Sixth Form Guide to Post 18 Pathways

It is at this time of year where we encourage Year 12 to start to finalise their Post 18 pathway so that they can start preparing to complete their applications. It is an incredibly daunting task and we find that some students can become an ‘ostrich’. They know they have a decision to make but they feel that if they ignore it, it will just go away! These students are usually still trying to choose their pathway in October and November of Year 13 and will often rush to complete an application to university, just because everyone else that they know has chosen this pathway. This can sometimes lead to them choosing the wrong course or institution and sometimes these students will not complete their first year. This causes distress to the students and their parents and is a situation that can be avoided if students engage in the sixth form tutor programme and work with their personal tutor to complete their post 18 application in a timely manner.

Our aim is to empower students to make the right decision for them and to ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to make a decision. This process involves teamwork between the student, parents and school. Students need to have the confidence to realise that they can apply for more than one opportunity and make a final decision, once they have received their A Level and Vocational results.

The purpose of this special edition newsletter is to provide you with all the information you need, in one place, to support your son/daughter in choosing the most appropriate pathway for them. In addition to these resources, students will be provided with a range of opportunities during the Personal Development and registration programme, for example they will hear from a range of apprenticeship and higher education providers alongside companies that organise gap years. They will also all experience a mock job interview before they complete their work experience programme in July. Please take some time to read the information that has been provided and listen to the videos that staff, ex-students and different organisations have prepared, so that you are ready to support your son/daughter with their Post 18 applications. Students will also be supported in school by their tutor who they meet with every morning.

We hope you find this information informative and we welcome any feedback that you may have. Please contact sixthform@jths.co.uk if you have any questions.

What are my options at 18 years old?

Click on the following links to explore all of your options at 18 years old:

• Doing a higher education level course – either full-time, part-time or by distance learning, at a university or a college; 
• Doing an Intermediate, Advanced, Higher or Degree Apprenticeship;
• Getting a job that offers training;
• Doing a vocational course at a Further Education College
• Taking a year out (a gap year)

For further information on your options explore this section of the UCAS site: https://www.ucas.com/what-are-my-options