Petroc is in Demand by Prospective Students

Education is good stuff, OK. and you may well "get a good job",  but don't get the idea that is the end of all ends.. During a 'life time' you may well have many different jobs. You may discover your true talent years later . We learn so much away from such places; certainly our emotional needs. Keep your own self; you can be suffocated;  talent drowned.
As for "crossing the road"; we all do that at times, drunk or sober. 
The name change really was an expensive mistake; (same as the good photo of the Car Park).
But we are stuck with the name.

Howardgem, I'm afraid if there's a mindless individual here, it's you. It may have escaped your attention, but out here in 'the real world' there aren't any jobs, least of all for young people with no education or experience. I'd suggest that this is the single largest contributory factor to the rise in intake at 'Petroc', it certainly has little or nothing to do with the quality of education on offer, or the ridiculous rebranding. It is good news that A Levels in the sciences are on the increase. As to the idea that Mortgage lenders don't lend on short term contracts, you are living in the past by several decades! I've never been asked once what type of contract I am employed on by a mortgage lender, and since long term contracts in the current climate aren't worth the paper they are written on, that's hardly surprising. Someone else here mentioned getting on the 'job ladder' sorry but I've got news for you, there are now more snakes than ladders!

Hi,

I'm upset to read howardgem's comment as I am one of the many students planning on attending Petroc in September... and am certainly not a mindless idiot.

I'm the Head Boy at Tiverton High School and have attending a variety of presentations by different colleges, including Petroc, trying to sell themselves to our year group.

Of course, Petroc offers a lot of vocational options, for those you describe as incapable of "crossing a road". However, the increase in students picking sciences is not that they think £30 a week for nothing is a good idea - Petroc is improving and the re-branding (arguably excluding the new name!) is actually working... I know many students who, like me, are predicted A*s in at least 5 subjects with the rest being As. They are now considering Petroc as a potential college to attend, rather than Exeter or Richard Huish in Taunton.

Many jobs, I agree, don't need Science A levels and students should consider whether college is actually necessary or whether climbing the job-ladders and starting to earn is a better option. But for those that want a highly paid career they should obviously continue to study and go on to University.

At our school, we have assembly after assembly on the various options we can take post 16 - apprenticeships, A-levels, B-TECS, vocational training, or plain and simple low-skilled work.


Why is it such a bad thing that more young people are staying on to study than "back in your day"? In a few years time, college will be compulsory. You may ask why the government are doing this, (Studying Economics and World Development A-level courses would explain!!) it's because the world has changed...

I don't know your age, but I do know that the amount of low skilled jobs available in the UK has declined considerably since 1980 and that the majority of manufacturing businesses are based in Asia, in for example India or China - where labour is much cheaper.

Our countries, if you like, "USP" is now high-skilled work, like engineering and other careers which require trained and college-going people. We can't supply labour cheaply anymore because we all want nice homes and cars - labour is much cheaper abroad, but they don't have skilled people to deal with the difficult challenges...

The aim is to get our young people, who admittedly can be "mindless young individuals who think the  £30 a week EMA is great for doing nothing" to realise the change in opportunities and to re-consider their goals and continue studying to get a job with a fixed contract and the chance to get a mortgage when you leave.

Jack Wakefield, 16
Head Boy
Tiverton High School

Your comments about mindless young students are totally unfair and reveal nothing except your deep prejudice. Young people should be encouraged to pursue their dreams and ambitions. I am staggered at your negative attitude to education. I went to University in the late 80s and worked full time in a hospital to fund myself, and many students in sixth form do part time jobs to help keep themselves going. They deserve more respect than your offensive small minded comments suggest.

The only reason there are record numbers of applicants for Petroc this year is because this is the way all students are now directed.

Just take a look at what comes out of the college on any weekday, half these students don't even know how to cross a road - they only go to the college because they are mindless young individuals who think the  £30 a week EMA is great for doing nothing,  while mum or dad pay for the running of the car to get to and from college . 

When I was at school it was  only the really bright pupils who  continued their education to A level standard and very few continued to university.   The others were encouraged into the job market immediately by way of becoming an apprentice.  This made sure that the youngsters earned their own money and kept out of trouble.

The bright ones who are going on to do A levels in the sciences should really consider where this is taking them.  There are very few well paid jobs in Britain for people with even a science degree let alone a measley A level!
If you do manage to follow your dream and become a scientist, chances are that you will be put on a yearly (if you're lucky a three yearly) contract, which means your job security is nil and your chances of ever owning a house are zilch due to the fact that mortgage lenders do not lend on short term contracts.

Think clever - get yourself into the real world now ahead of the rest of them!