So you’ve finished school. What’s next?
Before you finish Year 11 and head off to enjoy a few months of summer holiday fun, you’ll need to make an informed decision about what you want to do next.
The good news is, there are lots of different options you can choose from, whether you want to continue studying or go straight into employment.
Our free Gateway to Work tool is a great place to start – but here are some of the options available to you when you leave secondary school:
Apprenticeships
If, after completing your GCSEs you already have a good idea of what career you want to pursue then apprenticeships could be a fantastic way to gain the skills and qualifications you need to get the job you want in a way that suits your learning style.
You’ll spend 6 hours of a 30-hour week working with an employer earning at least the minimum wage for apprentices (currently £5.28 if you’re under 18) and the rest of your time gaining an industry-recognised qualification, which the government and your employer will pay for.
Apprenticeships are available in a whole host of fields including engineering, accounting, hairdressing and advertising. You can take them at a variety of different levels, from intermediate apprenticeships (level 2) to postgraduate apprenticeships which are the equivalent of a master’s degree.
Apprenticeships: How to get started
Seven reasons you should start an apprenticeship
Vocational courses
If jumping straight into the world of work isn’t for you, but you’re interested in more practical careers such as hairdressing, plumbing, or interior design, then a vocational course might just be for you.
Officially known as Applied Vocational Qualifications, vocational courses include certifications such as BTECs and are available in many different subjects including IT, Music Production and even Law.
The great thing about vocational courses is that they’re practical, which means you’ll get the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in your chosen field while developing the skills you need to progress into employment.
A Levels
While vocational courses tend to have a heavy focus on a specific career, A Levels are generally more academic and aim to strengthen your understanding of particular subjects. You’ll mostly be studying in the classroom and learning from textbooks and you can do up to five A Levels although most students stick to just three.
A Levels include a range of subjects in different areas including Psychology, Biology, History and Media Studies. Most students studying for A Levels are looking to get onto a university course in the future. Their entry requirements usually include A Levels in subjects related to the degree you want to study.
Entry requirements differ from place to place, so make sure you check with the individual schools and colleges to find out what you’re looking for.
Want more support on your career journey?
Then check out Gateway to Work, our free careers programme. Designed especially for students like you, it’s jam-packed with engaging videos, resources and quizzes to help you figure out exactly what to do next.
You’ll also get a chance to try out different roles in real-life companies with digital work experience and practice your interview skills with our Chairman and CEO, James Reed CBE, using our AI interview programme.
Did we mention that it’s completely free? Who said learning had to come at a cost…
Ready to get started? Try our free Gateway to Work course now.
