AD. When your child finishes their GCSE’s, like many, they may choose to stay on at the same school to take on their A Levels. But this doesn’t suit all children. All 16 year olds must continue their education until they reach the age of 18 though – this is the law in England and Wales. However, that doesn’t mean they must attend school or college full-time. They may choose to get a job which has an element of training to it but they cannot work full-time without additional training as part of their employment. So what are our children's options after GCSE's?
There are various choices such as apprenticeships or jobs with training which has been approved by the government.
[Photo by Eliott Reyna on Unsplash]
Options After GCSE
Helping Your Child Make The Best Choice
It’s important to remember that your child should have the final say in what they do next. As parents, it’s easy to feel that we know better and that we should push our children towards one route rather than another. But it’s equally important for children of this age to have some autonomy and even to be allowed to make their own mistakes.
If your child has a good idea of what career path they want to follow, then it’s not hard to work out the best routes towards that. For those who don’t have a clear idea however, there are many options which will allow them to continue in education but leave their options open.
In these cases, focus on their interests. A child who doesn’t know what they want to do but loves sport, may well enjoy a course focused on training and physical education for example. A child who loves art will probably benefit from an arts-based course or apprenticeship.
Remember though, if your child changes their mind later down the track, it’s not the end of the world. They can enrol on a new course once they have a clear idea of their ambitions.
Seek Guidance From Their School
Speak to their form tutor and other staff; utilise their knowledge of your child and of others so that you get the best advice at this important stage of your child’s life.
The best schools, like this independent school in Bath, understand the students personalities as well as their abilities and will offer one-to-one guidance to each student.
The most important thing is that your child feels supported and that they have real options and a say in their own future.
