Son leaving school.

notsolucky_2

Thanks that is very helpful we are going to see a careers advisor and reaserching careers on the internet.

Savvy_Sue

I agree that the best approach (well, the one I'd take!) would be that IF he can find a job or apprenticeship, then great, he can head off into the big bad world of work, but if not, then he should go to college. My understanding is that it isn't really at all like school, although I guess if he's entitled to EMA it's more like school, with the emphasis on being there every day so you get your EMA paid! (See sticky at top of board 'Money for 16 year olds' for details of EMA).

Thought: does he realise that if he went to college he might get paid £30 a week? (Assuming total household income is less than £30,000 he'd get something!)

He should indeed have some careers guidance at school, and they'll also be keen to push him into further education (because the govt doesn't want education to stop at 16). It's all done through Connexions, and your son should have a Personal Adviser, and that remains available to him even if he decides to leave school. I hear mixed reports about what they offer, but I believe parents can contact them too to get information about the options. (In fact we were sent various booklets about the post-16 options, but my boys tend to adopt the line of least resistance, which is staying on at school for 'A' levels!)

Apprenticeships are definitely still an option, although they usually involve at least one day a week at college, and in some fields I believe it can be hard to find a suitable employer. Again, Connexions can advise!

Good luck!

pavlovs_dog

in my experience, careers advisors are worse than useless. its only now that ive got to uni level that ive met a career advisor who seems to have a clue about the real options available to you out there.

we had two appointments with a careers advisor..one in yr10, and again in year 12. im so glad/fortunate that i knew what i wanted to be when i grew up , because if i was undecided, i think the careers interview would have done me more harm than good.

im my brothers case, i dont think he honestly has a clue what he wants to do in life yet. he is still a child whose world revolves around his playstation, his girlfriend and food :rotfl:. he is a great person, and im sure he'll be a well loved addition to wherever he end up, be it work or college because he is such a witty, happy go lucky type of guy.

he's not stupid by any means (slightly lazy and too easily distracted if anything), and its hard to make plans for him because his GCSE results could go either way..he's either going to scrape by with low grades and a few passes, or he is going to completely surprise us all and do much better than we all expect. in his case, i think we are best waiting until he gets his results. good results may just inspire him to give a levels a go (sixth forms and colleges recruit virtually right up to the first day of term so it is never to late for him to enroll).

notsolucky_2

Can really relate to this,
he's not stupid by any means (slightly lazy and too easily distracted if anything), and its hard to make plans for him because his GCSE results could go either way..he's either going to scrape by with low grades and a few passes, or he is going to completely surprise us all and do much better than we all expect,
sounds just like my son!
Rang Connextions today and the advisor said " the futures bleak" (didnt want to hear that!) but have made an appointment for Monday at 4.oopm to go with son to find out about things and try to get him interested in something.Will let you know the outcome...

Josie64

Penny-Pincher!! wrote:

computerwoman-Can you explain the £15 pw sign on abit more please? My niece wasnt able to claim anything and was told that she wouldnt be entitled to anything until she was 18 and this would be JSA.

THanks
PP
xx

same here, son didn't sign for JSA till after 18th birthday , son is now 18 but when he left school, child benefit carried on till september and we talked him into going into college but this lasted till October and so we lost out on child benefit/working tax/child credit/EMA approx loss of 130 week , hence debt problems....but I vaguely remember if son was registered with connexions service after leaving school then entitled to continued working tax or child tax credit but perhaps check up on that?

pavlovs_dog

notsolucky wrote:

Rang Connextions today and the advisor said " the futures bleak" (didnt want to hear that!) but have made an appointment for Monday at 4.oopm to go with son to find out about things and try to get him interested in something.Will let you know the outcome...

poppycock! future's bleak..some support service that is :rolleyes:

honestly notsolucky, try not to let it worry you. our boys arent the first to leave school not knowing what they want to do with their lives, and they wont be the last. people have a habit of finding their way in life, it just takes some longer than others. so long as they are keeping their noses clean i dont see any major problems.

we dont have connexions here in wales, but if thats the type of advice and support they offer i dont think we're missing much

notsolucky_2

Yes exactly I will let you know just how useless they are after Monday, I can imagine **** useless!thanks for your kind words probably I am worrying to much anyway!!