How Do I Choose What to Do After My GCSEs?
Making the decision about what to do after you finish your GCSE’s can feel overwhelming. There are lots of choices out there for you and narrowing your options down can be difficult. But that’s what’s great about this time in your life: you can be in charge of deciding what you will be studying.
Before you make your decision, take time to think about what you want and what will get you there.
To help you discover the answer, ask yourself these questions. They should allow you to get better understanding of your wants and needs.
- Do I work better practically or academically?
- Do I like learning in school, or somewhere else?
- Do I want to study a range of subjects or focus on one?
- Do I know what job or industry I’d like to work in the future?
- What qualifications do I need to achieve my goals?
What are my course options?
Luckily for you, you’re spoilt for choice. The existing pathways for those who are post GCSE age are the best they’ve ever been. The courses available offer a wide selection of topics to study. The world really is your oyster!
Currently the courses on offer are:
T Levels
T Level courses give you a taste of the working world while you study, offering a mixture of classroom learning and on the job learning. You will spend most of your time in the classroom, but 20% of your time will be in a work placement. Choosing a T Level course would allow you to focus on developing your skills in an industry you’re interested in while also gaining real work experience.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships have been around for a while, but there are lots of options that may surprise you. As an apprentice, you are an employee of the company you work at. With that comes all the perks: pay, holiday and sick leave. But unlike your colleagues, 20% of your time is dedicated to learning. This would account for a day per week, and the rest of the time you’ll be working alongside your team.
A levels
For some, you’ll find you may be more drawn to a more academic pathway. A level would entail classroom-based learning only. Each A level subject you take, could be completely different. If you’re searching for variety in your studies and learn better academically, perhaps A levels are for you.
BTECs
BTECSs are more practical qualifications, and like T Levels you’d pick one area of study. With a BTEC, you do not do any on the job learning. But the learning that you do tends to be more hands on, apart from a few theory based pieces of work. These courses can be done during your GCSEs or even as an additional course to some A levels you’re doing.
Where can I study?
The courses are put on in a variety of different institutions. It all depends on what pathway you choose to pursue. If you’re unsure, these courses are normally on offer at:
- Sixth Form Colleges
- School Sixth Form
- Further Education College
- Training Providers
You may already be attending the school you want to continue studying in. Or you might have a college in mind that offers the right course for you. However, some of you might find the perfect program for you, only to realise it’s quite far away from where you live.
Not to worry! With the Our Pass membership scheme, those aged 16-18 in Greater Manchester, can travel for free by bus within the region. This could make it much easier for you to make a choice based on what you want to do – not just what’s closest!
Every college or training provider has its own range of support facilities. If you’re someone who needs extra support, it’s best to contact your new educational facility directly to see what they can offer you. It’s important to communicate any support needs you have so that the college can cater to any access requirements.
Where do I look?
There are many sources you can use to help you research courses. For a start, you could explore the education and training pages right here on GMACS. Plus, Beeline could help you explore the range of options across GM in the key Greater Manchester Baccalaureate gateways.
If you’re hoping for a more interactive experience, open days and evenings are a good way to discover which college or training provider is right for you. Make sure you find out the dates for when these events are taking place, so you don’t miss them.
Some things to consider…
We understand that this is a lot of information to unpack. Give yourself plenty of time to digest. And when the time does come to apply, you’ll have a clearer idea be certain of on what you want to do next.
Although it may be tempting to follow the crowd, you must put your own goals first. That might mean not doing the same thing as your friends. This can be tough, but in the long run you’ll be better off pursuing what’s right for you.
Talking to someone you trust, can be a helpful way to get clarity on the whole process. Having a clear discussion with your parent or guardian, or the careers support team in your school, gives you the chance so to talk through your options.
And with that, happy course hunting! This is a time to discover who you are – enjoy it.
