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

RichP_2

I left school at 15 in 1985 and went straight into a job the following week *touch wood* since then I have not had a day out of work *touch wood* I am currently earning £31k a year but the scope for me to be able to leave and do something else / more interesting is very limited to me as I have no formal qualifications, so I guess I would have to go back to school and finish what I should have back then if I want to do something else which at times I do wish I could.

jackomdj

I did a year of A levels then left & worked in a firm of Accountants where I did my AAT (basic accountancy exam). I then said I would have a study break & do my next set of exams a couple of years later - here I am 18 years later still not started.

I am in a great job (retail finance), fairly high up, however I will not get promoted any higher in my company due to my lack of exams and I would not be able to easily get a job in another company due to the same.

When I had my children I was lucky enough to go back part time, however if I had wanted to take a break this would not have been possible as I could not have started a new job on the same level.

So what I am saying is even if it is not A levels followed by Uni get the relevant qualifications for your career path at a time when you have the time to do it (I could study now but it is 3 years & I would rather spend the time with my family).

Good luck in whatever you decide.
Nicky

bootyfurl

Lokolo wrote: »

Have you tried goolgling diploma? It then gives you first site: http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/

which is the diploma site.

Thanks so much!
Does anyone have any comments on this?
I am really considering doing the 14-19 diploma!!

bootyfurl

steve40 wrote: »

If you wanted to be a plumber for instance Uni wouldn't help. IMO if you leave at 16 get a trade. You will earn a good living and after serving your time can be your own boss.

Obviously this depends on your abilities and interests if you wanted to be a Dr then don't leave school at 16!

Have you asked your careers advisor to give more details on diplomas? If you don't mind me asking how old are you?

Lol, yeah true.
Yeah i asked her but its not available just yet in my area yet so she didn't have much advice
I am doing my GCSE's, year 10.

bootyfurl

geri1965 wrote: »

I left school at 16 in 1982 and I have been working ever since. Never been unemployed, signed on etc.

Not having a degree has never held me back, but times are changing now.

Yeah, its harder these days..

bootyfurl

WillowCat wrote: »

It's very true. I was 15 when I left school (just turning 16 I was the youngest in my year). It wasn't expected for us to even stay on to do A levels, and degrees weren't "for the likes of us".

I managed to work my way up to a pretty good job without a degree, but left to go travelling last summer. Now back in the job market (just) I only got a job due to past connections. It seems that in my line of business a CV without a degree is an automatic reject, due to the fact that my younger counterparts all have them.

Because I want to change career anyway, I've just applied for (and been accepted on!!!!:j ) a degree course. If I was 18 now I wouldn't hesitate to go to Uni. I'm 40 btw and it seems that it's a lot harder to get in on the ground and work your way up now than it was when I was younger.

I understand where your coming from, this is a similar case with my Aunty.
Good Luck and i really mean that!

bootyfurl

Lokolo wrote: »

Good luck!

My mum did that few years ago, to help get higher up the ladder, seems to be working!

I love it when i hear of accomplishment

bootyfurl

Gemmzie wrote: »

Sort-of.

I quit my AS levels and went into work. I worked in a bank and hated it, worked in retail full-time and hated that too. But the time off was good as I found a volunteer job I loved and that helped me find which direction I wanted to go in.

I cannot recommend a gap year enough, either before A Levels or after, volunteer, travel, work. Then you'll see how important your education is and hopefully find the right degree for you too

That's why i am really considering the 14-19 diploma because i will have an another choice/experience and it'll help me know what i really want to do.

bootyfurl

candyflossing wrote: »

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.

Yes, this is very true.
Well done for getting A*'s, i want to follow in your footsteps.
Yeah, my careers advisor told me that they are introducing the 14-19 diploma into my area soon and she mentioned other options but this sounded the best!

bootyfurl

dad-of-4 wrote: »

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.

I love your attitude, i try to live by that 'no regrets'.
Well done on your accomplishments, for example no debt and your family.