Young people

All schools and colleges have open evenings or events for future students. These give you a chance to see what it is really like and talk to tutors and teachers, so it is worth going along. Your Connexions Adviser can give you a list of all these dates.

At the open evening, check out course details and the qualifications you will need. There is a guide to qualifications levels below. At the open dates also ask how to apply and when applications have to be sent. You need to send a well written application – and remember popular courses at colleges often have early application deadlines.

You can also choose to study different types of qualifications at sixth forms and colleges.

GCSEs

Grading will move to a 9-1 scale, with grade nine being roughly equivalent to a top A* grade and a grade four equivalent to a low to mid-grade C.

The changes to GCSEs are designed to make subject content and exams more challenging. New style GCSEs have been slowly introduced in England and Wales over the last two years.

A-Levels

A-Levels give you a broader pathway to university and suit students who want to progress onto specific courses at university. It is possible to study either three or four A-Levels in your first year. These courses are mostly exam-based qualifications with coursework & essay writing.

Vocational

Vocational courses have a mix of practical and academic content and are generally designed for students who wish to go directly into employment or go on to further training or a university course of a related area. Students study one vocational course only.

T Levels

T Levels have a mixture of classroom learning and 'on the job' experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approx 45 days). 

Higher Education

If you want to go on to university after completing a level 3 course then you can find out more by visiting:

• UCAS - research courses and find universities/colleges that offer your dream degree course opening the door to your future career!
• Prospects.ac.uk  - research a range of jobs that you could do with a degree in a particular subject. 

Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. As an apprentice you’ll work alongside experienced staff, gain job-specific skills, earn a wage and get holiday pay and study towards a related qualification (usually one day a week). Apprenticeships take 1 to 4 years to complete depending on their level.  

Traineeships are designed help young people who want to get an apprenticeship or job but don’t yet have appropriate skills or experience. A traineeship is an education and training programme with work experience that unlocks the great potential of young people and prepares them for their future careers by helping them to become ‘work ready’.

Supported internships are for students with learning difficulties or learning disabilities who want to get a job and need extra support to do this. They last for at least six months and are unpaid. You get work experience and an employer trains you to do a job role. You also get to study for qualifications or other courses to help you get ready to take up a job.

For further information on apprenticeships and to apply for live vacancies visit The National Apprenticeship Website 

No child under 13 years of age can be employed, children aged 13 may only be employed in occupations specified in the byelaws. Children of compulsory school age who hold an employment permit (issued by the local authority in accordance with the local bye-laws) can be employed but:

• Not during school hours, not before 7am or after  7pm.  Only for 2 hours on a school day.  On Saturdays and school holidays (Monday to Friday) 5 hours if under 15 or 8 hours if 15 or over, with a 1 hour meal break after a  maximum of  4 hours.  Young people must have a 2 week break free from work during a school holiday.
• Compulsory School Age: A young person is of compulsory school age until the date they are officially allowed to leave school (the last Friday in June) not on their 16th birthday or when they receive a National Insurance Number.

There are many ways jobs can be found these include:

• Advertised vacancies – on job search websites such as http://www.indeed.co.uk or www.gov.uk/jobsearch,  in the local paper, on company website or in shop windows.
• Speculative Applications – this is when you send your CV to employers who haven't advertised a vacancy.
• Recruitment Agencies – Recruitment agencies are outside firms who go and find candidates for employers. This could be a good way of getting some further work experience.
• Careers and jobs fairs - Jobcentre Plus and other organisations arrange regular events which give job seekers the chance to speak directly to employers about opportunities.

Volunteering

People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. For the latest nationwide volunteering opportunities check www.do-it.org/