Your options

Are you completing your GCSEs or A Levels this year? Do you want to carry on studying but don’t want to stay on at school? Do you want an alternative to university?

If the answer is ‘yes’, City of Wolverhampton College can help you define your future with a wide range of qualifications and different study options to enable you to learn in a way that suits you best.

What’s the best study route for me?

A Levels

Is this you?

 I prefer exams to coursework and I’m good at revising

 I like learning about theories, ideas and facts

 I want to study three or four subjects

 Ideally my next step after college will be university If you enjoy and perform well in exams and want to study a range of subjects before going to university, choosing A Levels at City of Wolverhampton College is a good route to your future career.

The college provides an alternative learning environment to school and you can study the subjects that interest you and the combination that best suits your plans for your future career. You’ll also have access to wvSixth – our own sixth form centre which is solely for A Level students.

See page 11 for the range of A Level courses on offer

Vocational courses

Is this you?

 I prefer coursework to exams

 I enjoy working on projects

 I really enjoy a specific subject and would like to learn that in more detail

 I have a career in mind If you prefer to learn practically, City of Wolverhampton College offers a wide range of vocational courses designed to help you develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours you need to work in your chosen industry.

Vocational courses are work-related and mix practical and theoretical study - and with qualifications available from beginner to advanced university level, there’s something for everyone, whatever your interest or experience.

If you haven’t already achieved a grade C/4 at GCSE in maths and English, you’ll also work towards this as part of your course.

Work experience also makes up part of your course to enable you to develop employability skills and apply your learning to real working life.

Apprenticeship

Is this you?

 I know what career I want

 I want to start earning money and learning new skills

‘on-the-job’

 I want to gain the skills and knowledge employers are looking for

 I want to gain real work experience to impress future employers If you want to start earning a wage but also carry on learning, an apprenticeship will enable you to do both!

You will be employed by a company and work alongside experienced employees, contributing to the success of that business while you’re learning and working towards occupational standards set by employers – and, because you’ll be doing a real job, you’ll get paid too!

The college works with a host of businesses to help them find and train their next apprentice and has a constant supply of vacancies in a wide range of industries so can help you find an apprenticeship too.

But if you’re not quite ready for an apprenticeship, doing a traineeship first will enable you to improve your confidence, brush up your employability skills and progress to an apprenticeship, further training or employment.

See page 42 for the range of apprenticeships on offer and details of how to apply.

Higher education

I don’t know what I want to do!

Is this you?

 I want to carry on studying when I’ve finished Year 13

 I want to study at a higher level but don’t want to go to university

 I’m looking for a different route to gain a university-level qualification  I want to save money on university course fees and accommodation costs If you want to study for a university-level qualification without actually going to uni, doing a higher education (HE) course at college is the answer!

University-level qualifications are the next level up after A Levels, Level 3 vocational courses or advanced apprenticeships and are a great way of continuing learning - and with a wide range of qualifications and subjects to choose from there are plenty of opportunities to enable you to study at a higher level.

See page 45 for the range the range of HE courses on offer.

We know that making a decision on which subject to choose or which study route to take can sometimes be confusing, but there’s no need to worry as our careers guidance team is there to help.

They’ll take time to discuss your plans for the future and give you information on the best routes into your chosen career. And even if you don’t know what you want to do, they’ll be able to give you details of all the courses and qualifications on offer at college and make suggestions about different study options for you to explore.

What’s more, you don’t have to wait until you’re a City of Wolverhampton College student to benefit from their advice – you can book an appointment to see them at any time.

 careersguidance@wolvcoll.ac.uk or  01902 317689