Post-18 Options

Throughout your time in our Sixth Form you will have the chance to meet with our independent and impartial careers adviser, Kathy Wittet [email protected]

Students also have weekly scheduled enrichment lessons that involve meeting employers and finding out about their degree apprenticeships and are also given 1:1 sessions on how to apply to university through UCAS. There are also trips to several universities and bursaries to help students who meet the relevant criteria.

Actions students can take to help them plan their future

• Research career ideas and focus on interests (see links below)

• Think about the course / training and the learning environment that would best suit them

• Find out about entry requirements

• Attend University Open Days

• Be realistic about the grades they are likely to achieve and have a back-up plan

• If unsure what to do next, start by doing a careers interest quiz that matches skills and interests to jobs (UCAS careers quiz or CareerPilot) or do a short, fun personality test like Buzz Quiz which helps people to understand their strengths

• Explore job roles linked to favourite subjects here

Researching Career Ideas

• Career Pilot - a good careers website to help students plan their future
• Prospects – careers advice and quizzes for students wishing to progress to higher level qualifications
• National Careers Service – all age careers information, advice and guidance platform

Higher / Degree Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a job with training. Apprentices are employed and they get paid. They have a contract of employment and are entitled to holiday pay. They may go to college or other learning environment one day a week working towards a nationally recognised qualification which will give the apprentice the skills and knowledge needed to do the job. They can take between one and 6 years to complete depending on the level.

To search and apply for an apprenticeship account at the Government apprenticeship vacancy site here. You can also search degree apprenticeships on the UCAS website by clicking here.

You can also find lots of information at Amazing Apprenticeships.

University

You can apply to most degree courses through UCAS. All the information on courses, different universities as well as how to apply can be found on their website:

https://www.ucas.com/

All our students are offered help with filling out their university application by our Sixth Form staff.

Other options

For students wishing to pursue other routes after school, there are options at both further education colleges in their higher education departments:

City of Oxford College Higher Education Department

https://oxford.activatelearning.ac.uk/courses/higher-education/

Abingdon and Witney College Higher Education Department

https://www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/undergraduate-professional/

There are also alternative options on the Not Going to UNI website

https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/