IT is GCSE results day and your son or daughter has not achieved the grades they needed for their new course or apprenticeship. As a parent or carer how can you help?
Don’t panic. They may still be accepted onto their further education or apprenticeship course, especially if the grades are only slightly lower than expected. Phone the sixth form, college or apprenticeship training provider and explain the situation.
Alternatively the tutor may suggest an alternative course which will provide the qualifications needed to reapply in a year’s time.Whatever you do, don’t just guess that they will turn down your child.
If you are not offered a suitable alternative course, perhaps its time to think through the options again. There are lots of people who can help you including Connexions Personal Advisers, teachers, learning mentors, and other adults.
Connexions can provide free and impartial advice to parents and carers as well as young people.
Let’s look at some of the possible options
Look again at the sixth form or college prospectuses/websites. Is there a suitable course? A course which is similar to the course they wanted to take, but requiring lower GCSE grades. The first thing your son or daughter, or you, must do is phone and ask if there are any places left.
Perhaps there isn’t a similar course. Together can you find another course which will give them the opportunity to improve their qualifications and apply in 2011 for the course they originally wanted to study.Always contact the sixth form or college to check on places but also ask if this new qualification will be an acceptable alternative to meet the entry requirements of their original course.
The good news is that every year many people who achieve lower GCSE grades than expected do get a place at sixth form or college.
- A DIFFERENT WAY OF LEARNING: APPRENTICESHIPS
Other young people use this time to question themselves and ask, “Is college or sixth form the right place for me?”Perhaps a different style of learning will be a better choice for them. Not everyone is suited to sitting at a desk and doing lots of writing.Some people learn by doing rather than just studying.
Many people have successfully taken apprenticeships as an alternative to further education. Choosing an apprenticeship is an important decision and should not be seen as a poor alternative to a further education course.Together you will need to decide which job and training they want.It can take from two to four years to achieve the full National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).NVQs are a work qualification devised in consultation with employers and have been achieved by thousands of employees.They are recognised by employers throughout the UK and are available in everything from Motor Mechanics to Engineering to Horticulture to Hairdressing and lots more.An NVQ2 is equivalent to 5 GCSE grades A-C and this is the qualification most people will start working towards when they leave school or college.If your child expects to achieve some GCSE grade Cs, or after they achieve the NVQ2, they can apply for the Advanced Apprenticeship which leads to an NVQ3. This is equivalent to two A levels.For many young people an apprenticeship is the opportunity to show how good they are in a way they never experienced in school.They will get paid while they are training in their apprenticeship. The amount will vary according to the type of work and employer.
To find out about current vacancies contact a Connexions Personal Adviser, alternatively check the national apprenticeship website.Vacancies change all the time and before making such an important decision it makes sense to talk to an expert, so book an appointment for a careers interview with a Connexions Personal Adviser.
QUICK TIPS
SET AN AGREED TIME to discuss options with your son or daughter. Discuss where to meet - maybe outside the home, perhaps over a coffee or meal.Set a time limit of between 30 to 40 minutes for discussion and keep to it.Longer than this may not be productive.
ASK THEIR OPINION.It’s their decision and they will have to do the studying or work.
RESEARCH JOB IDEAS.Whether your child chooses to continue their education or start an apprenticeship, all routes lead to jobs and employment.Together you need to find out what is involved in their job ideas.Look at the qualifications, skills and abilities required for each job.A good question to ask is, “Do you think you will get the qualifications to do this?”
You can find job descriptions on the Connexions Direct website.
STAY POSITIVE.Whatever their results there is something for them.Sometimes a quick telephone chat with a Connexions Careers Adviser can give you the information you need before you sit down together for your discussion.
