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How you can help a school leaver to make their post-16 choice

If you have some connection to a school leaver, whether you are a guardian, family member, school staff or anyone else, you will be a source of influence when it comes to choosing where they go post-16. With this in mind, it’s important that you know what options are out there for school leavers, so you can support them to choose what is right for them.

Research the different learning pathways

Education has evolved so much in recent years, and there are now more learning pathways than ever! The right choice for a school leaver depends on what kind of learner they are. City of Bristol College offers three primary learning routes: A Levels, technical/vocational qualifications and apprenticeships. If the school leaver knows what area they’d like to go into, feels ready to go into work and would prefer to get a head start in the industry, an apprenticeship could be the right choice for them. Apprenticeships are a great way to learn from people in industry, make contacts and build the learner’s CV, all while getting paid and earning their qualification. Contrary to popular belief, apprenticeships can be undertaken in a range of subjects, from engineering and construction to accounting and health & social care. If the school leaver is academic and got on well with the classroom-style learning and examinations in school, A Levels could suit them. Students take three or four subjects over two years, and can progress into higher education like university or move straight into work.

Finally, technical and vocational qualifications are ideal for learners who know what they would like to do and are ready to learn the skills they will need for a successful career. Our excellent facilities are designed to provide an inspiring environment for our students to learn in that reflects the real world, so they leave us feeling prepared for a successful career or higher education journey.

Encourage them to attend Open Events

Most providers, whether it’s a sixth form centre or a further education college, will host Open Events throughout the year to allow people to visit and see the facilities. It’s really important that school leavers attend Open Events so they can feel whether it’s the right place for them.

The type of questions that we always encourage school leavers to think about whilst attending Open Events are; Is this the right environment for me? Could I spend two years studying with this lecturer? Do they offer the right support services for me? How well do people do on these courses and where do they go afterwards?

Career Coach

If a school leaver doesn’t know what it is they want to do, our Career Coach is the perfect tool to help them. Career Coach comprises plenty of helpful resources for school leavers, including a CV builder and quizzes which can help them match their skills and interests to possible careers. If they know what they would like to do, Career Coach can also work in reverse to tell them what qualifications they will need to achieve their goal.

You can take a look at our latest

Student Voice magazine here.