Post 16 – Next Steps
In the UK, you must remain in education, employment, or training until you are 18. Given the huge range of possible Futures options, there is something to suit everyone.
After you complete Year 11, there are two categories of next steps:
Further Education:
- A Levels
- T Levels
- Technical & Vocational Qualifications
- Applied Qualifications
Work & Learn:
- Apprenticeships
- Traineeships
Watch this short video for a description of each option:
Further Education Options
A Levels: An academic qualification similar in style to GCSEs that prepares you for further study.
T Levels: A technical study programme with an industry placement that is equivalent to 3 A Levels.
Technical & Vocational Qualifications: Qualifications that teach you how to do tasks specifically related to the industry you want to be in.
Applied Qualifications: Qualifications that combine academic studies with practical skills to give you an overview of working in a sector.
Work & Learn Options
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a job where you earn and learn at the same time while working towards a specific qualification. It’s an increasingly popular next step. Last year there were over 300,000 new apprentices in the UK, taking the total number of apprentices to over 700,000.
The top six industries to hire apprentices last year were:
- Business, Administration & Law
- Health, Public Services & Care
- Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies
- Retail & Commercial Enterprise
- Construction, Planning & The Built Environment
- Information & Communication Technology
Traineeships
A traineeship gives you the opportunity to see what a job is like before you take one of the next steps above.
You will build your CV, gain work experience, get a guaranteed interview, receive work preparation training, and support with English and maths.