Now is the time to start thinking about what you are going to do after your GCSEs. We can help you understand what your options are to help you choose the right path for you.
You can leave school on the last Friday in June, if you will be age 16 by the end of the summer holidays.
Then you can choose to do one of the following options until you are 18:
- stay in full-time education, for example at a college or sixth form
- start an apprenticeship
- spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training
If you are, or support a young person in year 9 and above with SEND or an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan in Cornwall. Take a look at our dedicated pages for tailored support.
Explore the options
A-Level qualifications are level 3 qualifications and are well recognised and valued by employers and universities. They offer a great route into further education, higher education, and employment, but other options include vocational qualifications, such as T-Levels and Apprenticeships.
You can study A Levels in certain schools, sixth form colleges, or at further education colleges. See our list of where you can study in Cornwall.
To study A Levels, most schools and colleges will expect you to have good GCSE grades. Requirements can vary, so it is best to check with your chosen educational establishment.
It takes 2 years of study to achieve a full A Level qualification. How many A levels you study will depend upon how you have done in your GCSEs and what advice the school or college give you. Some students may study 4 A levels, most will study 3.
Some schools and colleges still offer AS qualifications, but you will need to check with each separately. It might also be possible to combine studying A Levels with a vocational qualification.
A Levels are graded A*-E, and all are pass grades and gain UCAS points towards entrance to higher education. UCAS have a useful tariff points calculator on their website for different qualifications.
If you decide to do A Levels, you can still do an Apprenticeship at a later stage.
Baccalaureates are broad programmes of study, combining academic subjects with components designed to develop skills. Truro and Penwith College offer the International Baccalaureate - a qualification that is available throughout the world.
Vocational qualifications include the new T-Level qualifications. Level 3 vocational qualifications are available in a wide range of subjects and offer a mix of theory and practice and some, like T-Levels, will include work experience. Most level 3 vocational qualifications will be full-time courses.
They can be studied instead of, or sometimes alongside A Levels. Many will be awarded UCAS points, but it is a good idea to check on the UCAS tariff points calculator to check what a course is worth, especially if you are thinking about applying for a higher education course in the future.
For vocational qualifications, the assessment is less exam-based, and more coursework and project focused.
More options
For T Levels you will spend 80% of your time in the classroom and 20% on a minimum 9-week placement with an employer. Meaning you will learn what a real career is like while you continue your studies. A T Level is worth the same UCAS points as 3 A levels.
Currently, there are 18 different T-levels covering a wide range of sectors and interests like agriculture, accounting, construction, engineering and manufacturing, digital, education and childcare, health, and healthcare science, legal, management and administration and science.
Not all colleges or training providers will offer the full range, or have started to deliver T Levels, so it’s best to search for what is available locally.
An apprenticeship can be a great choice, as you will learn about a job area, get paid whilst you are studying. It is also likely you will be offered a permanent job by your employer when you successfully complete your training.
There are various levels of apprenticeship, and hundreds of apprenticeship standards to choose from and you can find out more in our Apprenticeships section.
If you do choose the work/voluntary work route after you finish school at 16, this will involve you working towards a nationally recognised qualification as well as being employed, self-employed or volunteering for 20 hours or more a week.
It is best to thoroughly discuss this option with a careers adviser and a parent/carer. Ensuring this route can meet your needs, now and in the future, provide the right opportunity for future employment and further training.
