Post 16 Options

Explore Ideas

There are thousands of options for your future which is very exciting but also can feel quite overwhelming. So what can you do? The first thing to do is be as informed as you can be and do some research. There are some good online resources that help you do this:

• GMACS | Inspire, Explore, Apply | The Greater Manchester Apprenticeship & Careers Service- a website designed to help young people in Greater Manchester explore and plan their future career options, including apprenticeships and other post-16 study and training opportunities.

• Careerpilot : Plan your future work & study– activities to help you explore choices and pathways.

• icould - Career ideas and information for your future – lots of videos of people in a range of jobs and shows how school subjects can connect with careers.

• Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service – information on nearly 1000 jobs.

Your options:

You can leave school on the last Friday in June, as long as you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays. Once you have left, there are 3 main pathways you can take:

• stay in full-time education

• start an apprenticeship

• spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, alongside part-time education or training

Work experience - If you have some ideas for your future, and even if you don’t have any clear ideas, one of the best things you can do is to gain some work experience. Many schools in Bury offer work experience opportunities

Speak to your careers adviser – all schools in Bury give students the opportunity to meet with a careers adviser. Speaking to a professional careers advisor can help you make sense of your options and plan for a future that is right for you.

For more information: PfA Other Options

Full time education

If you decide to stay in full-time education, you could study subjects, a more practical and knowledge-based course or more technical or vocational studies.

Some careers may require specific qualifications, so it’s best to research the option you're interested in and where it can lead.Your full-time education options include:

• A levels which you can do at sixth form college, further education college or a University Technical College

• Vocational Technical Qualifications (VTQ) such as BTEC or Cambridge technical

• T Levels which you can do at further education college

You can look through all of your training options, or get further help and advice on the Skills for Careers website. If you have not got the results you expected or need, you still have options and there's plenty of support for you. You can get advice and support if you want to resit an exam

For more information visit our College and Sixth Form page.

Starting an apprenticeship 

Apprenticeships are real jobs which combine work with training and study. You can apply for an apprenticeship whilst you’re still at school. You’ll earn a wage, gain a qualification and experience and can put what you learn into practice. In some cases, you may be offered a job at the end of your apprenticeship. You can find out more about apprenticeships on the Skills for Careers website.

Or you can visit our Apprenticeships page.

Training 

There are small training providers who offer courses to help you with personal development, job skills, and basic skills. These courses can be taken at any time of the year, unlike most college courses that usually start in September. If you have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), you might consider supported internships.

Volunteering 

Volunteering after leaving school may not be paid work, but can help you to gain valuable skills and experience which will look great on your CV or university application and help you decide if that industry or role is right for you. There are also some opportunities to earn a qualification whilst volunteering. Read more about volunteering to see if it's right for you: Volunteering advice | National Careers Service