Parents fear outdated views on education could hinder their child’s job options

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 today’s youth.

Despite many having heard of apprenticeships, the study showed that most did not understand the opportunities they could provide. Over a quarter believed apprenticeships were generally low-paid, while 9% feared they might restrict future career flexibility.

An astonishing 87% were unaware that an apprenticeship could lead to a career as a paralegal, 74% didn’t know it could lead to becoming a veterinary nurse, and 83% were oblivious to the fact it could lead to roles such as paramedic or physiotherapist.

Consequently, 61% felt ill-equipped to advise their children on educational options, with 41% fearing their lack of knowledge about current education and career pathways could limit their child’s opportunities.

The research was commissioned by Talking Futures, which has produced an online video featuring actress Denise Van Outen to highlight how parents’ preconceived ideas and past experiences of the education landscape could be limiting their child’s future options.

Denise Van Outen stated: “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.”

“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.”

According to the research, fewer than a third of parents now believe that having a university degree is the only path to success in a future career. In contrast, 40% view apprenticeships as an excellent alternative, as they provide practical work experience while still allowing for education.

Over 75% of parents would feel more confident in supporting their children’s decisions if they had a better understanding of the available options.

Michelle Rea, spokesperson for Talking Futures, which is run by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation, said: “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.”