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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Worried about ds leaving school

33 replies

Miracle29 · 18/12/2022 20:52

Hi all just needed some advice reassurance really to those who have older teens. My ds is 15 and is the youngest in his class. If he was born any earlier he would have been in year 10 and this has always shown in school. He's always been behind in learning and needed extra support and interventions. Both primary and secondary school always put it down to him been the youngest, one teacher even stated he would have done better been a year below. After lockdown I was told by his teacher there was some sort of block in his learning so we're doing some tests to see what the block was. They did a dyslexia test etc and said he wasn't showing any traits so put him in interventions. I've been on the phone to the school numerous times to ensure he's getting the right support as it seems that children who struggle like my ds are brushed under the carpet and the more advanced ones helped more. Anyway he leaves school I'm June and I'm really worried for him. He's no idea what he wants to do when he leaves school, he worries about traveling to college/work and worries about making new friends. He was looking into engineering the other day but he hates things like that and I think he's just doing what his mates are doing or he really just doesn't know what to do and settling for anything. My ds is quite shy, struggles to follow instructions at times and panics if he gets things wrong. So I'm obviously worried he's now going into the big world. I do think of he was the year behind he'd be better prepared. His friends all seem ready and know what they want to do. Some days it doesn't seem to phase him he seems laid back about it and others he looks so scared when he talks about jobs/college and it really concerns me. Anyone got any words of advice or words to help steady my nerves.

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 21/12/2022 09:23

Go visit local 16+ colleges within one hour travel.
See tge optiins
See a careers advisor
Do some online careerquizzes look fir free ones

Just find any course thst he feels some interest in

www.ucas.com/careers/careers-quiz

brainmanager.co.uk/career-test?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=career_test&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-oqdBhDfARIsAO0TrGHOTTLgjk3HigDE3lgENKlacQDu1QjBPenmBpFCQlcOzrTZV3GReI8aAqG2EALw_wcB

OldWivesTale · 21/12/2022 09:28

Are you north or south Staffs? Reaseheath College in Nantwich is a great agricultural college if you're in North Staffs? They run free buses from Stoke I think.

TeenDivided · 21/12/2022 10:12

There is also this one: www.southstaffs.ac.uk/our-colleges/rodbaston-college/

TeenDivided · 21/12/2022 10:13

TeenDivided · 21/12/2022 10:12

Open day Sat 14th January.

Miracle29 · 24/12/2022 08:37

I'm north. We've spoken about different things he could do just to gain some experience in something such as plumbing or mechanics maybe. He said he will have a think after Christmas and has said he does look at colleges online. I've emailed his head of year so hopefully they'll get back to me after Christmas with a plan to help him. Again thankyou for all your advice, help and links it's really helped me to explain things to him as there is so much more from when I was younger. I have a relative who went to uni for 3 years doing fashion and hated it so decided to go to another uni for another course but ended up eventually working as a nurse in our local hospital so it doesn't always mean the choices we make are something we stick with or something we even enjoy in the end but it's an experience and qualification in the end.

OP posts:
OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 24/12/2022 12:05

Not heard of Reaseheath before but what a fantastic sounding college. There are a lot of different options there, level 1 qualifications that will help build up his confidence and skills, leading up to level 3 (equivalent of ALevel) and even beyond.

They also do T-levels, which I don’t think anyone has mentioned yet. These are new courses (supposedly to replace btecs but running along side now) 2 year courses that are equivalent to 3 alevels. There are some interesting options.

They runs buses from all over - link.

puffylovett · 25/12/2022 23:59

reaseheath Is brilliant. A friends daughter went there to do outdoor pursuits and adventure leading 3 years ago and is now doing it as a university course, something her family never would have predicted she would do at 16! She’s absolutely blossomed there.

user1492757084 · 30/12/2022 13:40

I think your son needs to finish school - even apprenticeships often require a mature approach and proper English and Maths skills etc. However, my kids really benefited from a hobby or extra curricular activity outside of school where they meet a new set of friends based around a sport, town band, charity work, pottery, breeding chooks, community gardening etc. Think of something that your son might enjoy for the rest of his life. Then school and those friends are not EVERYTHING and he can gain confidence in a new skill. And spending the extra year at school will be fun with his own age group.

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