THE END OF YEAR 11 the start of a new journey
After you finish your GCSEs you have a number of different options . Schools , colleges and training providers offer lots of subjects and courses you can study full-time .
You normally need to have at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 and at least a 5 in any specific subjects you want to study . Once you have decided where you would like to continue your studies , you can then think about what kind of qualification you would like to go for .
If you would like to go on to university there are a variety of qualifications you can study at college or sixth form to gain access to a degree programme .
There are subject-based qualifications like A levels , IBacc and Cambridge Pre-U or there are work and job-related courses like NVQs , BTECS , T Levels , TechBacs and Cambridge Technicals which combine more hands on , practical learning with studying subjects and technical skills .
Different university courses will ask for different qualifications , so it is always a good idea to check before you make your choice of what to study .
Apprenticeships are a great option if you would like to work for an employer and train for a job at the same time . Going down
this route means that you will have an income while you ’ re learning and a qualification and job experience at the end of it .
The following sections of this guide will explain each of these pathways in more detail . We will explore the application process , and highlight the important deadlines you need to adhere to . In order to help you make your decision about which pathway best suits you we will also look at how much it will cost over the duration of your course , give you tips on how to choose the best place to work or study and look at different subjects and which careers these might lead on to .
My advice to any Year 11 student who ’ s a bit unsure would be not to close any doors yet . Explore all of your options , because you don ’ t really know what you want to do , and that ’ s fine . I didn ’ t know what I wanted to do in Year 11 , so I explored everything , I looked at colleges , universities , and apprenticeships , and that ’ s what helped me narrow it down . Don ’ t panic , because it ’ s normal . hannah , health psychology
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