It’s never too early to start exploring the different options for your future.  Here is some helpful information and videos that will support you in making your next steps decisions.

In the UK, you must remain in education, employment, or training until you are 18.  Given the huge range of possible Futures options, there is something to suit everyone.

After you complete Year 11, there are two categories of next steps:

Further Education

• A Levels

• T Levels

• Technical & Vocational Qualifications

• Applied Qualifications

Work & Learn (link to section)

• Apprenticeships

• Traineeships

Watch this short video for a description of each option: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_xAQNNi4pA

A Levels – An academic qualification similar in style to GCSEs that prepares you for further study.

T Levels – A technical study programme with an industry placement that is equivalent to 3 A Levels.

Technical & Vocational Qualifications – Qualifications that teach you how to do tasks specifically related to the industry you want to be in.

Applied Qualifications – Qualifications that combine academic studies with practical skills to give you an overview of working in a sector.

Sixth Form or College? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDlD_se44g4

How to choose your A Level subjects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHKFrXMCHII

What are T Levels? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rua65bHjMw

Aldridge Education has four locations that offer further education: Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio and the UTC@MediaCityUK.

See which pathways your local Aldridge FE providers have to offer:

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy College

• A Levels

• Level 2 Qualifications

• Level 3 Vocational Qualifications

• Construction Centre

• Specialist Academies

˗ Cricket

˗ Football

˗ Table Tennis

˗ Media

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy

• BiTE Faculty (Business & IT)

• Creative & Performing Arts

• English, Languages & Media

• Humanities

• Mathematics

• Science

• Sports & Nutrition

• Each pathway offers both A Level and BTEC options

Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio

• Creative Digital Media

• Health, Social & Child Care

• Technical Digital

UTC@MediaCityUK

• Film & TV

• Interactive Media & Gaming

• Digital Design

An apprenticeship is a job where you earn and learn at the same time while working towards a specific qualification.  It’s an increasingly popular next step.  Last year there were over 300,000 new apprentices in the UK, taking the total number of apprentices to over 700,000.

The top six industries to hire apprentices last year were:

1. Business, Administration & Law

2. Health, Public Servies & Care

3. Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies

4. Retail & Commercial Enterprise

5. Construction, Planning & The Built Environment

6. Information & Communication Technology

What is an apprenticeship? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8lTA-k5_4A

More details and top tips for applying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXWBQ420T8U

Search for an apprenticeship: https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

A traineeship gives you the opportunity to see what a job is like before you take one of the next steps above.  You will build your CV, gain work experience, get a guaranteed interview, receive work preparation training, and support with English and maths.

What is a traineeship? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii5NwdI_c74

Find a traineeship: https://www.gov.uk/find-traineeship