For many children across the country, secondary school will end on Friday with a whimper.
Cancelled exams mean pupils in years 11 and 13 will say their socially distanced goodbyes with very little fanfare and take the rest of the summer off. Time enough to reflect on the past five or seven years of school life and think about what comes next.
For many, like my Year 11 son for example, that means A levels or for older teens a university degree.
But what about those who don’t want to go down the academic route? With so many retailers and companies closing or downsizing due to the pandemic – M&S has announced it’s shutting 30 stores after losing over £200million in the past year – there are serious concerns about what the future holds for young people across the country.
Which is why it’s encouraging to hear that, at last, more is being done to encourage youngsters to apply for and take up apprenticeships.
Universities are also on board as part of a move to end the outdated snobbery about studying vocational courses.
UCAS, which runs university admissions, says it will do more to better promote apprenticeships which allow students to study while working part time.
Research by UCAS shows that 50% of sixth-form students have shown an interest in vocational courses but there is a lack of information and support.
Meanwhile a third of school leavers and pupils in colleges aren’t being told about apprenticeships even though it’s a legal requirement to do so in schools.
There has long been a sneery attitude when it comes to hands-on skills and training. Meanwhile, degree courses have mushroomed.
But with no guarantee of graduates getting jobs afterwards and hefty fees, you do have to wonder how many are worth the price.
A friend of mine was tearing her hair out about what to do with her son who couldn’t wait to leave at 16.
During lockdown, she had some work done on her home and, as her son was at home not doing much, she told him to help out the carpenter.
Like most teens he moaned and grumbled at first. But within days he was hooked. He fell in love with carpentry and working with his hands. Turns out he was really good.
Skills like this had never been offered in school. My friend said she’s never seen him so engaged and is now looking for an apprenticeship for him as it’s the first time he’s shown a passion for anything.
This should be encouraged in schools rather than the obsession with grades. A degree is great, but in many cases it’s no substitute for practical skills.
Hopefully seeing apprenticeships in this new light will help plug Britain’s growing skills shortage and offer a brighter future for young people.
