Son wants to do an apprenticeship after leaving school but what if he doesnt get accepted on to one?

[Boredandlonely9182]

My son leaves school next year and my husband and I feel pretty clueless on next steps. We both just went to sixth form and then uni along with all our friends . Was seen as the done thing 20 years ago. I had some friends at school who left at 16 and started work straight away and have done really well for themselves.
Our son is not academic at all. Hated school and cant wait to leave. He is in the bottom set for all lessons and is predicted 3's ,4's and 5's across his gcses. He also has adhd and we also think he is on the spectrum aswell but no diagnosis for that yet.
He thinks an apprenticeship would be the best option. As more hands on and just one day a week at college.
There is no point whatsoever in him taking A levels or attending a college 5 days a week as he will either give up and stop going, or will go but likely not to pass the a levels.
We dont really know what is available for him to do? When should we start applying for apprenticeships? And what if it takes a long time for him to be accepted on to one and he leaves school with nothing to move on to?
And if he fails maths and English where would he resit them? Hoping someone can advise us. Thanks

Apprenticeship in what? Some are still academic but without you incurring a student loan.

If it's anything in the sphere of construction he will have no problems finding an apprenticeship. The problem whether he has the right attitude: many apprentices are unreliable and end up losing their place because they are constantly late or don't bother turning up or get their mum to call in sick every day.

He will need Maths and English GCSE passes whatever he does so focus on making sure he gets those first time (pass rate for retakes is very low)

What does he want to do? Apprenticeships are very competitive - my nephew just about got one and he had very good GCSEs. I would recommend it though.

Regardless the school should be supporting you in all of this. They should be supplying information about apprentice opportunities, careers advice, applications etc. They can't just wash their hands of anyone who isn't going to do A-Levels.

There are lots of different types of apprenticeships for all abilities out there and think its great he has got a plan. I have found the careers service at my council really helpful or the local college.

He may need to resit maths and english as part of his course, that might be GCSE 's or functional skills but this will depend of the provider.

Apprenticeships tend to start September if tied into a specific course but not always as my DH has just taken on an apprenticeship at his workplace.

Apprenticeships come in different levels and different subjects.

We offer apprenticeships in Level 3 Marketing and Level 3 Automotive engineering. Level 3 is up from GCSEs. They normally involve one day a week in college.

Level 6 are graduate apprenticeships, and very competitive.

What does your ds want to do? For leisure centre management, search apprenticeships, sport and your county.

Keep searching during the year as there isn't a single application date, like uni.

There’s likely to be a shortage of welders in the not too distant future. The majority welders are in their 50s and 60s. Some firms have set up apprenticeship schemes.

www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/promoted-content-tackling-the-welding-skills-shortage-in-the-uk-a-call-to-inspire-the-next-generation

My friends son has adhd and really struggled in school. He did a welding apprenticeship a few years ago and was like a different boy. He absolutely loved it and is doing so well with it now.

Contact your local careers service. In my experience many schools are a bit rubbish if you're not going to 6th form. The local careers service will have a better overview of what is available in your area. For most apprenticeships he will need GCSE Maths and English passes though, so get him to concentrate on these, it will give him more options

Does your DS’s school have a ‘next steps’ type evening? My DC’s school have an evening when all the local sixth forms and colleges come along with people to advise about all the options, including apprenticeships, city and guild’s qualifications, military academies etc as well as A levels and Btec options. The students are allowed to attend in yr 10 and yr 11.

Alternatively, I would get in touch with the school’s careers advisor who should be able to guide you.
If your DS knows what sort of apprenticeship he might enjoy, it will narrow down your search. Does he want to be a builder, plumber, electrician, mechanic etc? It might be worth approaching local firms to see if they use apprentices.

Welding is a good one and many other trades are facing exactly the same problem. Bricklaying, electrics, joinery, plumbing, etc.

He will be very limited if he doesn't get English and maths. What does he fancy doing? He needs to start approaching local builders etc. to find out what's available, perhaps advertise himself on Facebook.

He already does engineering in school now and will have an engineering diploma .
He wants to get something such as engineering, welding, something hands on.

His current high school has its own sixth form. To me, they only seem interested in the kids who will be staying on there and the ones who aren't can kind of just fend for themselves. He wont be attending that sixth form as they dont do anything he would be interested in.

My main question was would he have to go to a college somewhere to resit his maths and English if he fails, before he can apply for any kind of apprenticeship?

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/engineering-and-manufacturing/engineering-apprenticeships/

Our local council takes on new Apprenticeships October and March for all kinds of courses from plumbing / brick laying / electricians to office work and carers.. look on your local council website?

https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses/167?location=leeds,%20west%20yorkshire

There are apprenticeships that support while resits are taken. There are also functional maths and English, which can be taken instead. But it will all depend on the course, so he really needs to look into what he wants to do, where that will take place and what qualifications are needed.

Dc1 has asd, dyslexia and medical problems that kept them out of school a lot. Passed GCSEs with 4/5s and looked at apprenterships however they're wearnt many (covid times) and ended up doing a btec level 3 instead. This was the back up plan so had applied and got a provisional place. Dc went on to get a job in that area and has been to uni part time payed for by work (currently has a foundation degree and earning £30000 aged 21 with no debt). Is waiting on funding to do the degree however as in many sectors theres an education freeze at present.
I'd say have a back up plan, look at different routes to get to where dc wants to go and apply for everything (its easier to turn down later).

He doesnt really know 100% what he wants to do, but he does know 100% what he does NOT want to do and that is to still have to be in a classroom 5 days a week. He absolutely hated it and he hates doing written work and exams . So anything based at a college is out because its still classroom based.
He isnt able to just get a job is he? As that is what he would prefer really, but is it law they have to be in education until 18 now?

He needs to try and concentrate on getting maths and English gcse plus 2 more because many apprenticeships require some GCSEs but otherwise it’s a case of what industry? What’s his interests? They will be advertised online typically sometimes via normal jobs vacancies, other times via schools, it’s worth contacting local smaller companies directly to see if they are hiring in the September/October before (a whole year). The armed forces also have 16+ entry with college courses and on the job training, I know two young people that did this pathway, one an airplane mechanic now waiting to go to officer training and had his degree essentially funded by the military the other is auto mechanic but specialised in heavy trucks, he’s coming out soon after 7 years and has several job offers at £££

OP there is loads of information out there for apprenticeships. I think you need to try and contain the panic and do some research.

Here is a good place to start - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b07bbce40f0b60fa99a91e3/Parent-Guide-Apprenticeships.pdf

Usually vacancies are advertised all year round, with a rise leading up to Easter. He'll need a CV. Also any work or voluntary experience that he can get beforehand will make him stand out.

Yes he will need to resit maths/english language if he doesn't achieve a pass grade as part of his apprenticeship - this isn't a GCSE resit though so it'll feel very different to his experiences now.

If he has an interest in welding, please encourage him to look at construction apprenticeships as well as engineering. There is a chronic skills shortage so there are opportunities for solid and stable careers.

If he doesn't secure an apprenticeship, he will need to go to college so this is his 2nd option. It should motivate him to get cracking ;)

My ds was absolutely adamant thst he wasnt going to college. Apparently he was done with being educated! 🙄
He was told in no uncertain terms that he was not going to be a dosser so the choice was get a job or get an apprenticeship.
He got an apprenticeship quickly but it wasnt the career for him. He got another apprenticeship with an engineering company. This was the making of him. They put him through various courses and he qualified in his field a couple of years later. He changed companies and although was still under the engineering career got a niche role. His employers paid for his degree and he is looking at doing further studies.

Many apprenticeships don't require attendance at college. I think welding/ construction may do though, as they need to learn things ( I presume- not my area). He could do Functional Skills English and Maths, although its no longer an requirement for apprenticeships at the lower level. He would need to go to college for that though, so its better if he really puts his back into getting at least those at a grade 4. A L2 apprenticeship may be a good way to go, as its a good foot in the door of an industry, even if he already has a L2 qualification, and there are more of them than L3.

I work in Wales, so possibly different as the staying in education until 18 rule hasn't come in. But my advice to those looking for apprenticeships is usually:

Be proactive in looking and search frequently. Sone engineering firms advertise in the autumn for the following September and some employers may not advertise until the summer, so you need to keep checking on a range of websites. Many young people I work with lose interest in apprenticeships when they realise one isn't going to land on their lap and I dont have a nice menu to choose from.

Consider contacting local firms speculatively and ask if they would offer workshadowing / work experience as well, to show enthusiasm and gain more to out on CV.

Talk to local careers service or school careers adviser if there is one, as they may know of opportunities or at least can advise in where to look, CVs etc.

Consider a college application now as a back up because in my experience not many 16 year olds seem to get straight into apprenticeships unless they have contacts. He can always withdraw his application if he gets a job offer. A college course in construction welding, engineering could be very practical and different from school. And here most 'full time ' vocational courses are only 18 hours a week do it won't be college all day every day. This would give more relevant skills and experience to improve chance of getting an apprenticeship the following year if needed. One of the organisations that helps organise construction apprenticeships locally has said they prefer to recruit from college now.

In terms of English and maths, it depends on the employer / training provider used what they ask for around here, but I believe most apprenticeship specifications include functional skills / essential skills in numeracy and literacy for those who don't have the GCSEs. Generally engineering apprenticeships seem to ask for them though.

In Wales there is also the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme as a back up training course but I dont know if there is similar in England.

Hi, secondary teacher here with y11
form whom Jump onto this webinar next week, will be great starting point for you both in getting info in all areas of apprenticeships.

https://events.zoom.us/ev/AiEYg5-6dBG7CXVoaKNTcbZ0hkuMxGYS5Yw2EMCgHzbHFsRNuZ5f~AtqIPNOcmPZvrq11pefctHib_oIoUp3W9uU-8EjswfTakdHDQptljXknMg

gov website good for searching for apprenticeships, but if he knows a particular area he wants to go into he can also start contacting companies directly. If he needs to resit maths and English he will be able to do this at the college connected to the apprenticeship.

in the meantime, see if he can get some
work exp or shadowing in the field he wants to go into (or anything that can develop transferable skills) as apprenticeships are becoming more and more competitive so having some kind of experience will help him stand out.

apprenticeships will also have varying requirements at GCSE (e.g. some will stipulate certain subjects where a grade 4
or 5 are needed, some will just say x number of grades in any subject, some will have lower entry requirements) if he knows what he wants to do, focus on gaining the grades in that subject.

No, he needs to be in either education , training or employment. He can go straight into a job, I'm sure.