Clodagh
Well-Known Member
Bearing in mind I’m 54, I did a BTEC and I think they are well known enough, 36 years later (or what ever
).
A-levels or racing college?
- Thread starter Akskdjwndkh
- Start date
).humblepie
Well-Known Member
I am a bit out of touch on other qualifications but could you do the A levels you like/would find easy as evening classes? I did mine that way whilst working full time, albeit not in racing.
paddy555
Well-Known Member
you don't sound very committed to studying so I would go to BRS. Get it out of your system. You may be brilliant there and find you have a great future in racing. Alternatively you either may not like working with horses full time or simply not be cut out for it.
Having worked out your answer to that then, if racing is not for you, you can settle down and get whatever qualifications are necessary for your future career.
If you don't like or think you could pass your subjects then I would find a college with a better choice.
Having worked out your answer to that then, if racing is not for you, you can settle down and get whatever qualifications are necessary for your future career.
If you don't like or think you could pass your subjects then I would find a college with a better choice.
follysienna
Well-Known Member
I was in the same position in year 11/start of A levels. Not racing, but I wanted to work with horses professionally. I hated my first year of A levels, but really enjoyed a subject in my second year that I decided to go and study it at uni. I am now in a well paid, flexible career that allows me to ride and compete my own horses. I dont regret my choice, especially when I talk to friends who are worked to the bone in the horse industry and are struggling financially. Of course that is only my experience, but I'd recommend atleast a non-horsey course at college while it's still free. As you get older, you'll have to pay for courses and they aren't cheap. Once you've got a back up option under your belt then definitely follow your heart and go to racing school.
little_critter
Well-Known Member
Or the alternative is are there any apprenticeships that might interest you?
I have several apprentices on my team and I rate it as a qualification.
www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk
I have several apprentices on my team and I rate it as a qualification.
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rextherobber
Well-Known Member
I'm another vote for doing a level 3 BTEC in a subject you enjoy, it should mean you have enough UCAS. points to go to uni, if you ever want to. Keep your options open!
Haniki
Well-Known Member
Lots of T levels on offer now, which are more like apprenticeships - mixes of practical and classroom based work. You can do Science, Business, all sorts of subjects.
dominobrown
Well-Known Member
I did similar A-levels. to you and went to uni to do geography. as you can see from my profile pic I also went point to pointing at the same.
Burnerbee
Well-Known Member
There are other options if A Levels don’t float your boat - have you looked at apprenticeships, rural based colleges…. but yes, get some qualifications - you don’t want to be my relative who’s dedicated her life to horses, no savings, full of arthritis, mucking out 20 horses for minimum wage aged 65.
scats
Well-Known Member
I’m going to go against the grain. A-levels are only really any use if you plan to go to university. There are lots of other academic routes you can take and I’d definitely explore these first.
Ahrena
Well-Known Member
Do the A-levels.
I did A-levels then went and worked with horses for 7 years. I loved it for a long time but when I became fed up, I quit.
I struggled enough to find an entry level job that would pay what I needed to survive and keep my horses without a degree. A-levels were a requirement for entry to the career route I got in the end (and I enjoy my horses a lot more now they’re ‘just’ a hobby) I don’t know what I would of done without my A-levels as I couldn’t afford to do an access course or go to uni at that point in my life.
I did A-levels then went and worked with horses for 7 years. I loved it for a long time but when I became fed up, I quit.
I struggled enough to find an entry level job that would pay what I needed to survive and keep my horses without a degree. A-levels were a requirement for entry to the career route I got in the end (and I enjoy my horses a lot more now they’re ‘just’ a hobby) I don’t know what I would of done without my A-levels as I couldn’t afford to do an access course or go to uni at that point in my life.
webble
Well-Known Member
Another vote for A Levels first
lme
Well-Known Member
I’d do A levels or a BTEC now (depending on whether you are better ant exams or coursework) then do BRC before deciding whether to do nursing.
Think of the qualifications as an insurance policy. Once you have level 3 qualifications, you can decide to do a degree or degree apprenticeship at any time.
Yes you can do an access course later but it’s a much harder route to Uni, isn’t free and (if you do it full time) could mean a few months with no income when you are used living independently and have financial commitments.
Think of the qualifications as an insurance policy. Once you have level 3 qualifications, you can decide to do a degree or degree apprenticeship at any time.
Yes you can do an access course later but it’s a much harder route to Uni, isn’t free and (if you do it full time) could mean a few months with no income when you are used living independently and have financial commitments.
View
Well-Known Member
I’m another that is going to be boring and say look for a route to get qualifications for uni entry first. It’s much easier to gain them while you are still used to studying.
Find a way to get them in a format and subjects that interest you. So please look at colleges and not just schools. A levels, T levels, BTECs. Mix and match, play to your strengths.
What is it that attracts you to racing school?
What is it that attracts you to nursing?
Work out the answers to these questions when planning your uni qualification route.
And please bear in mind that uni isn’t the only route to a degree level qualification. My professional exams count as a BSc equivalent and allowed me entry to my MA course. My daughter is just about to do her EPA for a degree apprenticeship.
Really, at your age I would just keep your options open. Nothing is set in stone ever. I was pushed into uni and hated it. Went back to work and qualified while working. Got back into horses in 2013 and got my teaching qualification in 2016. Oh and that equestrian coaching qualification has transferred across to my day job in transport and was accepted as proof that I have the necessary skills to teach in a classroom setting where I have the required theoretical knowledge.
Good luck!
Find a way to get them in a format and subjects that interest you. So please look at colleges and not just schools. A levels, T levels, BTECs. Mix and match, play to your strengths.
What is it that attracts you to racing school?
What is it that attracts you to nursing?
Work out the answers to these questions when planning your uni qualification route.
And please bear in mind that uni isn’t the only route to a degree level qualification. My professional exams count as a BSc equivalent and allowed me entry to my MA course. My daughter is just about to do her EPA for a degree apprenticeship.
Really, at your age I would just keep your options open. Nothing is set in stone ever. I was pushed into uni and hated it. Went back to work and qualified while working. Got back into horses in 2013 and got my teaching qualification in 2016. Oh and that equestrian coaching qualification has transferred across to my day job in transport and was accepted as proof that I have the necessary skills to teach in a classroom setting where I have the required theoretical knowledge.
Good luck!
daydreamer
Well-Known Member
I teach A level Chemistry and think you should look really carefully at the full range of opportunities available. In my experience (15+ years teaching at a large 6th form college) most students who come in with a 6 in science and a 6 in maths (our minimum entry requirements but grades that would be considered 'good' by many) really struggle with A level Chemistry. If you want to use A levels to go to university then it is worth persevering, if not then I actually think many would be happier and better off doing something else. Have a look at apprenticeships, BTEC, T levels etc near you. If you do decide you want to do A levels have a look if there are any colleges near you where you will have greater choice (personally I also think it is a great way to start to become more independent and the teaching is often better because we are specialists!). Don't be put off doing something vocational and coming back into education later, I see too many students who aren't enjoying their studying but are just following the expected path.
Wishfilly
Well-Known Member
The school I work at is looking at offering Science T-level but a lot of our local unis don't accept it- including the ones that will accept BTECs. I'm not saying that T-levels are necessarily a bad qualification, but as a new qualification there are still teething problems, and they seem to open less doors than other, more established qualifications. Whilst T-levels may yet end up being a success, I'd say that they need a few more years to really bed in, and I, personally wouldn't suggest to a student being in the first couple of cohorts to do a new qualification.
If OP wants to go down an academic route, then it might be better to look for somewhere where you can do A-levels such as Environmental science etc- if you like Geography and Biology, then it might appeal more than Chemistry and if you're good at Geography, you'll likely get a decent grade.
Wishfilly
Well-Known Member
Not impossible, but much harder to do this now with funding- very likely OP would have to pay towards this option, whereas obviously doing A-levels at sixth form would/could be free!
Haniki
Well-Known Member
I didn’t know that @Wishfilly - our local college in Devon (Petroc) seem to be pushing T levels. Exeter College was one of the first to offer T Levels and their IT courses are popular. My kids are grown up but if they wanted to do A levels now they would have to travel nearly 30 miles each way to college each day.
twiggy2
Well-Known Member
What about an agricultural college course, land management etc feeds well into horse management and may open up new avenues of work after or instead of a racing career without entirely leaving the industry
Esmae
Well-Known Member
Cracking advice
Akskdjwndkh
New User
I'm on course for mid high GCSES because of my teachers who are very supportive and will do anything g to help, however those alevel teachers that I would have apparently don't give additional support. I desperately need this additional support as no matter how hard i try I can't buckle down and study like many others can
little_critter
Well-Known Member
So it sounds like book learning isn't your thing.
Maybe have a look at T levels, NVQs and apprenticeships as they can be more practical, possibly BTECs too? (I have no experience of those)
Annagain
Well-Known Member
I have a few friends who didn't go straight to Uni from school. They were all capable of going but didn't for various reasons. They all ended up going to uni later in life and every single one of them said they wished they had gone at 18 for several reasons. Money was one, had they gone straight away their parents would have supported them (some still did) but going later meant they had already left home and so had to pay for it themselves. Life was another - its much easier to be a student when you don't have to worry about balancing it with the rest of life, whether that's kids, work, paying bills etc. The final one was student experience, they missed out a lot on being the same age as their fellow students and doing all the studenty things.
I know that's uni and not A-Levels but the principle is the same. Yes you could get qualifications later in life but it's far harder to go back in a few years and start all over again than it is to keep going now. I agree though that it doesn't have to be A Levels and it doesn't have to be at your current school. Think about what you'd like to do and then find somewhere that will allow you to do it. That could be A Levels in subjects you haven't done yet or more vocational qualifications.
Thinking about why you like Geography or which bits of it you like might help, if you like physical Geography, you might find Geology or Environmental Science interesting but if human Geography is more your thing, Sociology, Business Studies or Economics might suit you. My OH did Geography at uni and his dissertation was on the growth of 'casual urban dining' and its effect on town centres so as much about business and economics as it was about Geography! Once you start looking, you might find other subjects you would enjoy. If you're science minded, could biomedical science be an option? My friend's son is doing this now and he loves it. He's now aiming to do sport science at uni having always said he didn't want to go.
None of this will stop you going to racing college at 18 but it will give you something to fall back on should you need it or if/when the career with horses gets old. It's a young person's game and I know very few people still doing it in their 40s. You'll also have a bit more free time in sixth form so will be able to do more with horses as a hobby. I'm pretty sure you'll have a great two years with your friends while you study as well.
Good luck no matter what you decide.
I know that's uni and not A-Levels but the principle is the same. Yes you could get qualifications later in life but it's far harder to go back in a few years and start all over again than it is to keep going now. I agree though that it doesn't have to be A Levels and it doesn't have to be at your current school. Think about what you'd like to do and then find somewhere that will allow you to do it. That could be A Levels in subjects you haven't done yet or more vocational qualifications.
Thinking about why you like Geography or which bits of it you like might help, if you like physical Geography, you might find Geology or Environmental Science interesting but if human Geography is more your thing, Sociology, Business Studies or Economics might suit you. My OH did Geography at uni and his dissertation was on the growth of 'casual urban dining' and its effect on town centres so as much about business and economics as it was about Geography! Once you start looking, you might find other subjects you would enjoy. If you're science minded, could biomedical science be an option? My friend's son is doing this now and he loves it. He's now aiming to do sport science at uni having always said he didn't want to go.
None of this will stop you going to racing college at 18 but it will give you something to fall back on should you need it or if/when the career with horses gets old. It's a young person's game and I know very few people still doing it in their 40s. You'll also have a bit more free time in sixth form so will be able to do more with horses as a hobby. I'm pretty sure you'll have a great two years with your friends while you study as well.
Good luck no matter what you decide.
SantaVera
Well-Known Member
Definitely the A level option. It's about more than just the qualifications, you'll learn how to pace yourself,make decisions,contacts, social opportunities. That transfers to all areas of life and is an education in itself.
Akskdjwndkh
New User
I have decided to go ahead with racing as I have multiple backups that don't need a levels but will still bring me a decent wage by my late 20s. I totally understand your points though! I would change schools to do a levels maybe but I don't have any others nearby which I can feasibly get to and thus year there's been a lot of drama which has caused my entire friend group to fall apart
. My mum has also said that if she could have gone back in time she would have gone to the army (which she was desperate to but her parents stopped her) and said that she despised a levels because she felt she could have been doing something more 'useful' to her in that time, she has now told me to go ahead with racing as she knows that whatever happens I have strong backup optionsAkskdjwndkh
New User
I have had a look at all those but none are being done close to me meaning that to be able to do those I would have to do an hour+ of travel to and from the place. So it's either my alevels or something which includes accommodation for a 'cheap'price which would be racing. I just don't feel like 'wasting' two years of my life stuck in a classroom when I could be building my fitness and doing something I love for two years whole still leaving a huge variety of careers open to me
toppedoff
Well-Known Member
I go to racing school/college. All my teachers have said they'd wish they had a backup before racing and asked if any of us had any back ups. Not many did but that's where life skills and talk of transferring skills outside of horses comes to talk. None of em thought they'd end up teaching and a few used to be professional jockeys and one was a trainer! I have a backup plan and after that another back up plan
I know of a trainer who encouraged his daughters to go to college to do BTEC than racing after. One decided to go off racing and now works in marketing and the other still rides out and works as a PT (Funny enough she did A levels and never uni). Racing is a lifestyle and will say can be absolutely brutal
I know of a trainer who encouraged his daughters to go to college to do BTEC than racing after. One decided to go off racing and now works in marketing and the other still rides out and works as a PT (Funny enough she did A levels and never uni). Racing is a lifestyle and will say can be absolutely brutal
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Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
What are your strong backup options if you swerve exams and go straight into racing?
The money for even senior yard staff in racing is not much over minimum wage.
The money for even senior yard staff in racing is not much over minimum wage.
Horseperson432
Well-Known Member
A little late to the party here but just incase you’re still considering… i currently work in racing and started after I did my A levels. I have been working in the industry for 4 years now and wouldn’t change a thing, I love my job. However If I were you I would do your A levels… Whilst the prospect of going to uni now seems horrendous to me I often feel assured to know I can go if I ever want to. The racing game is hard, and having the option to do other things when I’m older makes me feel very lucky. Whilst I may work in racing for the rest of my life (who knows!) injury’s happen, I know so many people who started working in racing and hated it and had nowhere else to go and riding is an intense job that, unless I were to hit the Jack pot and become a jockey, I don’t see myself doing 6x a day everyday when I’m 60 to earn a living.
2 years isn’t much time, get your exams done and then you’re free to fly
Once you have your a levels you can go to uni whenever, going back to do your a levels isn’t quite as easy, especially as so much of the content can rely on remembering things from GCSE!!
Oh and you can always find somewhere to ride out on weekends whilst you’re doing your Alevels to see whether you really like racing or whether you do want to go to uni!
2 years isn’t much time, get your exams done and then you’re free to fly
Once you have your a levels you can go to uni whenever, going back to do your a levels isn’t quite as easy, especially as so much of the content can rely on remembering things from GCSE!!
Oh and you can always find somewhere to ride out on weekends whilst you’re doing your Alevels to see whether you really like racing or whether you do want to go to uni!
dougpeg
Well-Known Member
A Levels first than racing school. I left school at 16 and went to work with horses. Not too many years later I decided I wanted a totally different career. I got there eventually but it was costly and time-consuming doing the access course. A course I would not have needed to do if I'd sat my A levels.