MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
As above, talking with younger sonon options post GCSEs. Realistically, A levels are probably not an option nor something he wants to pursue, nor is he an academic/book type.
He hasn't a specific interest/career direction (understandably as he's only 15) so just interested in hearing of any positive experiences of courses/options/routes others may have done to take him from 16 to 18 that provide options, interest and add to maturity. Pretty open-minded.
Thanks
Access courses.
Look at a trade working as an apprentice.
If he's not ideologically opposed, the Navy offer some good training routes for the Engineering branch.
There are many, many apprenticeships.
There are many, many apprenticeships.
+1
if its not academic then it is almost certainly vocational
Much of this will depend on his results as to what he is academically suited to /able to do and what is available locally.
The standard response so to "learn a trade" but it really depends on learning a trade with an under supply where he can actually gain employment
The conversion rates into employment of FT college apprenticeships is not good- ask the college for figures for employment after the course - they will also want them to do a level 3 [ they get paid] which will almost certainly require employment
Its a few years since i needed to know this stuff but skills shortage in construction were generally gas/plumbing and electrician - which also pay the most and are not as weather dependent as say brickie.
Engineering is useful ONLY if there is a large engineering base locally or he is prepared to move for work Essentially the qualification may provide entry into a profession but it is no guarantee of work if none is available. The over supply of certain trades [ colleges exist to make money from training not to train folk for jobs that exist] is huge - hairdressing and childcare for females motor vehicle for males.
IMHO /IME a qualification without the work [ college course only]is worth about 10% of the paid apprenticeship route. I worked with hundreds who has the qualification and never worked in that sector ever and after a few years of not using it you may as well not have it.