OK, I think we'll stick with what we're doing - withhold all pocket money, not FORCE her to get a job but just wait until she gets sick of having no money. We HAVE told her that she's getting no money until at least her first school report so this is not a surprise to her.
Her pocket money was meant to cover all her expenses - clothes and going out so basically no pocket money means we don't buy her anything. At all.
I think she's sponging off her friends at the moment. I'm sure that will wear a bit thin with them. Most of them work
If most of her friends work, and she's sponging off of them, then they will definitely be getting sick of that quite soon...they'll probably tell her to go get a job Might be a fantastic motivator, good luck
i worked from the end of year 9, part time untill year 12 exams finished, then went full time in the same job.
i find it helped me to manage my time, on the odd occasion, i'd call in 'sick' because i had too much homework. i liked having my own money, my parents couldnt afford to give me money all the time, so i knew i had to work if i wanted to buy things for myself.
I got a job at 14yrs and 9mts (the earliest you could back then). My parents told me they would still support me BUT only the necessities! They would buy me a basic school bag but if I wanted one from the surf shop I had to buy my own. They covered books, uniforms and basic stationery but I had to pay for anything else. This definitely taught me good budgeting skills from a young age and I still get asked by friends now to help them do a budget!!!
As long as you're aware of the hours she's working and keep them reasonable then she should be fine and there shouldn't be any excuses.
I got a part time job as soon as I was legally able to, and worked every afternoon 3pm-6pm then I'd come home, cook dinner, clean, do my home work and then go to bed. I didn't live with my parents from the age of 15, I was living on my own. And when I went through Uni I continued to do this, as well as a have a job as a nightfiller.
I worked from age 15. Mum was a single parent, so didn't have alot of cash. I blew most of it, but also paid for my formal dress with my own money, which I was very proud of. I find it hard to understand kids who don't want to earn their own money.
RE: Year 11 & study - I think it's different for different kids. I found the transition to Year 11 hard, but that was me. Up to them I'd been cruising, getting good grades without working hard. I really had to work harder in Year 11, but I hadn't learnt good studying behaviour (homework always late etc) and in the end, my Year 12 grades suffered. I still got into uni, but only with 2nd round offers. Looking back, I've wondered if a year off between Year 11 and 12 may have helped, if I'd been a bit more mature or had more discipline if I'd taken a break and gone back a year older. Also, I've since learnt I have ADD, which affects study behviour.
Does she know what she wants to do with her life? I think it's hard to focus on school/work etc if you don't know why you're doing it. I don't think she should be free-loading, but maybe she needs career counselling or to do work experience.
Hmm a toughie. I think you're doing the right thing in not forcing her. I wonder if a job would be the answer though, if she's struggling to apply herself? Maybe it'd just put schooling further off the agenda?
I had a part-time job during VCE and it put me under a lot of stress and pressure. I would have done a lot better in school had I had more spare time. I would sleep in and take days off school just to catch a rest (worked sat & sun). In year 10 it was fine and year 11 of little consequence, but my year 12 really suffered.
At the end of the day, her first job will teach her time management, responsibility, the value of money, etc, whether she starts it at 16 or 18, yanno? If she's not getting the most out of her education now, she'll get even less if she has to work, IMO. If she's sticking with school, she may as well get the most out of it.
I actaully dont see the difference in giving her no money at all, and forcing her to get a job - same end different means, at least til her next report.
My experience was the opposite - I was not allowed to get a part time job while I was at high school, my parents thought it would be too much or a distraction from studying - which did take 5-7 hours some nights but I was studying an overloaded timetable in year twelve with additional subjects.
When I went to uni, the course I did paid a stipend. My parents expected me to save half of this, and still not get a part time job ( they were paying my uni fees ). I didnt though I lived off all of it. In hindsight I probably could have saved a bit but half was a bit of an ask.
Anyway my point is, when I finished my degree and was applying for jobs, I had no work history at all, and I reckon 90% of the others in my course had worked or were working. I had wanted to work so I felt mightily ripped off.
Im not sure whether its changed but some of the bigger employers (coles, woollies) had limits on the number of hours and the timing of shifts for students, esp in VCE so it would be worth looking in to.
FWIW my closest friend at high school, was dux and she worked at maccas since she was legally old enough to, and continued to through her law/arts degree.
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Might be a fantastic motivator, good luck 
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