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Post by pipandwill on Mar 24, 2015 22:38:53 GMT
Im 16 and in a bit of a pickle. After doing my gcse's last year, I foolishy went along with doing a levels and staying on at my schools sixth form, with hindsight, I really should of looked into other options as from when I started them in september, until now, I really really hate them, everyone kept telling me it would get better, but it hasnr. A levels really are not for me. And now, my age group have to stay in education until we are 18, but I dont know what to do. I have been looking at the 'distance learning' courses, so I could study at home, not because I am lazy, but because I would rather be working full time. But I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this would be 'allowed' as doing a distance learning course would mean I am in education? And presumably I would be able to start this course as and when? Any help regarding this will be unbelieavably appreciated, as I really do not want to continue with a levels. Thanks
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Post by chalky284 on Mar 25, 2015 0:42:39 GMT
What subjects are you doing??? I have to say that your almost finished your first year of a levels, only one left with the summer off!! I really can't impress on you more than its so much better for you to stick with them and get the grades. Then you will have far more options. distance learning can be quite isolated, with no 'classmates ' for support. Do you have any idea of a career???
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Post by pipandwill on Mar 25, 2015 7:35:14 GMT
btec science, English lit, politics and history. Im only predicted D's in everything and a merit in btec. In an ideal world, I would love to do some freelance riding, get some good instructing qualifications and have a fee in for schooling.
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Post by chalky284 on Mar 25, 2015 10:23:00 GMT
In that case I'd keep going with the btec, but drop one of the alevels. Obviously the one you least enjoy and are achieving least in. This will give you more time to concentrate your energy into the other subjects. There's no reason why you can't offer your riding expertise out, and do one or two BHS exams in the summer. As you're an experienced equestrian it won't take much swotting to pass. Please do try and get some alevels, even if you hate it so much and drop another subject, two or three are better than none!! You are still very young and have the whole of your adult life to find a career. But horses rarely pay well so it's the best decision to have a plan b!! After your a levels there's no reason why you can't spend some time teaching and producing. Use your college to guide you with some career advice. Really good luck! This is an exciting time of life for you!
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Post by pipandwill on Mar 25, 2015 12:59:37 GMT
Thank you, I would approah my sixth form for advice, but they have not given us any sort of help regarding career decisions, even when doing gcse's they would only advise us to stay at the sixth form, which is clearly not for everyone, and now at sixth form, they only seem like there is only one choice after a levels and that is to go to uni, something that atm i am really not thinking i will go to uni- i would approach my head of sixth but for some reason he really has it in for me, I did ask a few months ago to drop English Lit, and he refused to let me drop it.
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Post by emilyequi on Mar 25, 2015 16:02:46 GMT
I know exactly how you feel! I'm in your year also and having had health problems too it has not been easy for me either. I felt I wasn't given enough support in firstly picking my subjects, I did eventually drop one of my subjects, which was also English lit because I was just finding it so so dull. I also thought about doing something with horses, as I already work with them but my mum has convinced me to stick with it and get some A levels, plus I'd love to go to uni but I'm still not sure what I'd be doing! It's all so confusing and stressfull, if you want to drop one I'd push for it!
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Post by mellymoo on Mar 26, 2015 19:28:23 GMT
Have you thought about an Apprenticeship? This fulfills the need for you to be in education, but you can work as well as gaining a qualification. Inbox me for more info or a chat - I work for a college, specialising in this, but am also a careers advisor.
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snowflake
Happy to help....a lot
Posts: 13,399
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Post by snowflake on Mar 26, 2015 20:07:46 GMT
I'd try an apprenticeship Liv? I'm sure there are equine apprenticeships which mean you go into college around two days a week, so you could work alongside it? And then do your BHS exams? I'm doing History and English Lit too and I can definitely sympathise - it's tough!
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Post by dancer on Mar 26, 2015 20:39:44 GMT
Sorry, I don't agree that A levels are the be all & end all where education's concerned. When I left school the only students to go to Uni were the one's whose career choice required a specific degree - now it seems all students are expected to follow the A level to Uni path without even having a career in mind, which has devalued the qualifications IMO. Find something you want to do & go for it, now is the time to take the opportunity to do what you want to do - once you have financial responsibilities it could be more difficult to change careers/retrain. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
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Post by kateanne0 on Apr 1, 2015 9:26:07 GMT
Try to stick with your AS level and finish this year because you will be credited with some UCAS points for doing that, even if you get D's. Next year, there are equestrian colleges that you could go to depending on the area you live in, and they offer good qualifications in horse related subjects. You could do a course that will give you a varied expertise in horse care/management and riding and the qualification to go with the experience. You never know, if you try equestrian college, you may very well want to go on and do a related degree that will interest you and give you a good career path for the future.
Apprenticeships are also very good, there are all sorts of choices other than horses,you won't get paid very well £2.73 per hour but you will come out with a good qualification that will be equal to the BHS Stages if you do an equestrian apprenticeship.
There's more to life than work, so look at the bigger picture. Good luck.
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Post by lennycrabsticks on Apr 2, 2015 10:28:06 GMT
I know exactly where you are coming from. I was exactly the same last year in year 12! And English lit made me want to cry! I had enough of people telling me that I was now an adult so had to act like one but still got spoken to and treated like a child.. Confusing! I was going to leave at the end of year 12 after constantly getting U's, E's and D's which was such a shock after my GCSE's but then I got my amazing results back and so reconsidered leaving. I won't lie year 13 isn't fun at all. It's stressful, full of deadlines and constantly being bombarded with information packs on student loans has definitely taken its toll on me - I do not want to go to uni!
BUT....
Year 13 is such a short year. I have 5 weeks left at school then I never have to go back again. I'd really have a think about it after looking at your results, not only do a levels give you an unbelievable amount of options but also are very highly regarded when it comes to future employment. :-) x
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Post by mcnaughty on Apr 2, 2015 11:09:05 GMT
OP please do try to stick with it. I would try to get some help with your science option as you could use that to go on and do physiotherapy and then specialise in equine! Speak to your parents, perhaps they would consider a tutor? It is a difficult time for you, coming out of childhood but not an adult quite yet. You have to look at these couple of years as a drop in the ocean compared to the 40+ years of working life yet to come and if you don't try to do your best you WILL struggle to bring the money in. Horses are expensive creatures and a good job goes a long way to paying for them!
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