There may be some disadvantages – it depends on the skill area and their preferred method of learning:

• If they want to go to university it may take longer to get there with some Apprenticeships, depending on the subject area.
• If they want to continue to study at a higher level on a part-time basis this will also take longer – but remember, you need to balance this against the future debt of full-time study
• They may be more suited to classroom study and full time education.
• Not all occupations offer Apprenticeships, so they may have no option but to take the academic route
• The range of courses they can study at higher level may be more limited. Universities still understand A levels better than Apprenticeships, but this is changing and, as long as they choose a course that is a natural progression from their training, this should not stop them.