Help re 16 year wanting to leave school

[Stressedoutmama73]

My DS is finishing 5th year in Scotland. He sat 5 highers and is expecting to do reasonably well.
He is not keen to go back and start 6th year early June.
He has applied for a couple of HNCs and would like to start an open university degree when he's 18.
He is very shy and quiet among his peers. He's had friends over the years but isn't really close to anyone at school.
Me and DH are not keen on the OU route as feel he will be isolated but understand that the typical bricks and mortar uni environment may not appeal to him.
We'd prefer him to at least start 6th year while he awaits the outcome of the HNC applications and Highers but he's not keen and refusing. In fact not sure he's even really keen on the HNCs tbh.
Says he'd prefer to study for self certification qualifications until he can start OU.
Finding this all very stressful. Think he would benefit maturity wise from 6th year or HNC but really not keen on him leaving school to spend a year doing self certs.

Anyone been through similar? Finding it difficult to see him make what we think is the wrong choice and think another year at school might help with maturity if nothing else.

I would try to separate the argument about school from the need for a structured next step. If he will not start S6, I’d ask him to show a real plan for June to August: HNC application dates, what he will do if they say no, how many taught hours/support he would have, and what work or volunteering he will do alongside study. Self-certification only would worry me unless it sits inside a wider routine.

When you say "self certification", do you mean computing certifications? If so, are any computing apprenticeships offered near you? Computing / Software Engineering does have quite good progression opportunities from modern apprenticeships through to degree apprenticeships, so in my opinion it would be a good route. He may like working with adults better than the school environment (not sure, depends on his personality).

Doing Advanced Highers (?) would really make sense though if there are two subjects he really likes. The friendship situation isn't perfect but it is only one year.

Thank you. I'm worried it's going to be a year wasted if work cant be found and he's stuck in his room the whole time 😞
This age is very tricky when they can't be told what to do!

Yes, that would be my concern too. If he does not go back for S6, I’d make the alternative quite concrete rather than open-ended: HNC follow-ups, a weekly timetable, one regular adult check-in, and some work/volunteering outside the house. If he cannot put that structure together, S6 is the safer holding pattern while he decides.