Are A Levels the right choice for my child?

Are you in the midst of deciding what is best for your child’s study path? A Levels might be the best possible route to a successful future, but it’s not always what your child has in mind. Read this guide to learn more about what to consider when considering A Levels.

Does your child have definitive goals in mind?

If your child already has a clear path with their studies then A Levels may well be the best choice for them to go down. It will help them reach the points needed to head into university as well, especially if they have thought ahead and planned the courses that interest them. 

If your child doesn’t have any particular plan in place that’s also okay, but they may want to go down a different path to help them work out what could be the best choices for them.

What does your child want to pursue as a career?

If your child wants to pick up art and design, or a design technology course, then A Levels might not be the best route right now. It will of course vary from each A Level College – many Sixth Form Colleges will provide a huge range of A Level subjects for your child to explore – but other schools may not. 

Do plenty of research beforehand and see if your child’s school has the right subjects for them to study. You can always consider a different school or college that has the choices your child is after.

Keep your child’s motivation in mind as well

There is no point pushing your child into something they might not have the stomach for. The jump to A Levels is quite a big one, and it can be very difficult for some students to pick up the skills needed straight away. It can be even more debilitating if your child struggles in their studies in comparison to their friends.

If your child isn’t too sure about A Levels then you can recommend heading into an apprenticeship or employment. A lot can be learnt in these roles as well!