Your Post 16 Options

At 16 you have many options to considerer after you finish your GCSEs:

• Post-16
• College
• Apprenticeships
• Employment

You can apply for as many options as you wish, please read below for further information.

Post 16

Talk to teachers about whatthe  subject involves and whether the teacher thinks they are suitable to do the course. Ensure you attend local Open Evenings to see what each post 16 options offers.

What qualifications are needed? What are the target grades?

• Level 3 courses (A levels or L3 Vocational Courses over 2 years) will require a level 4 at GCSE, most course require a level 5 in the same subject. Maths, Science, MFL and Computer Science subjects will require a level 6 at GCSE. It is best to check with the subject you would like to take at A level.
• Usually need to do 3 subjects
• It is a good idea to research what subjects are needed for different University Courses unifrog.org or www.ucas.com if you have a career in mind.

College

Attend college open days – these seem to be the most local colleges:

• SGS
• CITY OF BRISTOL
• STROUD
• HARTPURY

Contact college or look at prospectus or their website for open days.

Main reasons for going to college:

• College has the course they want – as well as A levels  (do different subjects to school)  college also  has more vocational courses
• You may want to study one subject instead of choosing 3 A level subjects
• Closer to home
• Want new start
• Sports academy at SGS – need to apply to do full time course – can then also apply to do academy – complete both application forms, and have a trial

Things to consider:

• Does it fit with career plan
• Does it qualify you for specific job (eg child care), or is it general eg Health and Social Care
• Grades required
• Need to apply asap – will get called for interview, have assessment tests (may be on day of interview, may be called back for taster day and do test and have a taster lesson)
• Will probably have to pay some material fees – can ask for help from college towards this based on family income
• Travel every day – think about costs of bus, time involved – can’t just pop home if they have free period

Apprenticeships

• Consider what Job or Occupational area you are interested in and consider the local labour market – www.apprenticeships.gov.uk or https://www.unifrog.org/student/apprenticeships/start or https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/information/apprenticeships or https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/adviser-zone/lmi-in-a-box-g-2/west-of-england-by-sector
• Companies such as Airbus, Rolls Royce, Royal Mail, GKN and MOD may need early applications  - check their websites
• Apply to training providers linked to your career area – speak to Mrs Stone at school stone@bradleystokecs.org.uk or contact the National Careers Service live chat or email
• Register with the National Apprenticeship website. Best to search by postcode rather than look for Bristol. This gives actual current vacancies.
• Must have employer with real vacancy before apprenticeship can start
• Will usually have to do assessment tests – especially more technical apprenticeships, or at least basic literacy/numeracy
• May involve day release to a college
• Pay will be £4.35 per hour for under 18 from April 2019 – different employers will pay different amounts
• You can consider an intermediate, advanced, higher or degree level apparenticeship depending on your age.

Employment

• Best to look for employers who will offer training
• Be realistic re the wage they expect to get
• Talk to other young people about jobs they are doing and where
• People often find jobs through people who work there – ask around
• Employers will look for the best candidate – what  can you offer – qualifications, references, work experience
• You can complete a CV on www.unifrog.org
• Often part time work

Confused about what you would like to do?

• You can complete some different personality quizzes which can help suggest different career areas: 

https://www.unifrog.org/student/personality-profile or https://www.unifrog.org/student/interests-profile or https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors or https://icould.com/buzz-quiz/

• Use Jobs4u - look at Job Families  section linked to interests
• Use Careerscape (looks at jobs connected to subjects)
• Look at different college prospectuses and see what is available.