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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Post 16

14 replies

Enigma52 · 31/08/2024 19:49

For those with post 16 teens ( just finished GCSES) and NOT studying for A levels, what are your young people doing now?

DS was meant to enrol for a bricklaying course this week, but was told it was full. Then he looked at Hospitality and catering and took a dislike to the tutor and they wanted £250 up front for materials )which I was okay with).

So, at present, he isn't enrolled in college, but desperately wants an apprenticeship. We look daily, but employers always want someone with a bit of experience.

My feeling is, that he ought to be at college doing something, until he finds his path? Also, I'm not sure whether casual pot washing, is classed as employment regarding NEET?

DS has good GCSE grades, but unsure what to do next.

OP posts:
RhaenysRocks · 01/09/2024 07:16

Following with interest. DS is a year behind but maybe in a similar position..although not sure about the grades. Has he approached any other colleges? It might be less convenient but there are a lot of options out there. Does he have any specific ambitions?!

Original poster
Enigma52 · 01/09/2024 09:24

@RhaenysRocks Well, this college is huge and offers so much, so struggling to see why there isn't anything suitable for him! I've had words and said he must be doing something constructive, but obviously that he enjoys. He knows pot washing isn't sufficient, so today's task is to find a course.

OP posts:
Laserwho · 01/09/2024 10:48

Even if he wanted an apprenticeship he should have secured a college place before now as that's a condition of taking an apprenticeship to have one day a week at college. Late applications can be made for college but more popular courses will be taken as term starts on Monday.

AdultChildQuestion · 01/09/2024 11:45

Good luck OP - try to get him on a course that gives him a skill. If bricklaying is full, how about carpentry, plumbing, vehicle mechanics, general construction, garden landscaping, anything. With a skill he will always find work or can set up his own business.

Littletreefrog · 01/09/2024 11:51

There will be a college course with space. Even if its not his first choice, he has to do something. Some of them are only a year long so not committing a huge amount of his life to it and he can always leave mid year if he gets an apprenticeship.

What apprenticeships is he looking at? most level 2 apprenticeships are aware a 16 year old won't have experience but really he should have been applying while still in year 11.

DramaLlamaBangBang · 01/09/2024 11:52

If he has good gcses has he tried sixth form colleges? DS was offered A Levels as late as Friday. He has 5x 5 but it wasn't enough for his own 6 th form. In the end he didn't want to do the subjects offered but they had things like business and hospitality btecs. He had loads of problems getting into a vocational course he wanted so is resitting gcses to get his grades up and is trying again next year.

Stirmish · 01/09/2024 11:53

That's so annoying the bricklaying was full

How about carpentry or electrician or plumbing

Stirmish · 01/09/2024 12:33

Definitely not catering if he's looking at bricklaying

Something he can start his own business with from scratch

You need money to open a restaurant

Original poster
Enigma52 · 01/09/2024 13:06

Well he's applied for a site carpentry course. Enrolment is tomorrow, so hoping there will be space. He likes working with his hands and has an eye for detail. Fingers crossed!

OP posts:
Original poster
Enigma52 · 01/09/2024 13:11

DramaLlamaBangBang · 01/09/2024 11:52

If he has good gcses has he tried sixth form colleges? DS was offered A Levels as late as Friday. He has 5x 5 but it wasn't enough for his own 6 th form. In the end he didn't want to do the subjects offered but they had things like business and hospitality btecs. He had loads of problems getting into a vocational course he wanted so is resitting gcses to get his grades up and is trying again next year.

That sounds like a good plan for your DS. There are so many opportunities, but finding the right one, can be tough.

DS has just had enough of " education" and fears college will be an extension of school. I reassured him that is not the case, but he absolutely has to start somewhere with college, if not doing A levels.

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 01/09/2024 18:20

I've got a thread running in Further Education for Vocational courses, feel welcome to join in.
College us very different to school, he should give it a go.

Stirmish · 01/09/2024 23:47

DDs friends are doing all sorts of different vocational courses and they're all doing really well

Some are doing carpentry which is a great skill to have

A lot of them are going A levels too it's a complete mixed bag

I think your DS will love carpentry because he'll get a finished product he'll be proud of

Stirmish · 01/09/2024 23:50

I've got some carpentry bits that need doing around the house so I'm going to see if one of her friends has enough experience after one year to tackle some of them.

Original poster
Enigma52 · 05/09/2024 17:34

Update. DS has enrolled for a T level in Plastering. He's still not sure, given
the amount of theory in year 1. Fingers crossed he enjoys the course and sticks at it!

OP posts:
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