DS15 refusing to return to school, just got a job

[CathyTurnbull]

Not sure how I feel, so after some perspective. DS yr 11 hates school and struggled for a while even before lockdown. He’s not an academic child and has behavioural issues because he can’t cope with the classroom environment. He has been a different child since he hasn’t been able to attend school, pleasant, funny and chatty compared to really moody and explosive before.
His friends Dad owns a local business and today he has been helping in the warehouse for a couple of hours with his friend earning a few quid. He has plans to work his way up into a sales role eventually after chatting with friends Dad. He has already sat his GCSE maths and English and is working on his Btec business at home.
He has told me he is not going back to school ever and he wants to work instead.
Part of me feels really proud he’s doing something productive and used his initiative but part of me feels he should be going back to school, but given how much he hates it and how disruptive he is that seems futile?

@CathyTurnbull

He’s not being exploited at all what a strange thing to say

Why do you think these laws are in place? Of course its exploitation. The person who’s got him working in the warehouse could be prosecuted if they’ve not followed legal processes. Because its EXPLOITATION!

Ah ok, you obviously now far more about my situation than I do 😊

@Seasidemumma77

I'm having same issue with my yr11 DS. I've arranged a telephone meeting with school, to see if we can find a way forward.

Hope it goes well

@CathyTurnbull

Ah ok, you obviously now far more about my situation than I do 😊

I know what the law says about child employment and I know the reason behind it. There’s a good reason why it’s in place. That doesn’t mean I can’t empathise with your DS. There’s nothing more soul destroying that feeling like you’re being forced to do something when you absolutely can’t see the point, like being forced to stay on at school. Breaking the law isn’t the solution.

But he's not legally allowed just to not turn up at school and just go to work instead- he's going to have to keen going to school for a few weeks more.

And if he's already passed Maths and a English GCSE he can't be that un-academic. I'd be wanting his other grades to be awarded. What if he wants to change the company he works for and they are looking for more than two GCSEs?

Bear in mind that you may be acting illegally as well. If Welsh law is similar to English law, you are legally required to send him to school (or home educate) until school leaving age which will be June if he is in year 11 now. It's unlikely the local authority will take any action at this late stage but it's a possibility.

I would definitely advise that you speak to school. We have a similar group of students in school atm and we are allowing (through the county council) to take the work as a work placement. It’s not supposed to be paid but we don’t look too closely. They then attend school on a reduced timetable in collaboration with the employer. The reduced timetable allows them to continue with core subjects and in England get their GCSE grades and stay in school until legally allowed to leave. As long as the employer is legit and has employers liability insurance it’s been approved.