Leaving school before the end of Year 13 is a big step. There are a number of decisions to make and options to consider when deciding what to do after leaving school.

So is now the right time for you to leave school?

Questions to ask yourself could be:

• Have I looked at other options for finishing my studies, such as changing subjects or classes.  Could I talk to the dean, careers adviser or guidance counsellor at school?
• What will I do when I leave school?
• What are the pros and cons of leaving school now as opposed to staying for a bit longer? What do I really enjoy about school?  And what can I do about the things I don’t enjoy?
• What might I gain by staying at school?
• Have I got enough NCEA credits to do what I want to do?
• Do I have some goals and will leaving school help me reach these goals?