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A Guide for Parents and Carers

When decision time comes at the end of S4, the options you’re likely to be discussing with the teenager in your life are:

• staying on at school
• going to college
• going into work or training

And you’re likely also to be discussing

• how keen they are to study full time and live on a bursary, educational maintenance allowance or even a student loan for the next few years
• whether they’re ready to get out there into a real life work situation and start earning

To help you help your teenager with their career and learning choices you can:

• speak to school guidance, pupil support or guidance staff
• go to the Career Advice section on this website: http://www.mappit.org.uk/CareerAdvice/default.aspx

A modern apprenticeship is the option which means:

• getting practical experience, learning on the job
• getting a nationally recognised work based qualification
• earning industry rate wages from day one

Modern apprenticeships are part of the Government’s economic strategy. For 2009-2010 there is £16,000,000 of extra funding, to recruit 7,800 new apprentices, taking the annual total to 18,500.

Modern apprenticeships are designed in cooperation with relevant industry training organisations (Sector Skills Councils):

• they lead to nationally recognised work based qualifications, Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs)
• they provide relevant work experience at the same time
• modern apprentices are paid industry wage rates

For more information go to the following sections of this website:

• What is a Modern Apprenticeship?: the advantages of a modern apprenticeship
• Modern Apprenticeship Index: the range of opportunities available
• Provider Index: the range of employers, colleges and training providers involved
• Case studies: real people’s experiences

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