One in 10 parents think their children are “too clever” for apprenticeships
One in 10 parents consider their children to be "too clever" for apprenticeships, new research shows – suggesting teenagers are still feeling the pressure to go to university, rather than consider alternative options.
The study, by AllAboutSchoolLeavers.co.uk, found just over 80 per cent of teachers felt they didn't know enough about non-university options for school leavers.
Considering a study published earlier this week by High Fliers Research showed the £9,000 cost of going to university means an increasing number of school leavers would rather do something else, that suggests teachers are going to have to wise up sooner, rather than later – particularly given official figures show the number of new undergrads fell 17 per cent in 2013.
In fact, there were suggestions apprenticeships and other further education options are becoming increasingly acceptable – just 54 per cent of the 10,000 school and college students surveyed said they were only considering university as their next option.
But with only 40 per cent of parents saying they really understand the concept of a "higher apprenticeship", there's still snobbery over the quality of university versus other routes.
Jack Denton, co-founder of AllAboutSchoolLeavers, pointed out that employers should consider widening the net of those they employ.
"The supply of vacancies must match the changing demands of the market," he said.