Schoolwork and a part-time job - can my daughter manage both?

Q. My 16 year old daughter wants to get a job to earn some more pocket money. Whilst I think it is a really good idea for her to have the experience of working and the responsibility that comes with it, I am worried about the effect on her schoolwork. Do you have any advice on this? What sort of hours would be reasonable for her to work without compromising her schoolwork?

A. You mention your daughter is 16 but it isn’t clear whether she is in Year 11, the final year of her GCSE courses, or if she is in Year 12/the Lower Sixth, embarking on her Sixth Form courses.

If she is in Year 11 with GCSEs ahead of her, I would counsel against beginning any part-time paid work at this stage. She may well be preparing for examinations in perhaps nine or ten subjects, and if she has a healthily balanced school life she may be involved in some extra-curricular activities too, for example in music, sport or drama. Outside school she will need some time to relax, and time to spend with her family and friends. Factoring in part-time paid work on top of all this might be a step too far. If having more spending money is an important part of her growing independence, perhaps talk to her about any allowance you give her and how she manages this. A modest increase could perhaps be linked with any way in which she helps around the home?

If your daughter is starting two years of Sixth Form study, however, then embarking on some part-time paid work may be a sensible suggestion. It will certainly help to prepare her for undergraduate life and increasing independence if she wishes to continue her studies at 18. Growing numbers of students following degree courses now undertake part-time paid work during term time in addition to during their holidays to help them manage their financial commitments and to avoid spiralling debt.
The crucial question is one of balance, and young people have to have the self-discipline not to be lured by offers of increased hours (and increased pay) by their employers so that their paid work commitments risk jeopardising their chances of success at school/college/university. You may need to remind your daughter that she is continuing her studies post-16 in order ultimately to gain a good job – a career, in fact, rather than simply a way of earning a living. If she fails to balance her time wisely she may be endangering her chances of attaining the academic success which will enable her to reach this goal.

In my school we advise girls in the Sixth Form that seven hours’ paid work per week in term time should be the maximum they consider. Some may work two or three evenings each week; others may work on Saturday or Sunday. However, if they are tempted to work both during evenings and at weekends, or both days at the weekend, they may find achieving the necessary balance between leisure, schoolwork and paid work becomes very difficult.

If your daughter can achieve this balance and manage her time effectively during the Sixth Form (and beyond), she will develop useful skills, earn money she appreciates (probably more than money you have routinely given her!) and demonstrate to her employers that she can be reliable, committed and successful in the world of work. She may well hone skills which will strengthen her application for Higher Education and eventual employment.
Good luck to her!