Did or will anyone quit school at 16 and go straight to work?

System

I almost did this. Despite getting straight As/A*s at GCSE, I felt education boxed me in. It was around this time that I realised that there was more to life than education & money (love, family, happiness).

But at the end of the day, I realised you can't beat 'the system' set in place in todays society. Unless you 'get lucky', you're stuck in minimum wage jobs for the rest of your life. I ended up going on to A levels, then uni.

I do think it's better to take as much education as you can, particularly seeing as most of it is free/paid for by the government. It's not as if A levels are your only option, there are hundreds of courses to choose from.

dad-of-4

i left school in may 88 with no regrets, unoficialy my school education ended prety much at primary level. i hated school, couldnt get out of the education system quick enough.

i prefer to live my life on my terms that way i can have no regrets. i realy dont care if a degree means i can earn more, buy a house, have a flash car, credit cards, shiny bits of s>hit on finance, i dont particularly want any of that. i have never had the desire to have "a career" so i refuse to buy in, Im very happy with my life at the moment, i have a family that mean the world to me, zero debt, pleanty to whinge about, but nothing to realy wory about, i have never regreted anything ive done in life, ive had good times ive had bad, ive had it easy and ive had it hard, but its just part of the adventure.

coolagarry

I left school at 16 (1960) and went into full time employment as a butcher. Later I changed jobs but went to University part time to get a BA and MSoc Sci. I have now retired on a pretty good pension.
Obviously times have changed but I think that lots of employers are now looking for experience as well as qualifications. Many trades now require a fair amount of academic updating (my plumber/electrician who is in his late 50's goes to college about a day month to keep his qualifications up to date).
I think it is now more important than ever to continue in education most of your working life.

System

I think a lot depends on what makes you happy.

Some people enjoy learning. Others find it tiresome and boring.

Parents can be very persuasive too. I know a lot of people who are only in uni because their parents forced them into going.

G30RG3

Heck knows... Im Staying on Past 6thform well i think 6thform when ill get that age will be a year later since im stuffed cause the goverment are changeing the optianl leaveing age from 16? to 18 or something? so ill probley end up leaveing My school at 19-21... then going straight to collage/uni for part of my time And doing work the other time so i will be doing half shifts of collage and work to hopefully make a good ballence and have a good amount of free time
to light them fireworkz or get that can and hit the wall agian

wiseman405

Hi bootyfurl

I left school last year at the age of 16. So far it's the best thing i have ever done. Started work a week after my GCSE's and now i am earning an okay wage and saving my !!!! off!!
If you can guarantee that you can find a job when you leave, and you think its the right thing to do, then go for it!

Education does not guarantee you a job, no matter how brainy you are!
People handling skills are important....

Good luck

DrFluffy

My brother did. He's now 24 and has just started a college course...

paul_raynes

I'm personally doing my masters at University. I have a lot of friends who left school at 16 and are now at a stage in their career where they need a degree to go on to the next level. They've lead a successful life and now they're doing their degrees to progress even further. So although everyone says "go to University or you'll never make anything of yourself" it doesn't mean that you can't go later. Don't feel pressurised into staying on just because it's expected of you. You can go to university at any point in your life, if at all. My friend is 22 and he left school at 16 to work for minimum wage in a factory. Now he's well settled and on about £25k pa with nothing but his GSCE's on his CV. So not doing the traditional route doesn't mean you're doomed to fail. After all many of the worlds richest people don't have a sound accademic background.

In hindsight though i think University is probably the best thing i've ever done and has ultimately improved many areas of my life. So i think you should consider what you want if doing this diploma and will it improve your life or just your career.

Ripata_2

Its so difficult for youngsters now going into college and uni,my Daughter is in first year of college doing A levels she lodges out during the week as college is far from us and she is finding it difficult to get a saturday job,so at the mo its costing us a lot,but i know its so worth it,but lots of others in same situation.

Diamond90

I left school at 16 and have been working ever since (18 now), but i have been doing evening courses alongside. Its hard sometimes to juggle them all, but hopefully it will all be worth it in the end!