic, A levels may not be right regardless and he would only be much unhappier in two years time.

Does his current school not offer BTECs or CTECs? If not maybe other local schools will have these options or lower entry requirements for 6th form. This may be preferable to going to college.

Give him a day or two to process, then go for a long walk/drive and hopefully he'll be more ready to talk. (Lack of eye contact and distractions works wonders for getting them talking.)

16 year olds are expected to be in some form of education or training (although I'm not sure this is policed), so he should sign up for something - perhaps a one year course while he thinks more about what he might like to do. Our local college has a "uniformed public services" course which might suit him - it includes fitness, work experience, adventure training, developing skills in assertiveness, leadership, etc.

Another vote for him processing it all over the weekend.
schools don’t enroll properly until the beginning of term and same for colleges. There’s a lot of chopping and changing goes on around this time.

what I wouldn’t do is shoehorn him into a level subjects he isn’t fussed on for a place at 6th form. Our local fe college has lower grade boundaries to study a levels than 6th forms. It would still be worth him checking the local fe college requirements. But whatever he does tell him to pick something he’s interested in and he will be fine.

Military, service etc out of the question.
Thats a shame, I've seen a couple of teens in a similar position be very happy and achieving much in the navy.

It's a shame they can't just go out and get a job. I left voluntarily at 16 just wanted to get out into the world, did a short polytech course on administration and was working in a bank at 18. Ended up going back to uni at 21. But strangely enough I use the admin qualification a lot more than my science degree that cost a million pounds 😅

This is where apprenticeships come in. 80% of the time working 20% of the time training usually day release or block release at college. DS is starting his in September and will have a take home pay per month of over £1000.