Post-16 education

College

Further education colleges offer a range of courses to meet your needs and interests. These include A levels, other academic courses and vocational programmes.

To find out what courses are offered by each college it is best to look at the institution’s own website. Look for the ‘16-18’ or ‘courses’ section.

• Bicton College
• City College Plymouth
• Exeter College
• Exeter Mathematics School
• PETROC
• Plymouth College of Art
• South Devon College

If you have a child who attends a special school in Devon, please look at the Preparing for Adulthood – Education section of the SEND Local Offer. You can also find information on the Natspec website.

What could this option do for you?

Gaining qualifications can give you more choice about your future. They show employers, colleges and universities that you have the skills and qualities needed to succeed and progress.

Getting qualifications can boost your confidence and can help you get a well-paid job.

Colleges offer lots of ways in which you can develop your skills, knowledge, and experience through taking part in the social life at college.

What do I need to do now?

Decide what and where you would like to study.

Make an application to the college. You may choose to attend an open day/evening which will give you the opportunity to have a look round and ask questions.

You will probably be asked to attend an interview which will give you the opportunity to ask further questions and explore your options.

Do I need any extra help or advice?

If you are still at school, your school must provide you with access to independent advice and guidance on all your post 16 options.

If you are not in education, employment or training, CSW Group can help you up to your 20th birthday. Take a look at the CSW Group website or arrange to meet an advisor.

For further help and support, you can talk to an impartial adviser at the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900 or web-chat online at nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk.

Follow @NationalCareers on Twitter or like them on Facebook.

What support could I get if I choose this option?

There may be financial support available, depending on your circumstances. Information can be found at GOV.UK – 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, and the college will be able to give you details of how it works.

There may be help available with travel costs. Full details of the Devon County Council policy can be found in our college transport guide.

University

Higher education (HE) may be an option from age 18 if you have already achieved A Levels or a Level 3 qualification.

If you want to get into higher education, there are different options available. It’s not necessarily about getting A levels – you can study full time for work-related qualifications or for an apprenticeship. You may also be able to take an Advanced Diploma qualification.

Living in Devon, Exeter and Plymouth are the closest universities. However, there are universities across the United Kingdom or even overseas where you could apply to study.

You can also study some higher education courses at further education colleges or you may want to investigate what the Open University can offer you. Take a look at their websites.

What could this option do for you?

Higher education can open up new career options, and research shows that people with higher education qualifications typically earn more money than those without. They may also offer more job security.

Higher education isn’t necessarily about getting a traditional degree. You could choose to do a Foundation Degree, combining academic study with workplace learning.

Another option is a work-related qualification, like a Higher National Certificate or Higher National Diploma.

Whatever your interests, the chances are you’ll find a course you’ll enjoy – the choice of subjects is much wider than at school.

What do I need to do now?

Universities and colleges set their own entry requirements, so they vary from course to course. When you’re choosing what you need to do at 16, it’s important to find out what qualifications and grades you’re likely to need for the type of higher education course you want to do.

For full time courses, you can look up entry requirements on the UCAS website.

For part-time courses, get the university or college prospectus – most are available online.

Depending on the course you want to do, there are two main routes that could potentially get you into higher education:

• Staying in full-time education.
• Learning while you work.

If you decide to stay in full time education after Year 11, there are a range of academic, work-related and skills-based qualifications you can potentially use to get into higher education.

Generally, you’ll need qualifications at Level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework, this usually means:

• A Levels
• an Advanced Diploma
• NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications)
• BTEC National Diplomas and Certificates
• GCSEs in applied subjects

You can also count Functional Skills qualification towards your application.

If you want to start work after Year 11, an apprenticeship can be a route into higher education.

Do I need any extra help or advice?

If you are still at school then your school must provide you with access to independent advice and guidance on all your post 16 options. If you are already in post 16 then your school or College will be able to help you find out more. You can make a start by looking at directories, prospectuses and careers software in your school’s careers library or resource centre.

If you need more help or are not at school, CSW Group provides advice and support to young people on all aspects of choosing post-16 education. Take a look at the CSW Group website or arrange to meet an advisor.

Additional information regarding your choices and what financial and other help is available can be found at GOV.UK.

You can find out about foundation degrees here.

What support could I get if I choose this option?

See GOV.UK Student finance for more information.

For young people who have a disability, additional information regarding support can be found at GOV.UK Disabled Students’ Allowances or contact the university for more information.

Apprenticeships

Apprentices are employees, paid to work and follow a course of study to become qualified at their job.

Apprenticeships are an excellent way of gaining qualifications and workplace experience at the same time. As an employee, you can earn as you learn and you gain practical skills from the workplace.

Apprenticeship training is offered by FE colleges and other training providers, often on a day release basis.

If you already have a job and would like to know whether it is possible to turn this into an apprenticeship, you and your employer should look at the Employers section of the Apprenticeships website for more information.

What could this option do for you?

All apprenticeships offer a package of qualifications which are vocational (practical), knowledge-based (theoretical) and include literacy and numeracy skills. Many also include IT or communication skills.

Apprenticeships are available at different levels dependant on your skills and experience, as well as the job role you would be doing.

What do I need to do now?

Visit the Apprenticeships website where you will find lots of information about what apprenticeships are available, how to find an apprenticeship as well as the real-life experiences of young people who have already followed this route.

Do I need any extra help or advice?

If you are still at school, they must provide you with access to independent advice and guidance on all your post 16 options.

If you need more help or are not at school, CSW Group provides advice and support to young people on all aspects of choosing post 16 education. Take a look at the CSW Group website or arrange to meet an advisor.

What support could I get if I choose this option?

There are different rates of pay for apprentices depending on your age and what year of your apprenticeship you’re in.

As your skills develop, your pay will increase accordingly. You may also get additional money for essential books, clothing or equipment, or to help you with a disability. As an apprentice, you will also receive the same benefits as other employees such as staff discounts, pension contributions, subsidised canteen and leisure facilities.

In some limited cases, apprentices can claim additional benefits. You can find out more about benefit claims at www.dwp.gov.uk.

Volunteering

Working as a volunteer can be unpaid work in a workplace; this is useful if you are unemployed and looking to get work experience, stay engaged and remain in the habit of working. This is also sometimes called an Internship.

Volunteering can also be for a charity or on a project of some kind. Volunteering projects are always looking for more people to help them out.

You can volunteer alongside education or training or it can be something you do full time or away from home. You can also do a range of different voluntary projects in different settings.

It can be something you do to gain experience while looking for employment or simply to add to your skills, for example, team working or communication.

Volunteering is suitable for all young people, regardless of ability; there are many different opportunities that can match your particular skills and interest.

What could this option do for you?

Volunteering gives you the chance to make a difference to others or to your local community.

It can also give you the chance to break into an industry; this is important if you are unemployed and have little work experience, or if you’re newly qualified and need to show employers you also have relevant work experience.

Most volunteers gain confidence, new skills and experiences which will improve their employment prospects.

Volunteering can give you the edge at a college, university or job interview. Don’t forget to add any volunteering experiences to your CV.

What do I need to do now?

If you are interested in volunteering you need to think about what types of work would suit you best, for example charity work, working with children, conservation work, or hospitality Talking to others who have had volunteer experience is helpful and your school may be able to help there.

You need to decide if volunteering full time or part time suits you better in order to plan whether or not you will need to apply for something else as well. Researching the different options available will allow you to make a better choice.

Do I need any extra help or advice?

You can approach organisations direct or go through national volunteering organisations that support your application process.

• V – is a volunteering charity who support young people in volunteering on local projects
  www.vinspired.com
• National Citizen Service provides summer opportunities for 16 and 17 year olds
  nationalcitizenservice.direct.gov.uk
• Devon Voluntary Action (DeVA) is a locally based Devon wide CVS partnership building vibrant, healthy communities
  www.devonva.org
• Devon Connect advertise volunteering opportunities across Devon
  devonconnect.org/activities/volunteers
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Schemes are voluntary programmes of activity you can access in your spare time
  www.dofe.org
• you can also ask at your local youth centre about different opportunities www.spaceyouthservices.org/
• Throughout Devon, there are lots of volunteering opportunities in care and health.  Find out more at Proud to Care.

What support could I get if I choose this option?

Some of the larger organisations can help you source a project and there will be continued support while volunteering.

The work itself will be unpaid but some opportunities do provide food and lodgings and some expenses may be provided.

If you choose to volunteer with a national organisation which involves overseas work then you will probably have to raise funds yourself.

Work

The government has increased the age to which all young people in England are required to continue in education or training meaning that you now have to combine this with work until at least your 18th birthday. Find out more about Raising the participation age.

Whether you know what you want to do or are still unsure, look at a range of jobs. Check out the following:

• CSW Group website
• GOV.UK: Finding a job

You may have a great business idea and want to set up your own business. There is plenty of advice and support out there for you to research and decide if this is for you. Big businesses do this before they start a project so you don’t need to go it alone. Look at these websites as a start:

• Support for starting a business from the Prince’s Trust
• GOV.UK – Setting up

What could this option do for you?

Five great reasons for getting a job:

• money
• independence
• meeting new people
• getting new skills and qualifications
• taking control of your life

Getting a job can also give you experience of the world of work and give you the opportunity to think about what you want to do next.

Volunteering may be an option for you if you are clear about what you want to do and need some experience. It could also be an option for you while you are looking for a job. More information is available at GOV.UK – Volunteering or visit the V Inspired website.

Remember if you choose to be self-employed no one will give you holiday or sick pay. It will be up to you to earn enough money to keep you going throughout the year whatever happens.

Do I need any extra help or advice?

If you are still at school, your school must provide you with access to independent advice and guidance on all your post 16 options.

If you need more help or are not at school, CSW Group provides advice and support to young people on all aspects of choosing post-16 education. Take a look at the CSW Group website or ask your school to arrange a meeting with an advisor.

The National Careers Service website can also help you decide what to do next.