Options Post 18

Post 18 students have a variety of choices. You can:

• take a gap year or volunteer to develop yourself and your skills.
• start a full-time job, apprenticeship, internship or training.
• apply for further study and continue education part-time or full-time.

Students in AMVC will be given support throughout Sixth Form to help them choose their next best step. They are given access to various tools such as Unifrog, networking opportunities with employers, universities and training providers, personal development sessions within curriculum and events. All are designed to allow students to grow, explore their opportunities, know how to actively manage their career, create opportunities, balance life and work and to see the bigger picture.

Gap Year / Volunteering

A gap year can be useful to aid career planning, travel and learn new skills, especially when it has been planned for a particular purpose. Undertaking voluntary work, either during studies or as part of a gap year enables students to gain practical experience and helps them to stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs and/or university courses.

Find out more and get some inspiration here:

Find Information & Ideas to Inspire Your Gap Year Program (ucas.com)

There are a number of organisations that can support students with voluntary work:

Employment

Some students choose to enter full-time employment as soon as they have completed their Level 3 qualifications. If you can find a job now which will help you work towards your desired career, then this is a great way into your future role.

Don’t worry too much though as any job you start with will provide you with valuable skills and experience you can use to move into your chosen career.

You can use the opportunity to build up your CV, earn money and find out which parts of work you enjoy or would prefer not to have in the future.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is an opportunity to work and study at the same time. Most of your time is spent doing on-the-job training, and the rest is spent working towards a qualification. You’ll get paid a salary and be part of a team, just like a standard employee, but you’ll also get dedicated study time throughout the week.

The qualification you can achieve could vary from the equivalent to GCSEs, to a master’s degree depending on the level of apprenticeship you take. There are different types or levels of apprenticeships depending on where you are in the UK. Each level apprenticeship will have different entry requirements.

The table below shows how apprenticeships compare to other qualifications:

Applying for an apprenticeship is just like applying for a normal job. Here’s what you need to know:

The employer decides the deadline for application to an apprenticeship.
Applications are made through the employer directly
You are not restricted to one apprenticeship application at a time and can submit as many as you like.
There is also nothing stopping you applying to university through UCAS, while also applying for apprenticeship vacancies.

Traineeships and School Leaver Programmes

Traineeships prepare young people for future careers by helping with preparation for work. The are specifically designed for individuals 16-23 year old and young people with learning difficulties to the age of 25. Traineeships last from six weeks to six months, with content tailored to individual career needs. They offer content which supports employability skills, personal development, maths and English support, work experience and an improved CV.

School Leaver Programmes are offered by a number of large employers, typically in the financial, IT, accountancy, tourism and retail industries. They are for individuals who have the qualifications to go to university but would rather enter into the world of employment. A lot of the schemes on offer are actually in fact, higher apprenticeships that have been re-branded under a new name.

Find out more here:

School Leaver Programmes | School Leaver Schemes (successatschool.org)

Higher Education

Higher education includes degrees, foundation degrees, Diplomas of Higher Education and Higher National Diplomas.

Some people benefit greatly from higher education:

Some careers are only accessible to students who have a degree e.g. doctor, dentist, librarian;
Universities have superb resources to help you in your subject
Students can develop personally and socially from the experience, for instance by getting involved in a new activity such as sailing, walking, coaching etc.
Some courses involve travel or study abroad.
Graduates are less likely to be unemployed over their lifetime than non-graduates.

However, university is not for everyone. It may be better to develop specific skills that are useful in a particular career as opposed to studying for an extra three years that will have financial implications. In addition, a graduate’s chance of getting a job depends upon factors such as their degree subject and their personal qualities and skills; and employers generally look beyond the degree, focusing on ‘soft skills’ and personal qualities such as ability to communicate, reliability, self-motivation and dependability.

There is a wide pool of staff to support students with their applications to Higher Education Institutions. Form Tutors are the first port of call for students; however, Heads of Year, the school Careers Advisor and Subject Teachers are all on hand to offer advice and support throughout the process.

Every course and every university is different and each student wants different things. Therefore, students must undertake research in order to select the right courses and universities for them. The more research that is done the more likely a student will make the right decision. A variety of courses are offered by universities.

Diploma of Higher Education courses

These courses are equivalent to the first two years of a degree, and some guarantee that successful students can go on to join the third year of a degree course. A DipHE can be one of the requirements for entering a career.

Foundation degrees

Foundation degrees are employment-related higher education courses that can improve access to a degree related course. They are available at some universities and higher education colleges and can be studies full-time or part-time, depending upon the institution. Foundation degrees can also be studies at some further education colleges.

Higher National Diplomas (HNDs)

HNDs are vocational qualifications. They are usually full-time courses, taking two years to complete. Having completed an HND, students may be able to join the second year of a degree course, or the third year in some cases.

Degrees

A degree can involve any of the following:

Studying subjects singly or in combination. Some universities offer modular degrees that allow the freedom and flexibility to design a large part of your course.
Studying a subject for its own sake or because it has work-related relevance.
Applying for a sandwich degree. This is a degree combined with a year’s work experience. An employer, for example, in an engineering or science-related industry, might sponsor you.
Studying abroad for part of the time.

Applying to Study at University

Step 1 – Research Courses & Higher Education Institutes via their websites and career software in school

Step 2 – Attend Higher Education Institute Open Days

Step 3 – Personal Statement

Step 4 – Personal Statement Review with Subject or Form Tutor

Step 5 – Complete your UCAS Form completely – ask for help if required

Step 6 – Reference completed by Form Tutor with input from subject teachers

It is important that students keep a record of their personal achievements, enrichment activities undertaken, work experience, voluntary work, work for the student body, etc. as this will create a positive image and therefore make you an appealing candidate.

Step 7 – Final Checks

Ensure all sections of the UCAS forms are checked, amended and re-checked as necessary.

Step 8 – Submit Form

Forms to be submitted via UCAS Apply. Students are urged to submit their choices as early as possible as some Universities offer their places on a first come, first served basis.

Step 9 – Choices

Once you have received all replies and offers from their universities, you will need to make a final selection of two choices – a firm selection and an insurance selection. The insurance option should have a lower entry off than the firm choice.

Four Cs Academy Trust

Arthur Mellows Village College