Parents

Parent Guides

Learning about post 16 options, career opportunities and the job market in general is not just for pupils. The Careers Team are also available to help parents and guardians to support their children with their career planning. For more information you can email woodlands@woodlandsschool.essex.sch.uk or telephone 01268 282146 and ask for Mrs Kelly Robertson.

https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/resources/parents-guide
https://www.talkingfutures.org.uk
https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/careers-advice-for-parents
https://www.parentalguidance.org.uk

By Law a young person must stay in Education, Employment or Training until they are 18 years old.

Post-16 the options:

There are a range of routes and qualifications that your child can opt for.

Post-16 pathways:

The academic route: These are A-Levels. Pupils will normally choose 3 subjects, sometimes a 4th, and study these over 2 years. Each subject assesses at the end of the 2 years with an examination. Pupils can then continue onto higher education at university, study a degree level Apprenticeship or move into the world of work. A-Levels can be studied at colleges, 6th Forms and Grammar schools.

The vocational route: these include a range of qualifications including BTECs and NVQs. This route enables pupils to pick one subject or industry. Courses are mostly coursework based however may include a form of examination. These are offered mostly by colleges; however, some 6th Forms may offer BTECs.

Apprenticeships: this is work based learning where pupils spend 20% of their time in college learning and 80% in the workplace. If your child is interested in an Apprenticeship they should register on the Government website: www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are offered based on the level of experience and qualification.

	Level	Equivalent qualification level
Intermediate	Level 2	GCSE equivalent
Advanced	Level 3	A-Level
Higher	Level 4, 5, 6 & 7	Foundation degree or above
Degree	Level 6 & 7	Bachelor's or master's degree

T-Levels: these are an alternative to A-Levels, Apprenticeships and other 16 to 19 course. They are the equivalent to 3 A-Levels and focus on vocational skills that can help young people into skilled employment, higher study or Apprenticeships.

How to support your child in the post-16 process:

Attend our post-16 careers event held in September of Year 11. There will be a range of providers from local 6th forms, Colleges, local businesses and industry who offer Apprenticeships.

Attend as many college and 6th form open evenings with your childs as you can. These begin in late September/October.

Spend time with your child researching the subjects and courses on offer. It is important to keep options open in the early stages of finding the right post-16 destination and choices. Your child must know the entry requirements for the courses they are applying for and ensure they are on track to achieve these grades when sitting their GCSE examinations.

Ensure your child has applied for their chosen courses ahead of the deadlines. Some will be as early as December.

Levels of qualifications:

6th Forms:

The Appleton School info@theappletonschool.org
The Basildon Upper Academy https://www.basildonupperacademy.org.uk
Beauchamps Sixth Form mainoffice@beauchamps.essex.sch.uk
The Billericay School info@billericayschool.com
The Bromfords School office@bromfords.essex.sch.uk
The King John's School kjs@thekjs.com
The Fitzwimarc School info@fitzwimarc.com
Mayflower High School educate@mayflowerhigh.essex.sch.uk
Westcliff High School for Boys office@whsb.essex.sch.uk
Westcliff High School for Girls generalenquiries@whsg.info
St. Bernard's High School office@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
Shoeburyness High School office@shoeburyness.secat.co.uk
St. Thomas More High School office@st-thomasmore.southend.sch.uk
The Sweyne Park School admin@sweynepark.com
Southend High School for Girls Girlsoffice@shsg.org
Cecil Jones enquiries@ceciljones.net
Southend High School for Boys enquiries@shsb.org.uk
Chase High School chasehigh.school@chasehigh.org
Belfairs Academy enquiries@belfairsacademy.org.uk
Chelmer Valley High School school@chelmer.essex.sch.uk
Chelmsford County High School for Girls office@cchs.co.uk
Greensward Academy contactus@greenswardacademy.org
The King Edmund School adminoffice@kes.essex.sch.uk
Shoeburyness High School office@shoeburyness.secat.co.uk
St Bernard’s High School office@stbernards.southend.sch.uk

Colleges:

USP College www.uspcollege.ac.uk
South Essex College http://www.southessex.ac.uk
Writtle University College http://www.writtle.ac.uk
South Essex College Southend learning@southessex.ac.uk

Chelmsford College https://www.chelmsford.ac.uk/

First Intuition https://www.firstintuition.co.uk

Apprenticeships:

www.amazingapprenticeships.com
www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
www.thelightbulbapprenticeships.com
www.seetec.co.uk
www.southessex.ac.uk
www.nationalapprenticeshipweek.co.uk