WHAT WILL YOUDONEXT AFTERYOUREXAMS?

It’sthe beginning of awhole new chapter of your life –you’redeciding what to do after you’ve finished your GCSEs.

And with so many different opportunities depending on your skills, interests or chosen career path –the world really is your oyster

It might feel like it’sstill along way offbut it will be herebeforeyou know it, so it now is the time to give some serious thought.

When it comes to considering the next chapter in your learning, look at the pros and cons of each of the options available to you.

Youmight decide to stay on to study A-levels in your school’ssixth form, go to college for vocational training or start an apprenticeship.

For some of you, the decision might be easy because perhaps you’ve always known that you want to be adoctor,plumber or architect. For the rest of you it might seem morethan alittle mind-boggling deciding what it is you want to do.

But thereare ways to make it seem less daunting, which start with approaching it positively and with an open mind.

Considering what you aregood at and what you areinterested in can be agood place to start. If you enjoy learning and want to continue your education in a familiar environment, then A-levels arethe most traditional routetouniversity and take two years to complete.

These qualifications have recently been overhauled. The content for the new A-levels has been reviewed and updated, with universities playing amuchgreater role in this for the new qualifications than they did previously

It is hoped that this will make A-levels better preparation for university study and the move has been welcomed by higher education institutions.

A-levels areachieved after two years of study and thereare lotsofdifferent subjects to choose from. They can be done at aschool sixth form or afurther education college and you can also take them alongside vocational qualifications.

The combination of subjects you choose is very important as it will influence your chances of getting on to adegree course at university.It’simportant to research which A-levels arerequired for the subject you would like to study later or the career path you want to take. Some courses, such as veterinary medicine, for example, will requireyou to have studied specific subjects. It’salways better to spend time finding out what the industry wants so you’renot disappointed later

TLevels areanalternative to A-levels, apprenticeships and other 16 to 19 courses. Equivalent in size to three A-levels, aT Level focuses on vocational skills and can help students into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships.

Each course includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts at least 45 days. Students get valuable experience in the workplace and employers get early sight of the new talent in their industry

The courses areavailable at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England. TLevels arebeing gradually rolled out and the first 16 have now been launched.

Thereare plenty of other qualifications you can look into such as NVQs and BTECs.

They offer amorepractical approach than traditional academic courses and may be related to abroad employment area such as business, engineering, IT, health and social careorthey might lead to specific jobs such as hairdressing, accounting, professional cookery or plumbing.

But if you think you’reready for the workplace, then taking an apprenticeship is agreat way to learnhands-on skills in areal world setting and you will be paid while you learn. Thereare morethan 280 types of apprenticeship for more than 1,500 job roles –anythingfrom engineering to boat-building, or veterinary nursing to accountancy

Post-18 options

When it comes to looking at your options for when you’re18, higher education continues to be apopular choice for school-leavers, whether it’s university or morevocational courses such as Higher National Diplomas (HNDs).

If you opt to work towards adegree, you can go down the academic routeor pick acourse moreclosely connected to your dream job. Thereisevidence that graduates go on to have higher earning potential and have agreater choice of jobs.

University also helps you to develop life-long skills that will come in handy in all kinds of different jobs and industries. For some careers, higher education is a must, so don’tdiscount it without looking into what qualifications areexpected for your chosen profession because you don’t want to be disappointed later.Research is key.

Vocational courses can give you more hands-on experience and can be aquicker route into work.

It’salsopossible to do an apprenticeship when you’re18. These are becoming moreand more popular with an increasing number of opportunities available every year –soare well worth some serious consideration.

They give you the chance to be paid while you aretrained on thejob and areworking towards industry-specific qualifications so they might be amore direct routetothe career you want.

Employers arekeen to recruit apprentices who they can train to develop the necessary skills for their industry and in certain industries they areinhighdemand due to ageing workforces.

Higher and degree apprenticeships areavailable for morethan100 different job rolesacross around 75 industries. So, thereare many paths to consider when you aredeciding what next.

Always aim to do something you will love because thereisnopoint wasting time and money on something you will not be passionate about.

Choosing The Rightcoursefor Your Career

There area wide rangeofsubjects to choose from.Ifyou think you want to study certain subjects at university,orifyou have acareer area in mind, it’s importantto checkiftheyhaveany particular A-levelentry requirements

Youmay not yetknowwhatyou want to do afterA-levels,sohere’s aquick guide to making choices

Themost importantcriteriafor choosing A-levels subjects are: n What youare likely to enjoyand be good at? n Arethere anyparticularsubjects andgradesyou mayneed?Ifyou have aparticularcareer, jobor furtherstudy in mindyou mayneed to choose certain A-levels in order to meet entryrequirements. n Howopen youwanttokeepyour future study andcareerchoices? n Abilityand enjoyment–Think aboutthe subjects you aregood at andlike. If youenjoywhatyou’re studyingyou arelikelytobemore motivated.Ifyou have abilityin your chosen subjects youcan increase your chancesofsuccess. n Newsubjects–Schools and colleges mayoffer A-levels in subjects that youhavenot studied before –it’sreallyworth taking some time to find outwhat’s involved in newsubjects. n Subjectcombinations–Some subjects covercommon ground –suchasgeography and environmentalstudies.You need to checkthey’re not toosimilar as some colleges anduniversities maynot accept thecombination for entrytohigherlevel courses.

Some subject combinations arecomplimentary and fitwell together. This canhelpyou meet entryrequirementsfor higher level courses.

Some schoolsand colleges may have restrictions on subject combinations,socheck your options.