Options at 16+ Throughout most of my articles on this website you will hear me waffling on about ‘choices’, ‘opportunities’, ‘decisions’ and ‘planning’.  So you won’t be surprised to hear that this article revolves around the same theme.  Your options at 16+ are extremely important to your future.

The good news is that you have lots of options to choose from:

Do I stay or do I go?

One of your decisions will be whether to take an academic route which usually takes place at school or college and may include retaking your G.C.S.E’s, or studying for AS Levels or A Levels.  There are lots of qualifications available so check out the previous article ‘Qualified in Qualifications’.

Schools may ask you to write a letter or complete an application form if you want to stay at your school or join a different school.  Check out their prospectuses for details or ask your Tutor or Careers / Connexions Adviser for help.

There is also the vocational route which usually takes place at college or with a training provider and some schools are also starting to offer vocational qualifications.  These courses may include NVQ’s, GNVQ’s, BTEC’s.

Colleges will want you to apply by completing their application form and possibly invite you for an informal interview.  If you are choosing a popular college course you will need to get your application form completed by Christmas.  If you are accepted on a course you will then have to register.  Check out their prospectus for more details or ask your Tutor or Connexions Adviser for help.

Whatever you choose, you will need to talk to a Connexions Adviser or Tutor about what you want to do in the future.  This will be very important as to what qualifications or route you need to take to get there.

Show me the money!

If sixth form or further education (college) is not for you, you might be considering getting a job and earning some cash.  This is another point at which you still have options.  You will find that job opportunities are limited.  Unfortunately you won’t be offered a Managing Directors position after completing your GCSE’s because you won’t have the skills, experience and knowledge to do the job.

You could consider employment with training.  This means:

This allows you to experience a work environment (find out what it’s like in your chosen area of work), earn money or a training allowance and gain valuable skills and qualifications.

You could find a job that requires no qualifications and offers ‘quick cash’, but what happens in a couple of years time when you want to earn more money or apply for other jobs. If you haven’t gained any new skills or qualifications, will you be in a better position than when you left school?

There is a lot of information and advice available to help make your decisions.  Speak to your Tutor at school, speak to your Careers / Connexions Adviser or drop in to your local Careers / Connexions Centre.  Check out websites, many Connexions Service websites have links to local schools, colleges and training providers, job vacancies and also have information on your options at 16+.  Some Careers / Connexions Services have a freephone telephone helpline offering information on a range of local training and learning opportunities.

Further information about options at 16 can be found from:

Think about your options now and you’ll have less stress later!