School careers night

pdhmobile

Member
This one's for the more experienced ones amongst us.
I've got a school careers night with my eldest who's got to choose his options in a few weeks and I've got no idea what I'm going to ask the people there, colleges, universities, training centers, employers from various sectors.

Any general questions I should be asking that might be useful?
 
This one's for the more experienced ones amongst us.
I've got a school careers night with my eldest who's got to choose his options in a few weeks and I've got no idea what I'm going to ask the people there, colleges, universities, training centers, employers from various sectors.

Any general questions I should be asking that might be useful?
Without knowing more about what they are interested in and their expected grades, it is hard to suggest.
 
When my son was that age, his Mum asked me to attend to try to get him to do the traditional academic subjects. He wasnt the most academic student and had mild dyslexia.
I knew that he wanted to do more artistic subjects. In the end it was the reaction of the teachers we met that helped make the decision. He ended up doing Music, Art and Business studies along with the core subjects, the warmth and encouragement that they showed, won the day. He never looked back and ended up at a music college and then university degree in music production. He now works in marketing producing tourist videos for a local tour operator in Bath.

To summarise know what your child wants to aim for, look at their skills and interests and find out what the teachers think, do they even know that your child is in their classroom. We all do better for the teachers that nurture us.
 
This one's for the more experienced ones amongst us.
I've got a school careers night with my eldest who's got to choose his options in a few weeks and I've got no idea what I'm going to ask the people there, colleges, universities, training centers, employers from various sectors.

Any general questions I should be asking that might be useful?
Depends what your eldest is good at, what interests they have and if they have any thoughts on a career at all.

Go with what you’re good at.. get help with maths and English if needed.
 
If he's going to uni ask about support for them while they are away. My lad said he found it hard being in halls even though he knew 2 lads from his college. He never mentioned it to us but said he nearly came home in the first month. Settled after that especially when he moved into a house with his mates.
Options...if he's any good at Maths he can't go wrong. It's led to my lad going into a career earning money I couldn't imagine and I used to get good wages.
 
Without doubt, I would be asking those training providers if their training courses are apprenticeships or just attendance courses! Unless they can offer employment or promises of employment, then most will sell you an apprenticeship under false pretences. There’s a chance that your child could study with them for up to 2 years and be kicked out the other end without employment. Ask about success rates in getting students on placements and statistics on how many each year get taken on! Don’t be taken in by fancy new buildings and state of the art equipment. In reality, the quality of delivery is poor and the equipment sits redundant as no staff are trained to use it.
My advice…..tell them to join the RAF .
 
Visit some stalls at random rather than just pre picking what you think is right. It was a chance visit to the merchant navy stand on the way out of our careers evening that resulted in me joining P & O ( the rest is history 😗 )
 
There's no need for him to be thinking about a career with any great conviction that age. He should cover a broad range, including a language. He'll have to do maths, English, science anyway. If he's practical or artistic then obviously choose things, or not to suit.
I wouldn't worry about the conversations with the visiting establishments, just find out the basics, pick up leaflets etc and see what he takes an interest in.
 
This one's for the more experienced ones amongst us.
I've got a school careers night with my eldest who's got to choose his options in a few weeks and I've got no idea what I'm going to ask the people there, colleges, universities, training centers, employers from various sectors.

Any general questions I should be asking that might be useful?
As a starter I would like at the shortage occupation list on the gov.uk website and look at careers website.

My niece did not have a clue and she is fixed up with an apprenticeship at network work in York.

Environmental Health and Trading standards are good areas to get into.

She had women in engineering mentor(google it)

I think a kid will know her own ability. I think any science subjects are a good start.

If she is middle of the road, I would focus on doing subjects she enjoys. Getting 5 good that includes GCSE maths and English.

Also if she get fixed up with a works experience then that is also a good thing.

I think law, accountancy, sports science have too many graduates.

Does she have a favourite subject? Has she any hobbies, tv shows that inspire her?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ions/skilled-worker-visa-shortage-occupations
 
As a starter I would like at the shortage occupation list on the gov.uk website and look at careers website.

My niece did not have a clue and she is fixed up with an apprenticeship at network work in York.

Environmental Health and Trading standards are good areas to get into.

She had women in engineering mentor(google it)

I think a kid will know her own ability. I think any science subjects are a good start.

If she is middle of the road, I would focus on doing subjects she enjoys. Getting 5 good that includes GCSE maths and English.

Also if she get fixed up with a works experience then that is also a good thing.

I think law, accountancy, sports science have too many graduates.

Does she have a favourite subject? Has she any hobbies, tv shows that inspire her?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ions/skilled-worker-visa-shortage-occupations
 
Depends what he’s good at like the above said, if he’s good at science based STEM subjects he will do very well around the local area.

I left school at 16 to do A levels, wasn’t for me even tho I was ok in school. 18 took an apprenticeship, never looked back always been paid very well even when I was training now 8 years after starting earn more than I can imagine.

Just insight into whatever direction you go in if your intrested you’ll have a good career and you don’t always have to go to uni to have the big opportunities
 
Depending on his interests / abilities I would be steering him away from the traditional routes of university.. it doesnt offer the same prestige as it use to and the end result doesnt guarantee you a decent job either. My half brother is well into his computer studies so did college and then looked at paid internships... he ended up with JP Morgan and they employed him full time with day release for uni... paying the course fees.

He just qualified in 2022 and is earning a fortune.. all at the age of 24. he has also travelled the world with them all on expenses. his mates that went to uni are either on the dole or in low paid jobs, most with thousands in debt.
 
The only thing that really matters at GCSE is maths and English which you have to do anyway. There are a couple of careers, like Dr, which might specifically require triple science and if there is any desire in the future to work in a specific country then the relevant language would be a big help. Other than that, if he gets the grades he can do whatever A-level he wants and he might have more idea of what career he wants by then.

As soon as you get your next qualifications the previous ones matter much less so if he's going to do A levels and uni then it probably doesn't matter what the courses are, just that he gets the grades to go to the next step.
 
This one's for the more experienced ones amongst us.
I've got a school careers night with my eldest who's got to choose his options in a few weeks and I've got no idea what I'm going to ask the people there, colleges, universities, training centers, employers from various sectors.

Any general questions I should be asking that might be useful?
How old is he? Is he picking GCSE (14 year old) or is he looking at further education (16 year old).

If its GCSE just pick the subjects he likes the best, most important subjects are compulsory anyway. If it's post 16 then he needs to think carefully about what he wants to do in 2 years time, university or get a job. Need to tailor subjects more closely to what he thinks he will be doing post 18.
 
I don't know enough about your son to even begin to try to give any advice about what he should do.

Instead here's some advice about what NOT to do;

Don't pick subjects just because your mates are taking it (you'd be surprised how often this happens).

Don't pick subjects based solely on the like (or dislike) of the teacher you think is going to be teaching the course (no guarantee that they will, they might night even be there any more).


The one question I would definitely recommend asking is about what happens if your son picks a subject and decides he doesn't like it. Can he switch courses? If so, how soon must thst decision be made?
 
I don't know enough about your son to even begin to try to give any advice about what he should do.

Instead here's some advice about what NOT to do;

Don't pick subjects just because your mates are taking it (you'd be surprised how often this happens).

Don't pick subjects based solely on the like (or dislike) of the teacher you think is going to be teaching the course (no guarantee that they will, they might night even be there any more).


The one question I would definitely recommend asking is about what happens if your son picks a subject and decides he doesn't like it. Can he switch courses? If so, how soon must thst decision be made?
That last one is usually difficult with most subjects already over-subscribed.
 
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Options wise, I would want my child to take triple science and a language, which would leave a humanities option open to them.
tripple science is tough, obviously if your kid is an absolute beast in science.. then go go it.
saying that, if your kid is smashing science then they are probably smashing maths too.. pretty easy to pick a levels and even uni after that.

I think there are some very underrated subjects that are often dismissed because they involve a different way of thinking and style of learning. Art for instance can be seen as a cop out by a lot of parents.. if your kid has an interest in a creative field it can open up a lot of doors. also it involves creative thinking and teaches a different kind of problem solving. Creative thinkers are well sought after in the business world.

Music as well can be seen as a throw away by parents.. if your kid has a passion for it, then it’s better to spend time doing that than getting swallowed up in the mountain of writing that doing history and geography. Music is said to aid mathematics as well for those that struggle..

Business studies can have practical real world applications for those looking to go self employed or even start up their own small business.

I’ve found art to be the most useful in college, uni, working life and I was strong with maths and science.

My eldest was strong in English and Humanities, he did music to reduce the workload and improve his grades elsewhere.. which worked.

My youngest took RE against my advice.. ended up changing to Engineering because his mates were doing it! Lol.. fully supported that.

If your straight As then single science, Engineering, IT and a foreign language would appear to open a lot if doors for you (Physics Teacher)

Engineering around the world appears to draw on Teesside talent somewhere along the line.

If they do have an idea of what they want to do.. support them fully and back them as much as you can. Whatever it is.. if they want it and stick to it and dedicate themselves to it, then it will happen.
 
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