Full-time education

Around 80% of 16–17-year-olds will continue their education full-time by choosing to stay on at school or go to college.  Sixth Form, Further Education and University Technical Colleges are all viable options.  This number has almost doubled in the last 35 years, with a huge increase in the take-up of vocational courses particularly in the last 15 years or so.

A Levels

For many considering University as their next step, A Levels remain a popular choice.  Entry will usually require good passes at GCSE in English, maths and subjects related to what you want to study at A Level. Typically, you get to pick three subjects (sometimes four) and will study them for two years.  These three or four subjects will fill most of a college week, with some gaps for self-study, sports or other qualifications.  Learning and assessment for A Levels tends to focus on exams at the end of the course, with the emphasis on essays and write-ups to support your learning. Often a big step up academically from GCSEs, A Levels do give a good grounding in subjects you may wish to study in higher education, but they also provide evidence of ability when applying for higher-level apprenticeships.

Vocational or applied qualifications

There are many types of vocational qualification now available, with names like BTEC and City & Guilds perhaps being the most widely known.  These are the names of different Awarding Bodies and others do exist.  What all these qualifications have in common is a focus on the working world.  Typically, you will pick one subject, such as ‘Health & Social Care’ or ‘Automotive Engineering’, and classes in this subject will fill 3 to 4 days of your week. Assessments are often assignment-based or practical, with less emphasis on end-of-year exams. If you didn’t do quite so well in your GCSEs, you could go into a one-year Level 2 course. If you’ve completed a Level 2 or you did well in your GCSEs, you could go into a two-year Level 3 course (at the same academic level at A Levels). Vocational qualifications are great if you have a sense of what industry you’d like to work in in future, but more universities are also accepting them for entry to higher education.

T Levels

A relatively new qualification, T Levels are designed to combine the ‘academic rigour’ of an A Level with the applied knowledge of vocational qualifications.  For example, if you chose a T Level in Engineering, you would also need to study subjects like Maths and Physics to a higher academic level. You choose one T Level subject, which will fill your college week, and assessment is a mixture of practical, assignment and exam.  A key element of T Levels are the industry placements, when you will be supported to spend around 45 days with an employer over your two-year course.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Around 130 schools and colleges in the UK offer the International Baccalaureate. Their Diploma Programme allows students to study three subjects at advanced level and three to standard level over two years.  Students will also study a ‘theory of knowledge’ component and produce a 4,000-word extended essay.

The IB has a mixed approach to assessment, using coursework and other assessments alongside exams.  Many IB students will go on to University, but the qualification also gives a breadth of skills that would suit the working world.

Mix work and learning

For most 16-year-olds who decide not to stay in full-time education, an Apprenticeship will be their first choice; an opportunity to start earning some real money alongside study towards their chosen career path.  For those who don’t quite know what industry area to choose, a traineeship or supported internship would be a good way to try something and find out.

Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship is usually a full-time role where you not only learn by doing the job but are paid to study towards a relevant qualification the equivalent of one day a week (20% of your working time).  There are currently 766 Apprenticeship Standards available in England, many of which would be suitable for entry direct from school or college.  Apprenticeship recruitment did fall during 2020, but numbers are rising fast as it seems many employers are looking to build their business through apprentices. There is no set time of year to apply for an Apprenticeship so it’s worth starting a year ahead as some employers really do like to get in early. An Apprenticeship has to be a minimum of one year but some – at higher levels – can be up to 6 years. Most employers like to keep their apprentices after they have completed so you are likely to qualify with experience, qualifications and a job (and perhaps some savings too!).

Traineeship

A Traineeship is a tailored programme that can last from just 6 weeks up to one year, depending on what you need.  All traineeships have three, flexible elements: Maths and English support if you need it; CV, application and interview support, to help you in applying for your next step; and a work placement.  For most Trainees, the placement is the really attractive element, and they will use it to gain experience of a real workplace.  Your Traineeship provider can help you find a placement and you can have just one employer or try out several to get a feel for different areas. Many Trainees hope to go on to an Apprenticeship once they have found an employer they fit with but some will also go back to college to study a vocational qualification, now they have worked out what they enjoy.

Supported Internship

A supported internship is for any person aged between 16 and 24 who has learning difficulties or learning disabilities, who wants to get a job and needs some extra support to do this. To be eligible you need a Statement of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), a Learning Difficulty Assessment, or an Education Health and Care Plan. Your provider (typically your school or college) will put together a programme that gives you the training, support and work skills you will need to get a job. You will also get some work experience with a real employer, who will train you to do a job role and learn the skills needed for work. Typically, internships last up to 6 months, with the goal of moving into a job or Apprenticeship at the end of that time.

Part-time study

In some cases, and if none of the options above suit what you want to do, you can spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering as long as you also complete part-time education or training at the same time.  Talk to your school or college about what study options they have available that would fit this model for you.

Further information: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/career-choices-at-16

The school leaving age is now decided by each country (devolved administration) within the UK so each of the four home nations has slightly different rules.  These are currently:

In England

You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.

You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:

-          stay in full-time education, for example at a college

-          start an apprenticeship or traineeship

-          spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

In Scotland

If your 16th birthday is between 1 March and 30 September you can leave school after 31 May of that year.

If your 16th birthday is between 1 October and the end of February you can leave at the start of the Christmas holidays in that school year.

In Wales

You can leave school on the last Friday in June, as long as you’ll be 16 by the end of that school year’s summer holidays.

In Northern Ireland

If your 16th birthday is during the school year (between 1 September and 1 July) you can leave school after 30 June.

If your 16th birthday is between 2 July and 31 August you can’t leave school until 30 June the following year.

Information from: https://www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school February 2021