What Are Your Options At The End Of Secondary School?

It is a question every year 11 will ask themselves at some point – what are my options at the end of secondary school?

Do I stay on at college or sixth form?
Should I go out to work?
Are Apprenticeships a good idea?

Before we consider these options, it is important to point out that the ONLY person who can find the answer to these questions is YOU.

In order to come to your final decision you may still wish to speak with the people who know you best, such as your parents or carers, other relatives, friends and teachers. They will help you think about the kind of person you are, what you are good at and what you enjoy doing.

At the end of secondary school, there are lots of different routes and avenues you can take. Below we have summarized the most popular options and provided a little more information about each.

• Staying in education: This is the most popular option for 16-year-olds’s. It means staying on at 6th form or joining a college in order to study towards further qualifications. There are so many different types of qualifications you can study for and working out which one is best for you can be very confusing.

  Academic subjects such as English, Maths, Geography and History are covered the most thoroughly by the AS and A2 curriculum. Like school, AS and A2 levels are taught mainly in a classroom environment and earned by submitting coursework and/or exams.

  If you are looking to gain some practical experience in an area you are interested but still want to learn in the classroom then a National Diploma may suit you best. In 2009 there are ten subjects covered by the Diploma curriculum including Hair and Beauty Studies, Manufacturing, Hospitality and Travel and Tourism.

  By remaining in full-time education you can also qualify for the Education Maintenance Allowance where you are given between £10 and £30 per week. It is also the main route into university or ‘higher education’.

• Finding Full-Time Work: This means leaving education and getting a job. It is both an exciting and daunting experience which should be discussed with a careers advisor at school and the people who know you best. It is a decision that should not be taken lightly.

  You should know that the typical full-time employee works 35 hours or more during a week, with a part-time worker usually working less that this. The minimum wage for employees aged 16 – 17 is £3.53, and £4.77 for those aged 18-21. These rates are accurate at the time of print (January 2009) and change on the 1st October every year.

• Apprenticeships: The best of both worlds - a combination of education and working. Apprenticeships are available for individuals aged between 16 and 24. You are able to work in a profession that interests you and study for a qualification in your chosen field at the same time. This can be a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), a Key Skills Qualification, and a Technical Certificate like a BTEC or a City and Guilds.

  There are over 240,000 apprentices in England, working towards one of the 180 apprenticeships on offer. In January 2009, Prime Minister Gordon Brown revealed plans to create 35,000 new apprenticeships in a one year period. This is to help the country recover from the current recession.

  If you would like more information on Modern Apprenticeships please look at our feature which is titled ‘Apprenticeships: A guide to your options at 16’.

Relevant links:

www.direct.gov.uk

www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning

www.connexions-direct.com

www.aimhigher.ac.uk

www.apprenticeships.org.uk

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