Picking up your GCSES? What are your options?
With the completion of GCSE level study comes some educational freedom, and with freedom comes options. Depending on what career you want to pursue there are many options open to you, but they can generally be divided into two options: Stay in full time education or combine work-based learning and training.
Stay in education
Full-time education offers many benefits and may be the right pathway for you. Check out the options available below.
6th Form: Arguably the most direct path for continuing your studies, pick a course and 6th Form that appeals to you and helps with your future career and/or career options, then continue learning. You may find that your school has a 6th Form attached to it or you could look at other options locally or even further afield. In 6th Form you will normally attend every day and lessons will tend to be during normal school hours. It’s a great option if you perhaps don’t feel ready to leave a more formal educational setting. Another option could be a sixth form college, they are usually smaller than Further education colleges, they can offer more options than a school sixth form with a wider variety at A level and BTECS.
College: This is a great option if you want to pursue more of a vocational route to support your career plans. Some colleges specialise in certain areas i.e., hospitality, whereas others will offer a wide range of courses across a multitude of sectors. You can choose to study the likes of A Levels, Diplomas, T-Levels and Apprenticeships at college, and there is also some flexibility in terms of the amount of time you will spend studying with full and part-time learning being available.
T-Levels: The closest to a ‘hybrid’ option between full-time education and on the job learning, achieving something close to the latter via the former. The combined nature of T-levels leads to a high level of dedication to a singular field of study, such as, technicians, nurses, or computer game developers.
Combine work-based learning and training
If you are looking to combine learning with some hands-on experience, there are various pathways available to you that can give you access to training in a range of sectors, many with various levels of study available.
Apprenticeships: These are a great option if you have an idea what job you would like to job, or the sector you are interested in. For example, apprenticeships are now offered in loads of subjects from Bricklaying to Beauty Therapy, Engineering to Teaching. Apprenticeships can help provide both on the job experience and give you the chance to also gain advice from other long-term employees already working in that sector. All apprenticeships include ‘off-the-job’ training which means you will need to either attend a training location (such as a college) at least once a week to complete the theoretical elements of the course, or study independently at home via a training provider with the support of a training provider.
Supported Internships: Job placements (many of which are paid) organised by schools, governments, or other offices and business dedicated helping teenagers and young adults reach stable employment. If your career of choice benefits at all from prior experience, which most do, then consider this option.
Whatever path you pick, we can only wish you the best of luck on your way there! And don’t forget, if you need some advice and guidance after collecting your results, our team are on hand to help you. So regardless of whether you did better than you thought you would and are reconsidering your options, or things didn’t go as planned and you need to look at a plan B, we are here to help.
