Brit mother and father do not know what jobs you may get by way of apprenticeships

Parents have confessed to being unaware that careers such as veterinary nursing and aerospace engineering can be accessed through apprenticeships.

A survey of 2,000 parents with children aged 11-18 in state and non-fee paying schools in England revealed that 58% do not fully comprehend the variety of qualifications available to youngsters today.

Despite many being familiar with the concept of apprenticeships, the study underscored a lack of understanding about the opportunities they can provide. Over a quarter believed apprenticeships were generally low-paid, while 9% worried they could restrict future career flexibility.

A large 87% were oblivious to the fact that an apprenticeship could lead to a career as a paralegal, and three quarters (74%) didn’t know it could pave the way to becoming a veterinary nurse or even a paramedic or physiotherapist (83%).

Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that 61% feel ill-equipped to advise their children on educational choices. As many as 41% fear their limited knowledge of current education and career pathways could hinder their child’s prospects.

The research was conducted by Talking Futures, which has produced an online video featuring actress Denise Van Outen to shed light on how parents’ preconceived ideas and past experiences of the education system could be restricting their child’s future options.

Denise Van Outen revealed: “I’ve been having lots of conversations recently with my daughter, who is 14, about what she might like to do in the future and the best routes to getting there. And I have to admit, it can feel really overwhelming knowing how to guide her.”

“From my experience when I was at school, it didn’t seem like there were as many pathways – it was quite linear and you just sort of ‘fell into’ a career, without taking the time to think about the full range of options available.”

She added: “There are great quality options available to kids today; it’s just a case of knowing how best to help your kids to navigate what’s right for them.”

The study also discovered that less than one third of parents now believe that a university degree is the only route to success in a future career. With 40% viewing apprenticeships as a fantastic alternative, believing they provide a good way to gain practical work experience while still receiving an education.

Over three quarters would feel more confident in supporting their children’s decisions if they had a better understanding of the options available.

Michelle Rea, spokesperson for Talking Futures, which is run by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, commented: “Denise does a brilliant job in this short film of demonstrating the importance of parents not letting their own experiences of school have a negative impact on how they support their child’s education decisions.”

“Today’s new research shines a light on that feeling of overwhelm some parents can have as they get to grips with the education options open to their teens.”

“Yes, some things are different from when we were at school, but there is information out there to help – parents just need to know where to look.”

“We have lots of resources and support that we hope will build parents’ confidence in having education and career conversations with their kids by getting them up to speed on what options are available today.”