It’s the beginning of a whole new chapter of your life – you’re deciding 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’s still a long way off but it will be here before you know it, so now is the time to give it 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. You might decide to stay on to study A-levels in your school’s sixth 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 a doctor, plumber or architect. For the rest, it might seem more than a little mind-boggling.
A-levels are achieved after two years of study and there are lots of different subjects to choose from. They can be done at a school sixth form or a further education college and you can also take them alongside vocational qualifications. The combination of subjects you choose is very important as it can influence your chances of getting on to a degree course at university. It’s important to research which A-levels are required 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 require you to have studied specific subjects. It’s always better to spend time finding out what the industry wants so you’re not disappointed later.
T Levels are an alternative to A-levels, apprenticeships and other 16 to 19 courses. Equivalent in size to three A-levels, a T 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 are available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England.
Young people will be able to take the very first V Levels in education, finance, and digital in 2027. Students who want to specialise in technical, sector-focused studies will also have more options, as T Levels – which combine study and real-world work experience – will be expanded to include subjects such as Sports, Fitness and Exercise Science, along with Care Services. New qualifications will be introduced next year for 16-year-olds, providing a year of study before progressing to V Levels, T Levels or A-levels, with initial subjects in Education and Early Years, and Digital.
A separate two-year, employment-focused route will also be available for those aiming to move straight into work or an apprenticeship, starting in Catering and Hospitality, and Education and Early Years. V Levels, which will sit alongside A-levels and T Levels, and will be equivalent to one A-level, allowing students to mix and match academic and vocational subjects if they are unsure where to specialise.
The Further Study pathway provides a year of study to support students who want to go on to do V Levels, T Levels or A-levels but aren’t ready to progress beyond GCSE-equivalent study due to lower attainment. It will be supported by a new Foundation Certificate qualification. The Occupational pathway is a two-year programme to provide extra support to lower attainers while developing the skills to go into employment or an apprenticeship. It will be supported by a new Occupational Certificate qualification.
Further changes to T Levels will refine content and assessment, and allow providers more scope to tailor industry placements, to ensure that more young people can access them. There are plenty of other qualifications you can look into such as NVQs and BTECs. But if you think you’re ready for the workplace, then taking an apprenticeship is a great way to learn hands-on skills in a real-world setting and you will be paid while you learn. There are more than 280 types of apprenticeship for more than 1,500 job roles – anything from engineering to veterinary nursing to accountancy.
So, there are many paths to consider when you are deciding what to do next. Always aim to do something you will love because there is no point wasting time on something you won’t be passionate about.
