DD 16, hates sixth form, doing badly at A levels, wants to leave. What are her options?

[WeWantJustice]

DD stayed on after GCSE's to do A Levels. She hated the school she was at, but her GCSE's were not good enough to go elsewhere and I live in a part of the country where there are no sixth form colleges where you can do A levels, which at the time she really wanted to do. (She's in the first year of A levels, so 18 months to go.)

She's now realised that she really cannot bear to be there anymore. Background is that she has mental health issues, mainly anxiety and has no friends at the school (all went off to different sixth forms or college). She now wishes she'd gone to sixth form college.

Her decision was to give her A levels a chance and if she hated it, to leave in July and start over at college in September. But she's now got to a point of saying she can't stand being at school at all, she has to leave now (today!)She's not doing particularly well in her A levels, so it's not a case of her throwing away a chance get brilliant academic results.

So what are her options? I have a feeling she's not actually allowed to get a proper full time job and enter the workplace at 16 anymore, she's only allowed to do either education or something like an apprenticeship or a job with education attached to it. How can I best support her and point her towards paths which she might actually want to go down?

She needs to see a careers advisor. Talk to the head of sixth at school and get this arranged for this week.

exactly the same story here. my dd got good results in gcse’s (despite not being very studious) and wanted to stay on for a levels. loves her school, teachers etc. we never looked at any other options as her mind was set. she started in sept 2018 and things went rapidly downhill, became withdrawn, not eating etc. realised she had made a mistake and only told us after the first term. we had a meeting with the school, whilst they understood her concerns, it was too late to change or drop a subject. ive had numerous calls from them about her behaviour and not doing her work. very unlike her. a fall out with friends then only made things worse. it was making the whole house miserable. she made it to xmas. letting her drop out wasn’t a decision we made lightly. she had a part time job anyway, so has asked for more hours for the time being. now she is applying for apprenticeships and she also has a few interviews with local colleges to start in sept 2019. its like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. ive had no comeback in regards to her not being at school, as she is actively looking for other options. i hope that helps somewhat op?

My DN(ewphew) was in a similar situation two years ago.
He got some hours at a local garage (on the forecourt) and, that summer got an apprenticeship with a car company. He has had good opportunities- visiting German HQ etc. - and goes to residential college one week in every six.
Must say that dropping out of A-levels has suited him just fine.

There are lots of vocational courses your daughter could do, op. A levels are not the only route into a good job. The important thing is for her to be more settled and content in whatever course of study she takes up.
for her and good luck.

Thanks all are there any specific sites which are good for apprenticeships etc.

yes, search apprenticeships gov.uk and they are all listed there.

I agree that seeing a careers advisor is worth while. Does she still want to attend University? Maybe a Btec type course would be more up her street.

What's the legal position?

If she leaves school next week say, because she has a college place starting in September (which is what she hopes) does she still have to attend school or can she drop out now?

There will be no legal ramifications. Depending on the sixth form or local authority process, she may be referred to the NEET team who may get in contact to see if they can offer any support. You won't be able to claim child benefit for her until she enrols at the new college.

She could join the armed forces

Does she have an idea of want kind of job she is aiming for?

I don't think she wants a proper job at the moment, she is coming down on the wanting to go to college in September.

She knows what course she wants to do and has put in an application this weekend.

Excellent! That really is progress, I'm so happy for you and her.

Don't let her hang around the house doing nothing until September, or she'll be used to the good life and not want to start, or have a hard time of it. Make sure she gets a part time job or something else that will occupy her days gainfully.

I would let her move in Sept to a BTEC type course but I think she needs to be in full time education or training until then so she miay have to suck up 6th form.

Don't let her screw everything up because she's scared she can't do the work and fallen out with mates (you haven't said this but this is the kind of thing I would imagine has happened)

My husband did one year of a levels , hated it and got an apprenticeship. 25 years on he is a director of a Fortune 500 global company . No student debt and loving life .. it's all possible without a degree etc . Good luck