Pearson careers hub

You child’s choices after year 11

You child can choose between the following basic routes:

• staying in full-time learning, either in a school sixth form, sixth form college, further education college or with a training provider
• training, such as an apprenticeship, traineeship, supported internship
• full-time work or volunteering for 20 hours or more AND part-time accredited study.

Important: young people in Year 11 have to stay in learning until they are 18, due to the Government Raising the Participation Age (RPA). RPA is about making sure young people develop the skills employers need to compete in a global economy. Sixth forms, colleges and employers start recruiting earlier than you think, a few before Christmas but many from January onwards - check with your child's school careers adviser.

Going into sixth form or college to do A levels 

This involves full-time learning in a school sixth form, sixth form college, FE (further education) college, with a training provider or UTC (university technical college) 

Perfect if:

• your child is academic
• they have aspirations to go into Higher Education (University)
• they have a specific career in mind that requires A levels as a minimum entry qualification

Going back to college to study a vocational qualification like a BTEC 

This will enable your child to begin to specialise in a specific area of study and gain qualifications directly linked to careers. These types of courses are usually studied at a Further Education college.

Entry requirements:

These are dependent upon the level of the programme that your child wishes to study. 

Learn more about BTECs

Key features:

• courses are full time
• the courses focus on a specific subject linked through to a career path
• these programmes have a focus on practical skills, although there is still some classroom-based study.
• courses last one or two years
• Level 3 qualifications are valid for entry onto degree and higher education courses in related subjects. They also qualify students to enter onto higher apprenticeship programmes

Perfect if your child:

• is clear about the career path they wish to pursue in the future
• prefers a more practical style of learning with less emphasis on written examinations

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship programmes are becoming increasingly popular as they provide young people with the opportunity to gain valuable qualifications while earning a wage.

Entry requirements:

These are dependent upon the qualification that your child wishes to study, however programmes are available at all levels of GCSE qualifications.

Key features:

• apprenticeships can take between one and five years to complete
• they cover more than 1,500 different job roles across a broad range of industries, from engineering to accountancy, business administration to construction and childcare
• apprenticeship programmes are available up to degree level and beyond
• most of the training is on-the-job, however some programmes also include a day release at college

Perfect if your child:

• is keen to start earning a salary
• learns well from others – most apprentices are supported by a mentor in the workplace
• is clear about the career path that they want to pursue

Find out more about apprenticeships

Running their own business

Entry requirements:

None!

Perfect if your child:

• has an entrepreneurial drive
• has access to some start-up funds

Volunteering

Entry requirements:

None - although basic numeracy and literacy skills are often required

Key Features:

Your child won’t get paid but they will be using their free time to help other people, the community or the environment

Perfect if your child:

• likes meeting new people
• wants to gain some useful work experience
• wants to increase their confidence and feel good about helping other people
• wants something to put on a CV or in an application form and talk about at interview

Find out more about volunteering