Activity 3: Pathways Practice Activity 3: Pathways Practice
This next activity gives you the opportunity to think about the pathways that you could take to certain career fields.
If, like these learners, you have a particular career pathway in mind, you can plan your next steps to make sure that you meet any entry requirements along your way. Each of these learners below is thinking about their futures and wants to work out which qualifications they need to complete to start their dream career, including whether they should go to university. You’re going to help them choose which options to take. Here’s what to do:
1. Read the speech bubble by each character to find out what their dream career is.
Options Booklet
Pick one bullet point from each heading
Optional GCSEs:
• Food technology, Drama, History
• Art & Design, French
• Music, Geography, ICT
• History, Geography, Spanish
• PE, Drama, Music
We’ve completed Jamal’s profile for you below to show you what to do.
2. Have a look at our ‘Options Booklet’ and decide which options in this booklet would be best for them to take in Key Stage Four (GCSEs), after school (post-16) and then if they need to go to university, what course they should take.
3. Remember to think about what entry requirements these pathways may have. You could research this on: UCAS’s Careers Advice page or the National Careers Service. Make sure you pick options that will enable them to access their chosen career pathway.
Optional GCSEs: Geography, French, Music, English Literature
Post 16 Option: A Levels
University: YES/NO Course: Primary Education
Optional GCSEs:
Post 16 Option:
University: YES/NO Course:
Post 16 Options:
• A Levels
• Chef Apprenticeship
• BTEC/A Levels
• Level 3 Course in photography
(Level 3 Extended Diploma)
University Courses:
• Primary Education
• Sports & Exercise Science
• Culinary Arts Management
Optional GCSEs:
Post 16 Option:
University: YES/NO Course:
Hello! My name is Alex and I want to be a chef.
Alex ai. file needed
What does ‘entry requirements mean? Some university courses and career pathways may have entry requirements. These are the minimum expectations that you would need to meet to be considered for that course or job. These requirements are to make sure that you have the right skillset or foundation of knowledge to be successful in your studies or work.
Hi! I’m Jamal and I want to be a primary school teacher.
Hi! I’m Elena and I want to be a photographer.
Hey! My name is Jamie and I want a career in exercise science.
Optional GCSEs:
Post 16 Option:
University: YES/NO Course:
Optional GCSEs:
Post 16 Option:
University: YES/NO Course:
Still unsure about entry requirements?
Entry requirements vary lots so it’s impossible for us to list them all. Here are some examples:
• Nursing degree at the University of Winchester: passes (9-4) in English Language and Maths GCSEs; preferable to have studied a science or social science and have a grade C (A-level) or Merit (BTEC/CTEC/Access) - BN (Hons) Nursing (Adult) - University of Winchester)
• Geography A –Level at Andover College - five GCSEs at grade 9–4, including a grade 5 in Maths, English and a Science subject. BTEC Level 2 qualifications considered in subject related courses
• Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science at BCoTfive GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and maths, or a relevant Level 2 qualification.
Researching entry requirements for pathways you’re interested in means that you can choose the right qualifications to progress towards your dream career, if you have one. It’s important to remember that these are minimum expectations. Achieving beyond them gives you a better chance of standing out if there are lots of applicants and could be useful for further down the line.
Hello! I’m Gabrielle and I want to be a chef but don’t want to go to university