Has your child decided to take a different route and not go to university on a full time basis? Tell the National Apprenticeship Service about your experience. £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[PoppyMumsnet]

Figuring out whether your DC wants to go to university or not can be a stressful period for both parents and DCs alike. If your child has decided not to go to uni full time, it’s often hard to know what other options are out there. The National Apprenticeship Service, which is part of the Department for Education, wants to hear about Mumsnetters’ experiences of finding alternatives to uni. They want to know whether you’ve heard of the different apprenticeships options and whether they’re appealing to you and your DCs.

Here’s what the National Apprenticeship Service has to say on apprenticeships:

“The government has stated that all young people must stay in some sort of education or training until at least their 18th birthday. This does not necessarily mean staying in school. Young people have a choice about how they continue in education or training post 16. One of these choices could be an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is a real job, with real training, meaning you can earn while you learn and gain the necessary skills and professional competencies in your chosen career. They are available to anyone over the age of 16 living in England. There are different entry requirements depending on the sector and job and can last from a minimum of one year up to five years.

At any one time, there are up to 28,000 apprenticeship vacancies available online in a variety of careers and industries across England such as the likes of Rolls-Royce, BBC, ASOS, ITV, Barclays, Airbus, IBM and Google, as well as thousands of small and medium-sized businesses.”

Here is more information from the National Apprenticeships Service about apprenticeships

They also have a partnership with The Student Room which you can access here

Here are a few questions that the National Apprenticeships Service is interested in hearing your thoughts about. Please comment on the thread below.

• If your child has decided not to go to college/university, have you been able to find out what other options are out there?
• Do you know how apprenticeships work - do you know what qualifications they give and what they pay? Please tell us about your experience.
• How difficult has it been for you to find information about apprenticeships and what types of apprenticeships are available?
• Did you know that there are degree apprenticeships?
• Did you know you can become a solicitor without going to university full time?

Everyone who posts on the thread will be entered into a prize draw and one person will win a £300 voucher.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Standard T&Cs apply

My daughter will be going to college but wants to work with disabled children in a school setting. She is hoping after college to get a work placement within a school where she will be trained.

My DS decided to go for an apprenticeship and at the same time he reset his English because his school exam grade was poor. He was never really drawn to going to university being more of a practically minded person. Several of his friends also signed up for apprenticeships and this has helped settle him down and focus enormously

We've not yet had his discussion. But it would not worry me if my children did not go on to University/College, provided that they did have a job/apprenticeship/further education to move on to, that would enable them to ultimately achieve their desired career.

My oldest baby has decided to go and work abroad for a year, we are really happy with this as both of us did similar things and thought that it really broadened our horizons, it also seems that with som much debt and cuts to places so many more young people are deciding to do the same.

thankfully both my daughters have decided to go to uni and i am really glad because they can then embark on great careers

yes. only one of mine went to University, the other 3 just went to college but have good jobs too

My daughter isn't old enough to worry about this yet but I've already looked into options and I want her to either head to college/university to study in a field she enjoys or take up an apprenticeship to learn and earn at the same time. I didn't do either of those and I regret it, I don't want her to end up in the same boat.

Glad this popped up!

DS converted his college course to an apprenticeship during his first term. At first, it appeared to be an ideal solution as it gave him practical experience alongside a qualification and a small income. He loved the work, his course, and liked having some money.

Combining experience, learning about a work environment and being exposed to other elements of the business were all fantastic and it all seemed to be going really well - until the company hit financial pressures and DS was made redundant.

Once redundant, the college would no longer support his learning and he had to look for work without the qualification he would have completed. It was only then that we learned that the College, who had set up the Apprenticeship had no responsibility for a) doing any kind of due diligence on the companies they were using as partners and b) no requirement to help DS find another placement so that he could continue his course. It was a shambles.

So, I would say that Apprenticeships are a brilliant idea, but look really carefully at the company, and if possible go for established, medium or large scale businesses to reduce the likelihood of redundancy.

Not there yet but I don't feel like its massively important, there are other options now.

Both my daughter chose to do NVQs at the local college instead of running up a mountain of debt by going to University.

Our DD is a little young yet, but given the working lives of everyone is ever increasing, I shall be encouraging her to extend her education as long as possible when the time comes

• If your child has decided not to go to college/university, have you been able to find out what other options are out there?

Yes it's been quite easy 17yo dd goes to a 6th form college that has careers fairs and an apprenticeship fair, and there was another appreticeship fair locally too. Dd sent off for information on the types of apprenticeship she's interested in (carpentry/woodworking/furniture making).

• Do you know how apprenticeships work - do you know what qualifications they give and what they pay? Please tell us about your experience.

I think we get the idea, they get paid about £100 a week for 2 years, get work experience and training, and can lead to degrees or other qualifications sometimes.

• Did you know that there are degree apprenticeships?

Yes I did know, because I work in a university and they advertise this on their webpage.

• Did you know you can become a solicitor without going to university full time?

I had heard this but would be a bit wary as I know how competitive law is at the moment, so it seems a risky way to go if you're keen to be a solicitor compared to a traditional degree. I think it's different in the arty/creative/vocational subjects, where it seems to make a lot of sense not to go to university if you're not that keen.

• If your child has decided not to go to college/university, have you been able to find out what other options are out there? N/A, my child isn't old enough yet to make these choices.

• Do you know how apprenticeships work - do you know what qualifications they give and what they pay? Please tell us about your experience. I know they get a very small wage (isn't it like £2.50p/h) and that the apprentice received on the job training and knowledge. I'd be a bit dubious unless it was with a reputable company and would worry it might be cheap labour.

• How difficult has it been for you to find information about apprenticeships and what types of apprenticeships are available? I can't say I've ever really looked!

• Did you know that there are degree apprenticeships? No I didn't. That's interesting to hear, but cannot imagine that they'd be many positions around.

• Did you know you can become a solicitor without going to university full time? I think so yes. It's it a bit like becoming an accountant?

If your child has decided not to go to college/university, have you been able to find out what other options are out there?

Yes but not really mentioned by school where teachers have done a level and uni route so can't speak from personal experience.
We saw a news item on TV about The Skills Show at the NEC in Birmingham. We went and it was a fantastic showcase of apprenticeships. My DC talked to apprentices and was inspired to apply instead of continuing with A Levels.

• Do you know how apprenticeships work

Yes. DC just finished year 1 of full time engineering training.

do you know what qualifications they give and what they pay? Please tell us about your experience.

Very hard work. Long days plus studying for BTEC but has done very well. The pay is tough as DC is renting as working for leader in applied field. Still needs some financial support from us but would need this if in school, college or university.

How difficult has it been for you to find information about apprenticeships and what types of apprenticeships are available?

It was relatively easy to search for opportunities on find an apprenticeship website and careers Wales website. The application process was much harder than UCAS. Every organisation had slightly different application form and selection process including online tests, assessment centres, practical tadks, group tasks and multiple interviews. There was loads of preparation including needing a portfolio with engineering experience and projects.
There're are apprenticeships at different levels but the competition for the higher levels in intense. The most demanding apprenticeships may require a B in GCSE maths while others ask for a C or a D. There is lots of variability so it's important to do research and match the scheme to the young person.

• Did you know that there are degree apprenticeships? Yes
• Did you know you can become a solicitor without going to university full time? Yes. DC studying law at uni wishes they had done this as they are running up student debt while their sibling is getting paid.

My dd starts a Software Development apprenticeship on 29 August. It's for a global company and have offices throughout the world.
She is starting a 4 year course. The first year is 1 year day release at college and the next 3 years are 1 day release at uni doing a degree. Getting paid with some great benefits. In the 4th year she will attend a course in Madrid.
My DH wasn't happy at first as he thought of an apprenticeship as what they used to be years ago, doing a tea run for all every day and thought she should have gone down the A level then uni route. I just wanted her to be happy and follow her dream.
I'm so proud of her to get through the rigorous recruitment and think she now has a great career to look forward to.

ED has gone to university but I glad to say that she has decided to avoid teaching which she always wanted to do for psychiatry. Teachers do not get any respect these days and it will only get worse with the way society is going! I would have supported any way she wanted to progress and apprenticeships are a fantastic way IMO but some careers demand degrees! :)

No starts in September

My son started an apprenticeship 2 months ago in the automotive industry. When I left school in the 90's, apprenterships were often what you did if you weren't up to uni standard. It's a different story now. I would only choose uni if I wanted a profession that requires it. My husband and I both went to uni to enter our respective professions, we both see the number of applicants for jobs and the stories of highly qualified people not being able to get the first step into their desired career. My son is being paid, albeit £3.50 an hour to learn a trade. He was very pleased to get his first paycheque last week of £600 for a month. It's a 3 year apprentership with the opportunity to continue to degree level at the end, all payed for so no student loans. I'd absolutely recommend the apprentership route, it's so easy to see what's available in your local area on the government website. Good luck to all those starting out

my ds1 is looking into this as an alternative to uni

My Nephew has suddenly decided that he thinks a work placement might be more suitable for him. I am not really sure how any of it works.

My daughter is only young but as for when she's old enough to make a decision regarding her education, I will be behind her whatever she chooses to do. I myself, did an apprenticeship when I was younger and it got me into the line of work I wanted. I will definitely give my daughter options and let her decide!

One to Uni
One as an apprentice

My daughter gets her GCSE results next week. She is probably going to stay on at 6th form but is adamant she wants to do an apprenticeship at 18 and is certain she doesn't want to go to uni. As uni was the option both my husband and I took, we are finding it very difficult to advise her and I find myself struggling to see this as a better option although I'm forcing myself to allow her to make her own way. Personally I'd value more information about apprenticeship options for my own benefit and reassurance as well as for my daughter.