It’s important to start thinking about your future now and what you want to do after leaving school. Your GCSE and post-16 choices can greatly influence your path. Explore all your options carefully and choose what best fits your goals.
Year 7 and 8:
Settle into secondary school education. Enjoy exploring a wide variety of subject areas, developing friendships and building confidence.
Year 9:
Discover which subjects you enjoy most and choose your GCSE or BTEC options. You might consider career options and which subjects might best support these.
Year 10 and 11:
Complete your GCSEs or BTEC qualifications and decide your post-16 options and beyond.
Advanced Apprenticeships:
If you know your desired career, you could start an apprenticeship after GCSEs, combining on-the-job training with studying for a qualification.
Year 12 and 13:
Sixth Form or college: Here you will study for A-levels, BTEC or T-Level qualifications. You will pick a small number of subjects you enjoy the most. You will start to think about what choices to make once you leave school.
Post 18:
Continue your lifelong love of learning and personal development. Turn the page to explore your options.
Post-18: What are the choices?
Higher education
Higher education (HE) is open to anyone over 18 and could be your next step after school. It takes place at universities and colleges, offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses. HE lets you explore your interests, gain advanced skills, and prepare for your career while meeting different people and gaining independence. With over 35,000 courses at 160+ universities, the possibilities are endless.
If you decide not to apply to university but change your mind after getting your exam results, clearing offers a chance to secure a place. Whether your results were better or worse than expected, or you’ve reconsidered your course or university choice, clearing can help you find the right fit.
Degree apprenticeships
A degree apprenticeship lets you work, earn money, and study for a university degree all at the same time, giving you hands-on experience in a job while you learn. You’ll spend most of your time working, studying part-time at university to earn your full undergraduate or Master’s degree.
Work
Starting your career at 18 and getting a job can teach you valuable skills and expose you to a variety of people, opportunities and experiences. Work is about doing tasks and solving problems, often working as part of a team. You will learn time management, responsibility and good communication skills as well as meeting people from a variety of different backgrounds.
Gap year
A gap year is when you take time out of your studies after you finish school to explore new experiences, such as travelling, working, or volunteering. These valuable experiences can help you learn more about yourself and what you want to do in the future. You will develop skills that can enhance your studies if you decide to go to university.
How to make your choice…
We know making these choices may feel daunting. However, there are many people who can support you and guide your decision-making.
Teachers know your strengths and can provide subject-specific knowledge for your GCSE and A-level choices.
Careers leads have a wealth of information, advice and guidance to share with you to help in your decision making.
Family and friends know you best and can help guide your decision-making process. Ask about their career pathways and what helped them make their decisions.
Funding your next steps
Finances are a key part of your decision making process and can vary depending on which pathway you take. We’ve pulled together the basics below to help get you started.
Higher education/university
• You may be eligible to apply for a student loan from Student Finance England. This includes a tuition fee loan to pay. your university fees and a maintenance loan which helps to cover your living expenses including rent, bills and food.
• Many HE providers will also offer additional support through scholarships & bursaries.
• You only start paying back your loan after you have graduated; the amount you pay depends on how much you earn. If you earn lower than a certain amount, you don’t have to pay anything!
For more information visit www.gov.uk/student-finance
This is an exciting time for you to start exploring where you want your path to take you. We know priorities and interests can change with time, so it’s okay to change your mind and revisit some of the other options!
Visit the UCAS Hub
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is your go-to resource for all your post-18 decisions. Whether you’re exploring university options, considering a gap year, or seeking career guidance, UCAS has you covered.
Sign up for the hub today and start mapping out your future.
Apprenticeships
• Whilst you complete your apprenticeship you will earn a salary which will be paid to you directly from the organisation who have employed you as an apprentice, you do not have to pay this back.
• This salary will need to cover all your living expenses, so it will be helpful to consider what your monthly earnings will be and work out a budget to ensure you can cover these.
• The minimum wage your will receive while working as an apprentice will depend on your age. If you are care experienced, you may also be eligible for a bursary that you don’t need to pay back.
www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
Degree apprenticeships
• Degree apprentices have their university tuition fees paid by their employer, so are not eligible for a student loan.
• You will also be paid a salary by your employer, which you can use to cover living expenses.
• Like other apprenticeships your hourly salary will be at least the national minimum wage, but many employers will pay more than this. If you are care experienced, you may also be eligible for a bursary that you don’t need to pay back.
www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
