Degree apprenticeships

[sorryIdidntmeanto]

My ds is only 12, but careers talks at school have convinced him he wants to do a degree apprenticeship. He is very academic and also creative, and says he wants to be an animator (he loves art and manga/pokemon). I would like to encourage him to do maths/physics/art type combinations, to lead to engineering/architecture/animation, as I want him to what he loves, but not narrow his options. I can't find a degree apprenticeship in animation. Any ideas what he should aim for. Maybe an apprenticeship in engineering? I know things can change, but I want to be on the ball and the right path, and open to opportunities. Thanks

A Degree apprenticeship in engineering is quite far from animation. I’m not sure how they work for people who don’t really know what they want to do.

The conversions I’d be having are lots of people are very creative and use those creative problem solving skills in their jobs and do very well but they only really do the drawing etc. as a hobby outside of work. Other people do the drawing/animation as their job. Both give quite different life styles, have different levels of pay and job security.

If they were mine I would probably talk to DC about the option of doing a straight subject as a degree, a maths or science for example that will give them many many different options after the degree without closing and doors.

As he gets older there might be degree apprenticeships that appeals more obviously but having a strong academic base to apply to those with will open doors not close them

Architecture is good at combining creative and technical skills but it’s a very long hard slog with low pay considering how much responsibility they take on, the level of training and the long hours. He would have a much easier life with more money if he did something else.

Thank you. Lots to think about. He is young, but at the moment I think he would choose art over maths as a degree, so that would narrow options and scope for income a bit more.

degree apprenticeships
... are much much harder to get than a university place
... becz so competitive, the kids truly has to sell themselves at each stage of assessment, personally; does your kids have very strong social skills?
... narrow in options
... few in number relative to any other career path
... require very high levels of self-motivation from application to finish

I think at 12 you can persuade him to keep options open and not worry about DA or whatever for another 3 yrs

Yes, that's the thing. I want to keep options open, but also really encourage him. He is very academic, very motivated and reasonably sociable. He should be aiming high.

People seem to think they’re easy to get. They’re not at all and every year it’s getting harder as people want to avoid university debt. I would look at it again in 3 or 4 years if I were you.

I don't think they are easy to get. I actually work in further education and support students with UCAS, specifically. Only our top students get apprenticeships. For that reason I only know a few students who have done them, and they were all in engineering. I just wondered if anyone on here had experience of supporting their own child in making these decisions.

He's 12 - a child. Let him enjoy his childhood. Let him explore whatever he wants to. At every stage, it has to be his decisions. Students do best when studying things that they are passionate about. Just because you think he should be an engineer, doesn't mean that's what is best for him.
He won't even be picking his GSCE options for another 2-3 years.
If you keep on at him at this stage he will be thoroughly sick of everything by the time he reaches Y12 and probably opt to work in a pub!

I don't mind if he works in a pub. His dad is a labourer and I am happy with that. I just don't want him to miss opportunities. He will make his option choices for GCSE next year, but I don't think he can go wrong with those, so they will be totally his decision. He is the one who started talking about apprenticeships after a talk at school. At the moment he has his heart set on animation, but of course he may discover other passions as he grows up. I have explained to him that apprenticeships in animation don't seem to exist at the moment. He is really strong academically, so maybe it would be better to do a more general degree. However, having seen lots of very motivated students go for really interesting and competitive degrees, and seeking lots of experience to get them there, I am happy to support him in whatever he chooses, be that animation or something else. I think it is better to be passionate about what you do, but do worry about job availability for young people.

He sounds like a great kid :)
Remember how lovely he was at 12yo when he aggravates you when he's age 14, btw!!

Sometimes kids have a gut feeling what path will work for him. That is entirely a true gut feeling. Good that he's starting to get those gut feelings already. x

This link to the national careers service (animator) lists different training courses/degrees /college courses you can do and links to other websites that may help. It also suggests other related
Link here to the national care careers that may interest him. Link here:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/animator

My sister is an animator, I think all of them go to art school and do an animation degree. My husband is an engineer and they do apprenticeships at his place, they are an amazing opportunity but the drop out rate is quite high because it's a lot of work.

I know he's only 12 but it might be worth encouraging him to start a portfolio, even if you don't make it a big thing. He can look back on it in a years time and see how much he's improved, even if it's a foolscap folder or a folder on his/your computer /laptop.

Thank you. These are helpful ideas. I haven't let him have his own device or computer yet, all his drawings are by hand so far, but it might be something to look into.

Things might change, but it seems like if he wants to focus on animation, all he really needs is art. But as he is very bright, I don't want him to limit himself. Maybe art A Level and take it from there.

There are very few degree apprenticeships because very few employers offer them. However many students do work for games companies in the summer/take a year in industry as part of their degrees. This helps them earn and also frequently results in job offers. Agree art for animation but it’s also worth thinking of programming. Animators with programming experience tend to be highly valued because they’re outstanding at the technical stuff.

But he’s got loads of time and it sounds like you’re doing the right things. Good luck.