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Think carefully about the options open to you after year 11 before deciding on your next steps. There are many college courses, apprenticeships and training programmes to choose from. Find out about your options so you can compare them and decide what will suit you.

How to find out about your options:

Look on college websites, attend college open events, and talk to your careers adviser in school. Use the careers websites on the other side of this page to research A levels, BTECs, and Apprenticeships.
Talk to your family and teachers about your options, as they know you well and what may best suit you.

Courses start at different levels depending on your GCSE grades – a level 4 equals a Pass (C)

Types of courses & training offered:

Vocational Learning – BTEC Diplomas

This is a mixture of hands on learning, classroom learning and work experience
You are assessed through course work and exams
Courses directly relate to a career area like childcare, social care, I.T, hospitality and public services
There are different levels of Diploma (Level 1, 2 and 3) depending on your GCSE results

Academic – A Levels

Are more classroom and exam based and you usually choose 3 or 4 subjects
The majority are now linear and you study for 2 years before taking your A Level exam

You can choose subjects that you did at GCSE, or you could choose different subjects that you have not done before like Law, Psychology, and Sociology
To get onto most A Level courses you will need to achieve 5 GCSE’s at grade 5s including Maths and English, and 6 in the subject you wish to study. Some colleges may ask for higher grades so always check individual college entry requirements

Apprenticeships

This type of learning involves on-the-job practical training

You would usually go to college or a training provider one day a week then work for 4 days a week with an employer at their premises
You can do an apprenticeship in many career areas. To find out more look on the apprenticeship web site www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
You may have to find your work placement yourself and competition for vacancies is high, so you will need a backup option such as a full time college course, a study programme or a traineeship

Traineeships

If you are not quite ready for an apprenticeship, and may need some work experience to help you secure a placement, a Traineeship may be suitable.

Study Programmes

Designed to help you to improve your skills to be ready for a traineeship or apprenticeship and are based at small providers throughout the City.

Merit Pupil

Referral Unit

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