Leaving school - is this true?

Mojisola

This is going off-topic now but I think we fail a lot of young people by expecting them all to succeed in an academic set-up.

No society has a population that's 100% academic - we need to provide an appropriate education for all the people who do the practical jobs that keep the country functioning (and learn to value them!).

margaretclare

Mojisola wrote: »

This is going off-topic now but I think we fail a lot of young people by expecting them all to succeed in an academic set-up.

No society has a population that's 100% academic - we need to provide an appropriate education for all the people who do the practical jobs that keep the country functioning (and learn to value them!).

Yes, I've always thought that.

AngelOfTheNorth

margaretclare wrote: »

It's true that it used to be possible to walk straight into jobs but is no longer, but nevertheless, there are opportunities if you look for them.

Hmm. That's quite a broad statement. The problem is, there aren't enough opportunities to go round. This inevitably means some people will be unable to access anything, however hard they look. Based on the information we've had so far, this family do not live in an area where there are lots of options. And I wonder how many of the people mentioning apprenticeships realise how competitive they are. I'd be delighted for any young relative of mine to secure one, absolutely delighted, but it's not easy!

mumps

margaretclare wrote: »

PS: to mumps: Yes, your son did well, but my eldest GD didn't necessarily do any better for having been to public school. Her first choice was Cambridge but they didn't accept her.

If she had as good a time at Nottingham as my son did I am sure she doesn't regret Cambridge. Funnily enough my son is thinking of Cambridge for a post grad course but he wants to work for a while. He is enjoying his first job, well he did work in his gap year and during uni but not the same as fulltime is it.

mumps

margaretclare wrote: »

Yes, this is all true regarding my eldest step-GD. She went to Nottingham University, at present she's spending a year with a pharmaceutical company in Basel, Switzerland, intends to continue to PhD level and hopes to become a research scientist in some medical or pharmaceutical branch.

Younger one was turned down by the RAF but hopes to fly helicopters.

Yes, they both went to a public school 6th form. I've seen that what runs down that line of the family is a very high level of commitment and work ethic. I have the greatest admiration for them and I'm sure they'll succeed.

My eldest GD has qualified as a painter and decorator. She, like many of the young folk that I know, has a very strong work ethic and fierce independence. I admire them all.

It's true that it used to be possible to walk straight into jobs but is no longer, but nevertheless, there are opportunities if you look for them.

Honestly I don't know how my memory works, I literlly go to the supermarket to get something and come home with a bag of stuff and not the thing I went for. I suppose it was the same uni that triggered your Step GD memory for me. Has she graduated yet? I really enjoyed the graduation at Nottingham, have had four children all graduating from different universities and two with post grad so a bit of an expert customer here and I thought the Nottingham one was outstanding.

HB58

Mojisola wrote: »

This is going off-topic now but I think we fail a lot of young people by expecting them all to succeed in an academic set-up.

No society has a population that's 100% academic - we need to provide an appropriate education for all the people who do the practical jobs that keep the country functioning (and learn to value them!).

I agree completely. The push to send 50% of school leavers to university has seen those of a less academic bent undervalued - and left a skills gap that has seen tradespeople at a premium. It's time we accepted that not everyone flourishes in an academic setting and also that we do not have enough graduate jobs to go round.

LplateSaver

This post was really funny. People getting riled up about a victim of circumstances. That poor child* probably doesn't know what to do with herself now, probably never seen her mother work because she decided she's better off on benefits. Why would you have confidence to get a job or any motivation to when your from a family used to handouts? Meh. OP If you want to help, help the girl write a cv or ask about her working at your company.

midnight_express wrote: »

This thread is a great example of why all child related benefits should be abolished.

Yeah that might solve it.


*naive unprepared young adult

Colin_Hunt

Why doesnt she go to college until 20?
Delaying the inevitable (or a bit of breathing space for the mother to get a job?)

dori2o

HB58 wrote: »

I agree completely. The push to send 50% of school leavers to university has seen those of a less academic bent undervalued - and left a skills gap that has seen tradespeople at a premium. It's time we accepted that not everyone flourishes in an academic setting and also that we do not have enough graduate jobs to go round.

Excellent point well made.

The sooner the education system is radically changed to allow children/teenagers/young adults/whatever you want to call them, to work towards vocational qualifications rather than keeping them stuck in classrooms in subjects they have no interest in and which are unlikely to provide them with the skills to walk into work, then we are always going to have an issue with kids who are not well educated.

I would never condone these kids being able to give up Maths, English and Science, but from the age of 13 (going into year 9) they should be able to work towards NVQ's (levels 2 and possibly even 3)/BTEC National Certificates/HNC's/etc etc.

This could include a form of 'day release to local colleges/businesses. At BAE Systems we used to have a class of kids come in the morning and then another group in the afternoon where they would learn about electronics, and engineering. There were also usually challenges for the class to work towards as a group. I remember the time I was in the training school they built a model jeep. One for toddlers to ride in, but it was motorised and they had to build everything from the frame, to the wooden shell, to wiring up the electrics (motor/lights/horn etc etc).

All of them loved it, and many of them went into engineering, some with BAE Systems until they closed down the training room.

As has been said by countless people, the world has changed but our education system hasn't moved with it.

There needs to be a change. Only then will we see a real reduction in youth unemployment.

ERICS_MUM

Perhaps we should be looking at changing our education system into 2 distinct streams - one focusing on an academic education with a "minor" vocational/practical/applied aspect. The second to focus on vocational studies but retaining a good standard of essential maths, English and general science.

We would risk returning to the secondary school versus grammar school "stigma" that existed when I was at school in the 1960s/70s so they would have to be structured as parallel education streams, not hierarchical, leading to distinct but equally valid qualifications and further educational/career opportunities.

Might be a rubbish idea but something needs changing.