Post 16 Options
Many people choose to study at a college, a training provider or get a job with training. Find out about Apprenticeships here. What is important is to choose the course or training to suit your skills and aspirations.
The pathway you choose will be based on the following:
- The GCSE grades you have achieved or expect to achieve
- How you like to learn
- Where and what you would like to study later
- What you want to do in the future
Choosing the right courses can be critical for some career paths, and it’s important to not unintentionally close off paths that you may wish to pursue later on in your career.
Apprenticeship Options
An Apprenticeship is a great way to learn on the job, building up knowledge and skills, gaining qualifications and earning money at the same time.
Apprenticeship training can take between one and four years to complete and the length of your Apprenticeship will depend on its level, the industry you’re training in and the skills you already have.
You must be 16 or over to start an Apprenticeship and there are three levels you can study at:
- Intermediate Apprenticeship (Level 2)
- Advanced Apprenticeship (Level 3)
- Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4 and above)
Further information on apprenticeships can be accessed via the National Apprenticeship Service website.
Choosing the right Sixth Form courses for university
If you have a particular degree or subject in mind, now is the time to check out the entry requirements on the UCAS site, so that your post 16 choices are the right ones to ensure you get where you want to go post 18!
If you really don’t know what you want to do at 18, but you think higher education might be of interest then choose a broad range of subjects at 16 so you have maximum choice of university subjects later.
There are some A Level subjects regarded by virtually all universities as being acceptable. These are sometimes known as ‘facilitating’ subjects such as Maths, English, Physics, Biology or Chemistry, History or Geography or a language.
Watch this video from leading universities urging students to think about how their A-Level or equivalent subject choices can widen or limit the degree courses and careers that are open to them.