Information on qualifications, apprenticeships, and study programmes – to help parents and carers support their child in choosing what to do next.
About post-16 options
All young people in England have to continue in some form of post-16 education or training. They can:
- study full-time in a school sixth form, at a college or with a training provider
- take an apprenticeship or traineeship
- work or volunteer while studying or training part-time
Qualifications
There’s a range of academic and vocational post-16 pathways and lots of courses and qualifications to choose from. Some will be familiar — like A levels or NVQs — but others may be completely new.
Apprenticeships and traineeships
For some students this is the ideal next step and there’s a lot to choose from. For those not quite ready for an apprenticeship or work, there are new traineeships. There's also the option to work and study part-time.
Study programmes
- All students, in England, going into post-16 education or training will be offered a study programme by their school or college — whether they're doing academic or vocational study.
- Supported internships are study programmes for young people aged 16 — 24 with learning difficulties or impairments who want to get a job and need extra support to do this.
Here's information to help you
- Schools and colleges in England have a statutory duty to provide impartial careers information and guidance to all students from Year 8 to Year 13.
- There have been some changes in provisions for students who have learning difficulties or impairments and how it works.