Applying for colleges when child has no idea what to do next

[Remmy123]

My year 11 son who will probably scape a handful of GCSE's as not at all motivated has no idea what he wouid like to do next.

how do we apply to colleges etc and chose what to do if he doesn't know?

The deadlines are approaching so not sure what to do really!

thanks

He should be going to open evenings,

If he genuinely has no idea then do the process in reverse,

Get a prospectus or look at the web site.

Make a list of all the courses he would hate.

Then make a list of the courses he doesn't hate.

Then work from the list of courses he doesn't hate.

Apply for least unlikely courses.

Scrape a handful of GCSEs sounds like vocational not A levels.

Is he likely to get eng lang and maths? If so level 3, if not apply for level 2.

What are his skills? Practical, personal, computers? Go for courses that play to those strengths.

Have you looked round and talked to courses? When are the deadlines? Round me the A level colleges have deadlines Dec-Feb but vocational courses take applications all year.

I have a dc who scraped by in gcses (dyslexia and autism). Alevels were out of the question so we did a process of elimination, dc went through the prospectus crossing off any definite no's, then what was left went through and put in a yes or maybe pile. We then went to look at these and dc decided which was preference. Dc is now in employment with day release to university and doing a level 4 qualification (which dc never thought would happen). It's worked out in the end but was very worrying.

Thanks all

He should pass maths and English (he can only get a 5 in maths as foundation) but tutor saying a 5 def achievable

He is bright but just doesn't like studying etc so A-levels would be out of the equation I think as he doesn't want to go to uni

Good idea re looking at prospectus and crossing what he doesn't want to do

He needs a big dose of reality he is being way too laid back about anything!

I think if he can’t think of a thing can you come up with a default on basis of what he is good at. I have done that with my DS and it has given him a basis to consider options. In his case it is Maths, Chem and English Lit. If not keen what would you sub in/ out. Open evenings have sessions on subjects and that will help.

We're in the same boat OP.

DS definitely doesn't want to do A levels and his strengths definitely lie in vocational subjects.

It's a complete minefield because until they're 16 it's a standard path of primary school then secondary but I've no clue really what happens after!

Both DH and I did A levels then uni and corporate careers but im pretty sure this wouldn't be the right path for DS. He simply isn't academically driven.

Luckily we have several very good colleges in our London borough so hoping he can find something he wants to do.

I’d look at what trades are in demand. Electrician springs to mind. Plenty of others in the building industry. How will we build all those houses Labour is promising?

What sort of careers might he be interested in?

He keeps saying he wants to do an apprenticeship but no idea what in

I am encouraging an IT or business BTec (his dad works in IT) and I feel this can cover many different industries but nothing I say gives him any spark - he is very laid back about this

Tell us about him. His best subjects at school, hobbies / interests.

Do you have a local sixth form college that specialises more in vocational subjects? Our local one offers loads of different things. Going to an open day or at least looking at the online prospectus might open his eyes to possibilities.

I'd also try not to direct him down certain paths just because you think they would be good. He does need to buy into his course himself.

@TeenToTwenties thank you

to be honest he is really coasting in all subjects, he is walking around really unbothered about anything it's frustrating

he likes playing on his PC (he built it himself) playing and watching football .. typical boy really

he is bright but isn't motivated and I fear he will fail his gcse and it wiii be that that gives him a kick up the arse!

ge did a few days work experience at an estate agency and the feedback was amazing as he is v confident! So he has got it in him!

Is he 16 already? My son had no motivation to study in year 11 but was an excellent employee at work and would happily undertake training and qualifications that they offered.

I started with the absolute basics about work with my DS to get him thinking about what sort of career/job he wanted and what sort of post GCSE stuff he should look at.

My first question was 'Do you want to work inside? Or outside?' That's a really basic thing to think about. Don't do a bricklaying course if you don't want to be outside all day in all weathers...Don't do IT/computing if you don't want to spend all day sitting at a desk in an office.

If hes into football would he be interested in coaching?

Can build a PC himself.
Good at an estate agents.
That's a start.

How about business, IT or computer science? (BTECs/ T-levels)

If he enjoyed his work experience at the estate agent, that's a good starting point. Dexter in London offer apprenticeships and there traineeships offered by other companies. Alternatively, look at a college that offers courses such as e-sports and use that as a springboard.

Thanks for your input and advice

we had a look last night and thankfully you can put few options down and he is now likely to put business studies BTEC along with an A level seemed to show a bit more enthusiasm which is good!