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Call us on 0800 222 733Thinking about leaving school?
If you are thinking of leaving school before the end of Year 13, there are many options to consider - and many decisions you will need to make. Having a plan of what you will do after you leave school will help you through the change, and may persuade your parents and whānau that it's a good idea!
What should I do if I'm not sure about leaving school?
If you're 16 or over, you're legally able to leave school - but is it a good idea? That depends on your situation. Before you make a decision, ask yourself:
- Are you just going through a rough patch? Sometimes things can get tough for awhile - around exams for example - but is that a good enough reason to quit?
- Is it just one thing at school that is making you unhappy? Can that be changed?
- Do you have an idea of what you want to do after leaving school? Have you already sorted out a plan for work, training or study?
If you haven't made a plan, it makes sense to stay in school until you've worked something out. Having a plan in place will keep your options open.
The longer you stay at school and the more qualifications you get, the more choices you’ll have later on, and the more you can earn.
- Source: Ministry of Education, 'Impact of Education on Income'.
- If you have a tertiary qualification you are likely to earn 30% more than those without a school qualification.
- If you have a Bachelor's degree or higher you are likely to earn at least double that of a school leaver with no qualifications.
- If you finish a degree you are likely to earn 25% more than if you drop out partway through.
- You are more likely to be employed if you have a tertiary qualification.
Ask your friends and get advice from your teachers and careers advisers to help you make up your mind.
Only after being turned down for several jobs did Neli Laufoli realise the importance of qualifications
"Applying for jobs, I found it hard because I didn’t have any qualifications. They'd ask ‘Have you got any qualifications?’ and I’m like 'Nah', because I never chose to do any.
"There is heaps of help at school. It was offered to me a lot and I just always turned it down. Now I'm pretty gutted I did that."
Neli Laufoli, Sports Turf Management Trainee
What help can I get at school?
Try talking to your year dean, careers adviser or guidance counsellor. They may be able to make suggestions about changes you could make that would make school easier - or help you move into work or other training.
Some questions you might want to ask are:
- Can you change subjects or classes?
- If you've got an idea for the future, how can the school help you work toward this goal?
- Are there opportunities for you to get work experience?
Getting work experience while still at school will give you some skills that you can use in future jobs, and make it easier to move into the workforce.
What if I'm under 16 and want to leave school?
You can apply for an early leaving exemption, so that you can leave school before you turn 16. However, you will need to have a plan to enter a job or training once you leave.
Talk to your school career adviser or year dean if you have a job or training opportunity you want to follow up on. They may be able to give you advice or information that can help.
Bear in mind that the Ministry of Education declines about 90% of early leaving exemptions, as the Government wants to encourage students to stay in school and gain a qualification.
What are my training options if I leave school?
There are a number of training options, such as going to university or polytech, or learning a trade. If you are thinking of further study or training, find out what options may suit you:
What if I want to get a job?
If doing training doesn’t suit you just now and you are thinking about getting a job, or you are considering taking a year out, here are some tips to help you with your job hunt:
- Speak to key people – friends who have left school, people in work, parents, careers advisers and Gateway co-ordinators.
- Make sure your CV is up to date.
- Speak to recruitment agencies.
- Consider doing work experience so that you can find out about a range of jobs before making a decision. You may be able to do this while still at school – talk to your careers adviser.
- Contact some employers to find out what they are looking for.
- Search the Internet – there are websites dedicated to job searching.
- Check out newspapers – they often have sections for job seekers.
How do I know what's right for me?
Sometimes there seem to be too many choices. You may still be unclear about which option suits you even after doing your research. Here are some tools that could help: