Leaving school

Make sure you don't mess up any exams or u will regret it like I did in some of my GCSEs
I've been on and on at my 15 year old who has a year left. He is nowhere near as bright as the oldest who's leaving now. He is farm,farm,farm,work work work. (he puts me to shame at times!!)
I have got him doing 2 extra nights after school but just have keep drumming it in to him. If he doesn't get the grades in english,maths and science he will have to stay on and do the exams again, as all school leavers after this year have to get at least grade C or above in those subjects. That means he won't be earning as much, won't be doing what he enjoys and could cost him thousands in lost wages.
 
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Wheater

Member
Arable Farmer
I've been on and on at my 15 year old who is nowhere near as bright as the oldest. He is farm,farm,farm,work work work. (he puts me to shame at times!!)
I have got him doing 2 extra nights after school but just have keep drumming it in to him. If he doesn't get the grades in english,maths and science he will have to stay on and do the exams again, as all school leavers after this year have to get at least garde C or above in those subjects. That means he won't be earning as much, won't be doing what he enjoys and could cost him thousands in lost wages.
At the end of the day it's a few months pain for a life's worth of gain
 

Lewis Park

Member
Location
Carlisle Cumbria
Had my English exam today, went well I would say I'll have a C or above. I agree that for the last mouth I've calm down on farming stopped working every weekend (which my boss was very understanding about :) ) and stuck in at the revision as I don't want to be put on a lower ag engineering course and have to do my 3 main subjects again. Already gained a C in science last year and doing another science this year so Thats two grades so hopefully all being well I'll do well in Maths on Thursday and I'm on my way! I'm targeted to get All b's in my subjects and a C in English and so far I think I've done well and tried my best to stick in!
 
I worked on an arable farm with my dad and got experience driving machines there but there wasn't really any work there for me so I now work on a dairy farm doing mainly tractor work and the odd bit of cow work. I leave school in about 3 weeks time once my exams are finished and I'm just on cash in hand and the moment as I only do weekends and holidays and in the holiday I can put a fair amount of hours in and last weekend we where silaging and I put a lot in. I'm 16 and I'm wondering what sort of wages should I be on as I'm going to be full time all of the summer before collage (level 3 diploma in fixing tractors) and should I ask to be put on the books? Start paying tax and things? What should I do? What do other people do and what's the best thing to do? Just as I don't want any hassle with not paying tax and things. Thanks in advance
Hi Lewis.
From past (long time ago) experience, please make sure, that if you are working for an employer, you are on the books properly and paid into your own bank account.
Earning, managing and looking after your wages, in your own account, will start you on the correct route.
Bank statements, and the way you earn and handle your earnings, are one very good reference for future projects like purchasing you first car or maybe funding your own machines.
Being on the books will also keep you more secure should any unfortunate incidents happen. I knew a kid once who was on a cash job, a minor traffic incident occurred, and the tractor owner denied any knowledge of the lad being allowed to use it !!
On the subject of wages and the amount, let the employer mention it first. One thing a lot of employers hate is money orientated people, or them asking about money straight away. Let them mention it first, then say something like "Mr so and so paid me this amount when I was there, how about we start at that, and see in a month or so how you think I'm doing"
The most valuable thing you will learn, and that no one can take from you (even the tax man) is experience and life skills.
Good luck mate, enjoy. (y)
 

Lewis Park

Member
Location
Carlisle Cumbria
I've been working there for over a year now but I'm starting to put a lot of hours in was just wanting to know should I ask to be moved on to the books rather than in cash in hand. Thanks for your advice!!!
 

Lewis Park

Member
Location
Carlisle Cumbria
Also how should I go about asking my boss about going on to the books and him paying me directly, do I give him my national insurance number and things? It's not something I've done before so thanks for the advice and my dads not to sure either because he worked for the same place for 30 years and now working for a farmer and was put straight on to the books. but I'm joe sure how to go about talking to my boss about it
 
Good choice doing ag engineering over an agricultural course. Wish I had done that because if you grow up on a farm the courses are a a tad.....basic shall I say
No sh*t I did it at Newton rigg everyone just pee'd about the paperwork was all pointless if I'd done engineering I'd of proberly learnt something usefull
 

Lewis Park

Member
Location
Carlisle Cumbria
I know a lad that's a bit like me off a farm and he went and did agriculture as that's what he thought was best and said its just stuff that we see as common sense really. So I've went for the mechanical side as I enjoy machinery and I think I'll learn more!
 
The lad that I know said that all he does on his Agricultural course is stuff they already do at home he doesn't learn in detail about crops or cows it's just really basic

At college I studied at Moreton Morrell they try to give you a grounding in different parts eg dairy , some bits you will know how to do them but someone on your course may have a different way that's more effective you can grantee that you will know about bits that you did not before learning about poultry , pigs etc .
 

Pasty

Member
Location
Devon
You should be 'on the books' but it's your boss who is going to be in the sh!t if you are not. It would be good if you were from your point of view as well. Cash in hand is not good these days as HMRC tend to 'estimate' and while I doubt they would estimate your earnings to be above the tax threshold, it's a risk.

I'm not trying to come over all high and mighty and a bit of cash here and there is nice for a tickle but when it starts going on for months or years, you and your boss are getting deeper and deeper in it. I know it's hard but try to have that conversation would be my advice. Unless you think that might risk your livelihood.
 

pine_guy

Member
Location
North Cumbria
Lewis,

Just found this thread. Did you get sorted? Knowing you and your boss I think you should be fine about talking to him.

Term you are looking for is PAYE (on the books) rather than self employed.

If it all goes wrong you can come and do some tractor work for me again :)
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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