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| HomepageAdult Education Higher Education Choosing A School Contact Us | Beyond School: Higher EducationAt the age of 16 there are some very important decisions to be made about your future. The prospect of leaving school and heading out into the big unknown looms and you must decide what to do with the rest of your life.Whether you are reading this website as a 16-year-old in the process of making that decision, or as a parent of a 16-year-old about to make that decision, there are a number of things you should take into consideration and a number of avenues you can choose to take. Here we give you the low down on the types of education available to you after you leave school, and offer a few handy hints to help you choose the right life path for you. The main options available when you have completed your GCSEs are to stay on at school, or attend a sixth form college, to study A-levels; go to a further education college to study vocational courses, such as BTECs and NVQs; or take work-based training, such as an apprenticeship. If you deicide to study for A-levels then at 18 you are likely to progress into higher education at a university or college. If this seems like the type of path you want to take then it is important to choose your university or college course wisely. Choose a degree or HND course in a subject that interests you and, if possible, is related to the type of career you want to pursue once your education is complete. Just as important as getting the right course, it is also essential that you think wisely about your choice of university or college. Decide whether you want to go to a university close to home or would prefer to move away and study at a university at the other end of the country. Once you have narrowed down your choice of universities, contact each of them for a prospectus brochure so you can learn more about them before you apply. To apply for university, or a college that offers degree courses, you need to contact UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for an application, which allows you to apply to up to six colleges and universities. This form is completed with the help of a careers advisor and is submitted between September and mid-December. Once received, UCAS forwards the form to the appropriate college or university, who will write back directly with an offer or a rejection. In most cases you will receive a conditional offer that depends on you getting the necessary grades in your final A-level examinations. It is also worth pointing out here that going to college or university isn't cheap, so you should find out the costs of tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses in the area where you plan to study. Of course, not everyone wants to go to university or college and if you would rather get training in the workplace then there a number of options available to you. One of the most popular training schemes is work-based training, which is aimed at young people aged 16-18 who have just left school or college. All trainees will work towards an NVQ and traineeships are available in a wide range of areas such as retail, care, catering or administration. Other types of workplace training include apprenticeships and initial training schemes. If you are unsure which work path you want to take then you could opt to take a ‘gap year’ after leaving school, college or university. Most people spend their year out travelling, doing voluntary work or learning new skills by attending adult education courses at a local college. |
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