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Options after Year 11

Options after Year 11

In Year 11 you will be busy taking exams and choosing what to do next. Check out our Year 11 calendar to find out what happens when.

To help you with your choices, you could think about what subjects you like, the type of learning that suits you best and how you would like to carry on studying. Whatever you decide to do, it should include some type of education or training. Your choices are to:

Learn full-time at school sixth form, sixth form college or a further education (FE) college
Start an apprenticeship or another type of job with training
Start work in part-time employment plus part-time training or study
Start self-employed work plus part-time training or study
Do voluntary work plus part-time training or study

What if you're not ready for further education or work?

How to prepare for post 16 interviews

Full-time education

You can stay in full-time learning at school sixth form, sixth form college, or further education (FE) college. Find out as much as you can about the schools and colleges that offer the courses you like by reading their prospectuses and going to open days. Visit our qualifications page to find out more about the different types of qualification on offer including A Levels and BTECs.

Check out UCAS Progress for details of courses and apprenticeships.

Find out about transport arrangements for sixth form or college.

Find out about 16 -19 finance to help you afford to stay on in education.

Apprenticeships

If you choose this kind of work-based learning you can work towards a qualification, learn new skills, get on the job training and earn money all at the same time. Apprenticeships are jobs with recognised training and qualifications. Many employers train their workers through apprenticeships. There are over 200 different types of work you can get apprenticeships in.

Apprenticeships can include taking a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), Key Skills qualification and technical certificates such as BTEC or City and Guilds.

Some apprenticeships are run by colleges or other training providers, who pay your wages, train you, and match you to a suitable company to get experience in the workplace. Apprenticeships run in this way don't necessarily guarantee an ongoing job at the end of the apprenticeship training, so make sure you understand what is on offer when you accept a place.

Most apprentices earn a salary set by their employer. There is a minimum wage of £2.65 per hour (£2.68 per hour from 1 October 2013) for apprentices aged under 19 or those in their first year. When you're 19 or over and past your first year you get the National Minimum Wage rate that applies to your age.

More about National Minimum Wage rates on GOV.UK

For more info on apprenticeships check out our About apprenticeships page.

Foundation Learning

Training on a Foundation Learning programme can help you to get ready to do an apprenticeship, or to go in to work or further learning. For more info check out our Foundation Learning page.

Applying for courses or apprenticeships

You can apply for a course on the Leicester and Leicestershire Common Application Process form (LeCAP). If you are in Year 11, 12 or 13 you should be able to fill in an electronic LeCAP form at your current school or college. If you are no longer at school or college and you live in Leicester, visit our centre where you can get help to apply.

You can search and apply for apprenticeships in the same way as other jobs, but you also have the National Apprenticeship Service website to help you. You can register for vacancies and apply for apprenticeships on their website.

Go to www.apprenticeships.org.uk.

Preparing for Post 16 interviews

Going on to Level 2 courses at college – giving it your best shot! - Leaflet

Your Post 16 interview - Powerpoint guide

Guaranteed offer of a course, apprenticeship or other learning in September

If you’re aged 16 or 17 and coming towards the end of a school or college course, the ‘September Guarantee’ means that you’ll definitely be able to continue learning. Everyone in this age group due to leave education is guaranteed an offer of a place on an appropriate course. The offer can be of:

Full or part-time education in a school 6th form, 6th form college or FE college
An apprenticeship
Foundation learning

The offer must meet your needs, so it will have to take account of the qualifications you already have, be somewhere that you can travel to, and the sort of learning you want to do. If you live in the city, our advisers can help you find and apply for a suitable course, apprenticeship or other learning opportunity.

Starting work

School-leavers can start work or training full-time after the last Friday in June. If you live in Leicester and you haven't found a job or apprenticeship by this time you can see an adviser at our centre. We can help you to find a job or a training place.

If you find a job that doesn’t offer any training you also need to continue in education at least part-time. If you're 16 or 17 your employer should allow you some paid time off work to study or train for a qualification that will help you in your future career. Sometimes your employer might put you on an apprenticeship when you have worked for them for a while and proved you've got the motivation and ability to progress.

Sixteen and 17 year-olds at work should get the National Minimum Wage. You must be paid at least £3.68 an hour (£3.72 from 1 October 2013), unless you are an apprentice, when the minimum is £2.65 an hour (£2.68 from 1 October 2013).