Son wants to leave school..

[kidsncatsnwine]

DS1 is 17. He's not particularly academic (he did get 7 GCSEs at grade C but he's not sure how!) and he's currently just starting his second year of 6th form doing a Btec Media course.

He wanted to do it mostly because he couldn't think of anything else to do, but he also has a part time job in the evening (Dominos pizza!) and he has found he enjoys working and earning. He also resents the new 'conditions' school have placed on the 6th form..not allowed to work more than 10 hours a week, compulsory work experience (he pointed out to them he's been working for a year, but he still has to) etc etc


WWYD? Has anyone had a teen sign on for temping/agency work? I have no idea how to go about helping him make the transition and much as I love him I don't want him doing nothing except 2 hours a dominos a night!

Realistically he was unlikely to find a job using Btec Media so I can see why he might be as well leaving now, but not sure how to go about it. Just wondering how to help him!

[mumblechum]

TBH I suspect a Btec Media Course is a waste of time.

Maybe the Connexions adviser could help?

[fryalot]

It might be worth checking out local colleges, they are totally different to sixth forms and he may settle a lot better there than at the sixth form he's at.

Any B-Tec is a qualification and proves that he can stick at something and work at something so it does seem a shame to waste the last year he's been doing it.

It's deffo worth checking out local colleges to see if he can swap to them if he wants to.

[upahill]

I'd let him leave tbh but before he does I would get him to draw up a list of achievements and every course he has done and start preparing for a CV.

If he is forced to stay it will probably resent you for it and may start bunking college and not get an exam result anyway.

Nothing wrong with Dominos Pizza - all credit to the lad he is working. He may get more hours there. Also he is showing that he is willing to work and has a track record of working - that may help him get another job especially if Doninos are prepared to give him a good reference.

College/ academic learning is not for everyone.

[zandy]

Why not suggest he stays where he is, until he has a job to go to, and then he can leave with your blessing?

[LadyLapsang]

If it were me I would encourage him to stick it out and get the Btec, making up any difference in earnings if he has to cut his hours to fit in with school.

It's a really competitive world out there for young people to get into work, very interesting program about the issue last night on Radio 4. Lots of the jobs that used to go to young people with GCSE passes are now going to those with A Levels, similar going up the ladder, with A Level jobs being taken by graduates and graduate jobs going to those with Masters.

He's already halfway through the course, he might as well stick it out. What's going to look better on the CV? Btec with p/t Dominos or leaving the course?

[hsg]

tell him to talk to his connexions adviser in school before making any decisions. they will at least register him as looking for something else and if they get notified of any jobs then they'll get in touch. they'll also help him compile his CV, give help with interview techniques etc. it's a really tough workplace out there at the moment so tell him to stick with 6th form until he has something else to go to, otherwise he'll be sleeping in till the afternoon and eating everything in sight!!! at least in 6th he'll get his EMA and you get child benefit.

[maktaitai]

God, I'd say he should leave, though talking to the Connexions adviser sounds good, and I would insist on full-time hours if he can get them. What's going to look better on the CV - full time work, perhaps with promotion, or a random course he's not done very well on due to complete lack of interest?

What is it he likes about the Dominos job? is it working, or is it being in the food business, or what?

[kidsncatsnwine]

He likes working! sadly they don't have any full time jobs going or he'd jump at it. It has been a relief that while it's just a little part time job he has proved to be a sensible and reliable worker (even tho I have to drive him an 25m round trip to get him there and back..he gets driving practice too..!) as he was hellish in his earlier teens.

He really has no idea what he wants to do in life, which I think is fair enough, I certainly had no idea at his age either. He is brilliant with kids (has a disabled brother and has spent a lot of time helping kids with special needs) and I think some sort of child care would be ideal for him..just how to get a job!

I think we need to get him to Connexions and see how they can help him get a CV together.He has agreed not to jump til he finds something as sadly we really do need his child benefit:(

[maktaitai]

Turning up reliably and on time, and putting a lot into your job, are surprisingly rare skills - he's doing well. He's in the best position to pick up any more hours they have going.

[hsg]

sometimes we know more about what we don't want to do rather than what we want. when choosing a job always go for the ideal no matter how silly it may seem - everyone deserves a chance to try for their dream. chances are DS had an idea of a job but either has it in his head that he can't achieve it for whatever reason - he might not know the exact job but will have an idea of what industry. if he can't stick it out at school then talk to connexions about an apprenticeship. if he's good with his brother but doesn't want to go directly into working with children then think about possibly youth work. there are also careers programmes on the computer which he could do - kudos is a good one. he might have already done this in school although in a classroom setting with his mates looking over the shoulder is not ideal. bear in mind as well that it's a computer programme so therefore can't measure his personality - it will come up with some studpid ideas but the top 10-15 jobs will probably have some sort of theme running through i.e. office related, IT related, science based etc etc. look at what he enjoys the most in his subjects and see what jobs include alot of this i.e. if he's strong on science and maths then he could consider something engineering or medical related (he can even combine the two) hope this helps ps thanks for the post which you put on mine, it really helped.