If your teen does a levels do they also have a job?

[TwoBad]

If so, how many hours a week do they work? Do you feel it impacts their ability to focus on school work?

Dd has just finished her GCSEs, and will be starting A levels in September. She's super keen to get a job and start earning her own money too.

Before she starts applying for jobs, I just want to get an idea of realistically how many hours a week are doable when mixed in with the pressure of 3 essay based A levels.

All of mine have had Saturday jobs in retail - varying from 3 - 5 hr shifts and then a lot in the Christmas run up. My youngest has just finished his GCSEs and has managed to get a job for a local business in town..I was so surprised he managed to get a job in the current climate I didn't try and stop him even though of all of my four children he is the only one who I will worry about in terms of the work he puts in to exams/school!!

No.

Sorry to add - no, it didn't impact their work, they were very diligent and made sure they were up to date with things during the week so they didn't have piles to do at the weekend.

My dd was a lifeguard and then a swimming teacher during her A Levels. She did a few hours, a couple of evenings and a Saturday morning. Didn’t impact on studies but has definitely benefitted her in terms of life skills, managing her own money and also getting the job she has now. I think it’s good for them.

Yes, mine did, the first one was mainly holiday based, but then a weekend job. She got three really good A levels, and it set her up for being able to get a part time job at university too.

Dc1 did btec and had a 12 hour contract (did more in hols) was fine.
Dc2 is end of y12 had an 8 hour contract at beginning of y12 was fine (did extra in hols). Now has a 12 hour contract since May, i feel this is too much. Partly due to longer days at sixth-form compared to dc1 college, Partly as dc2 was taken on doing Saturday plus two short evenings but this has since moved to 8 hours Saturday, 4 hours Sunday which means they never get a day off/rest properly. So i think more to do with shift patterns than hours. Dc2 is hoping to go back to original job which was temporary soon otherwise I've suggested handing in notice at Christmas to concentrate on alevels. Dc2 has so far kept up with studies but is aware y13 is going to be more difficult.
Id say it definitely depends on patterns of shifts/timetables and transport.
Dc2 school state you should not work more than 7 hours a week (no one takes any notice of this rule/not sure how they can dictate that).

Ah, this is a brilliant answer.

Dd is currently doing her level 2 swim teacher course- her logic when asking me to pay for this was that it fits well with after school and weekends, is paid well above minum wage and she can also continue the job when she goes to uni.

We're lucky that we live near to 5 or 6 swimming pools where there are lessons, and most seem to have job vacancies advertised regularly.

A friend of my 16 yo son is a national level swimmer in his age group and a trained lifeguard and makes a fortune as a lifeguard at the weekends and the holidays!

Another swim teacher mum here. She is doing IB, and does 8 hours a week, and usually 30-40 hours during holidays.

My DS is 19 and sat his A Levels last year in May/June. Also 3 essay subjects. He started working as a KP in a pub from age 17, initially 12hrs a week during term time but would pick up extra shifts in holidays. He’d rely on public transport to get there but then made his own way there once he got his CBT.

I did need to give him an arse kicking at one point at the start of Yr 13 (re: putting proper effort in to studies rather than coasting), but then he knuckled down, managed his time well and did well with A Levels. He’s still doing the job now and has increased his hours whilst he waits for Army start date.

Mine has just done A levels. Did 2 or 3 shifts a week waiting on throughout the 2 years but not during A level exams. I think it helped her to be more organised to be honest, and to develop better time management skills.

My DD3 is just finishing yr12 and doing 4 essay subjects although one will drop in Sept. She works 6.30/7am - 3pm Saturdays and then a sport til late. TBH she used to 16hrs sport a week during her GCSEs so a Saturday job is a doddle other than the early start. If your DD can get a job (life saving or swim teaching is great) it’ll do her the world of good in so many ways.

@TwoBad although there’s a jump from GCSEs to A level, they often get study periods during school hours. Try to encourage her to actually use these for homework etc rather than chatting or scrolling social media. She’ll then have much more free time after school and weekends.

Let them get a job - couple of evenings or few hours on a weekend. I didn’t let mine do it as they were already struggling with a ND diagnosis etc. In hindsight it teaches many things parents can’t - responsibility, accountability, aspiration, teamwork, timekeeping and value for time/money. Also, it opens doors when looking for summer jobs in later years.

Full time or close to it in the holidays and then Saturdays or Sundays during term time.

All their friends also had jobs.

My teen is doing a BTEC. He has dyslexia so struggles with the academic side of the course and has a commute of almost 2 hours each way. (He's only in 3 days a week).

With that in mind, no he hasn't had a job alongside so far. Its getting harder and harder to sub him tho so that might have to change.

Yes, ds did a 7 hour Saturday shift as a pool lifeguard throughout his a'levels.

It gave him a break, a bit of social life, some money and he'll have a year's customer service experience and a reference by the time he goes to uni.

He's already planning a job while he studies for his degree.

DS1 worked at JD Sports from 16-21. Several hours a week but much more over the holidays. DS2 worked at Papa Johns from 16-21. Several hours a week again, but more over the holidays. When applying for competitive graduate schemes and internships (which both secured), their work experience was invaluable and both were questioned at length about it. It has proved invaluable in so many ways.

My DS just finished A-levels. He worked four full days a week the summer after GCSE and lower sixth at my husband's company doing sales admin. Then he was working term time about four hours a week on a computer at home up until February of this year then he stopped to focus on study.

It was brilliant as he saved so much money that got him through the increase of socialising that came with sixth form and totally taught him the value of money, priorities and budgeting. He's been good with money ever since and was rubbish before.

Yes, both did 12 hours a week and full time in summer. DD2 didn't do A-Levels. DD1 earned £15,000 in her year out before university. She got into the top university for her course and loves it. She works at the student union while at university then back at the restaurant when at home in the holidays.

Mine is 19 now, but had a job in a pub from after GCSEs all through A Levels. Still works there now in holidays from uni as shift supervisor. She got 3 As and is at a good uni, so wasn't a problem for her and is good experience in hard work. Worked 12-15 hrs a week, less during exams.

Yes absolutely. She has a Saturday job. Eldest DD had one too, and then worked while at Uni. It really helped them with confidence and being in the real world.

I honestly think even if it did make a slight impact on studying and thus grades the benefit of work experience, especially in this climate, would outweigh the impact for many students.

Our oldest child worked in the summers but not term time so that didn’t interfere with his A levels.

Our middle child did work during term time but he only did 4 hours a week doing GCSE tutoring so it didn’t interfere with his A levels.

Our youngest is doing A levels now, just finished year 12 and hasn’t got a job as she feels busy enough with the workload and the hobbies she does, which we agree with.

I worked in education and knew someone who researched this topic quite heavily. No more than 7 hours a week was the verdict.