Guidance for Post-16

All scholars need to be in education or undertake an apprenticeship until they are 18 years old. It’s the law. What pathway will they choose? 6th Form Comprehensive, 6th Form Grammar, College or embark on an Apprenticeship?

As your child enters Year 11 it’s time for them to start thinking about their next steps beyond the AGFS family and their transition from KS4 into KS5 with a post-16 provider for the following academic year. During Autumn Terms 1 and 2, scholars in Year 11 need to start visiting the various post-16 providers' Open Evenings and start applying to their chosen post-16 provider.

During the post-16 process scholars will be asked to attend an interview with their chosen post-16 provider. This is part of the application process and gives the post- 16 providers not only an opportunity to meet the scholars, but for scholars to ‘sell’ themselves. In the 'interview support' section below you will find details of the types of questions scholars may be asked in order for them to prepare.

In order for scholars to commence researching into the variety of sixth forms, colleges and the courses they have to offer, including how to apply for a sixth form place along with their GCSE entry requirements, we have linked key resources for parents, carers and scholars to explore in the 'resources' section below.

If you are not quite sure what post-16 pathway you want to follow or you’re undecided on your career pathway, UCAS will provide you with a variety of options for you to explore and research.

Sixth Form: Sixth Forms are set in secondary schools and generally focus on Level 3 courses (A-Levels, BTEC courses and/ or the International Baccalaureate (IB)). Sixth Forms tend to follow the same systems of a secondary school, including following the same ethos or code of conduct and regular communication with parents/carers on such things as attainment and attendance.

Colleges: Colleges are generally bigger than Sixth Forms and host a wide range of vocational courses (courses that are linked to specific career pathways). Colleges offer both Level 2 and Level 3 courses in a variety of subjects. So, depending on whether scholars receive a good set of GCSEs will determine which level they would be able to study. Generally speaking, if a scholar receives GCSE grades 4/5 and above, scholars would be able to do A-Level 3 course and if they receive GCSE grades 3 or below scholars would be able to do either Level 2 (or even Level 1 if that’s on an option in said subject/course).

Apprenticeships: The apprenticeship route is the ‘earn while you learn’ route. Scholars apply for specific job roles (for example, electrical engineer, plumber, child care). They will be involved in learning the field through work and will also either attend college one day a week or complete in-house training, depending on the company. The length of the apprenticeship is dependent on many factors including the level of the apprenticeship. Post-16 scholars will generally apply for A-Level 1, 2 or 3 apprenticeships, depending on their GCSE grades – often known as an advanced apprenticeship. Scholars who have completed Sixth Form will tend to apply for a higher-level degree apprenticeship. The higher the level, the longer the apprenticeship. Please note, most apprenticeships require scholars to secure a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths.

Research your chosen 6th form: Within the 'resources' section below there are useful documents that provide parents, carers and scholars of AGFS details of the most popular Post-16 providers in Greenwich and the surrounding Boroughs and their website addresses. This can be used for scholars to commence research into the variety of Sixth Forms, Colleges and the courses they have to offer, how to apply for a Sixth Form placement and the GCSE entry requirements.

Scholars can also use the Bexley Borough document Post-16 Directory 2022-2023 to support their search for many of the local or reachable Kent Grammar schools for the next stage on their education. Additionally, scholars can use the Unifrog platform to access a range of resources which will support your investigations into the workplace and many of these resources will be focused on specific career choices and industry sectors. In Unifrog, look at the ‘Know-how Library’ section for these resources - here.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an academic programme regarded as a good alternative to A-Levels, and appropriate if you are thinking about university. It's taught in 143 countries around the world and has two levels of study for students aged 16-19.

This is an academically challenging programme with final examinations that prepare students for university and working life. You choose one subject from each of five groups – including two languages (English and one other), social sciences, experimental sciences, and mathematics. You also choose either an arts subject from a sixth group, or another subject from groups one to five.

The programme includes:

• an extended essay based on your own research and in-depth study, focused on one of the subjects you are studying
• theory of knowledge focusing on critical thinking and learning across your chosen subjects
• creativity, action, service enhances students' personal and interpersonal development – combining a range of activities alongside academic study to engage in the arts and creative thinking, physical activity, and service in the community

Additionally, both Bexley Grammar School (link) and Dartford Grammar School (link) have online resources which could prove very useful.

Where can A-Levels take me?

A-levels often lead to university and, if you’re strategic about the subjects you choose, can lead to a fairly broad range of degree subjects. Alternatively, they can lead straight to work, either via an entry-level job or an apprenticeship.

Investigate careers you might enjoy before finalising your subject choices for A-Level or the IB. It’s not necessary to have a definite career plan, so if you’re not sure what you want to do, that’s absolutely fine. However, it’s good to leave doors open to careers you might want to pursue.

Look at the routes into careers that catch your interest. They may be more flexible than you think. For example, if you want to be an accountant you can do so with any degree or A-Level subjects (or equivalent) – there’s no need to study maths, economics, or business studies unless you feel like it. And you don’t even have to go to university if you don’t want to.

However, for other careers you need specific subjects. For example, if you want to become an engineer then you need maths A-level or equivalent, and usually other science subjects such as physics too in order to get onto an engineering degree, degree apprenticeship or a higher apprenticeship.

Which A-Level subjects should I take?

Choose the best A-Levels, or International Baccalaureate (IB) options for your future, whether you want to take a degree or get a job straight after school or college.

Careful consideration should be made when deciding your A-level subjects; asking yourself the following questions is a good place to start:

• 'Where could my A-Levels take me?’
• ‘What combination of IB subjects should I choose?’

Everyone’s keen to give advice on choosing A-Level subjects, or International Baccalaureate (IB) options but it’s important to make the right choices for you.

You can put yourself in a strong position for the future even if you’re not yet sure what career, degree course or type of apprenticeship interests you by choosing facilitating subjects and subject combinations that will provide you with strong foundations into a variety of career pathways, thus keeping your options open. These include English Literature, Maths and Further Maths, Sciences, Classical Languages, History, Geography and Modern Languages.

If you are unsure which career pathway the subjects you are currently studying at KS4 or would like to study at KS5 can take you, the following My Learning, My Future subject choices booklets will provide scholars with an informative background to support their choices and career pathway.

If you’re looking into alternatives to A-Levels, it’s likely that BTECs are on your radar. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of BTEC qualifications compared with A-Levels? And will a BTEC get you into university?

What’s the difference between BTECs and A-Levels?

BTEC qualifications start to prepare you for a specific career, whereas A-Levels aim to give you a solid academic grounding in a given subject. However, some BTECs can be quite academic too, depending upon the subject and the specific modules that your school or college chooses to teach. BTECs revolve around coursework and often work experience. A-Levels are much more classroom-based and tend to be assessed largely via final exams.

Are BTEC’s easier than A-Levels?

Don’t choose a BTEC expecting an easy life. The top-grade D* is treated as equivalent to an A* at A-Level and the bottom grade P is equivalent to an E (a pass at A-Level). You’ll also have to work very steadily throughout your course due to the continuous assessment methods. BTECs certainly aren’t the lazy way to an equivalent grade in the same subject.

There may be a subject that you personally would be very good at that’s available as a BTEC but not as an A-Level. If this is the case, you might find a BTEC easier due to the good match between you and your subject.

To figure out whether you’d find a BTEC easier than A-Levels, think about what works for you personally in terms of teaching and assessment style, and what motivates you. These are likely to have a significant effect on the grades you get.

Where can a BTEC take me?

After completing a BTEC level 3 course, you can either look for work immediately (whether as an apprentice or in an entry-level job) or go to university before starting your career. BTECs are more practical than A-Levels and include plenty of work experience, which should help give you the skills and knowledge that employers in the relevant career area look for. If you choose to go to university, and haven’t taken A-Levels as well as a BTEC, it will probably be to study a subject that relates to your BTEC and is vocational (focused on a specific career – eg nursing or business studies) rather than academic.

A-Levels vs BTEC – are you ready to specialise?

One key difference between BTECs and A-Levels is that BTECs are very focused on a particular career area. A-Levels are broader qualifications that could lead in a number of different directions. Are you comfortable deciding on your future career now, or would you prefer to keep your options open?

If you take a BTEC level 3 Extended Diploma you won’t have much study time for anything else, so be sure that the subject you choose is the field you want to work in. Taking the Diploma would typically allow you to squeeze in an A-Level too, broadening your options slightly; the Extended Certificate plus two A-Levels might suit you better if you’re attracted to the idea of a BTEC but don’t want to make a firm career commitment at this stage.

If you’re ready to specialise and choose a BTEC, it’s worth researching whether there will be many relevant jobs available locally – even if you plan to go to university first. If not, are you happy to move to another part of the country?

Advantages and disadvantages of BTEC qualifications

If you’re ready to decide your career direction, prefer practical learning to lots of theory and do better in continual assessment than exams, then a BTEC could be a good fit for you. However, if you want to keep your options for careers and/or university study as open as possible, A-Levels may be the best bet.

More information can be found here (link) about BTEC qualifications.

T Levels: What they are?

T Levels are new 2-year courses which are taken after GCSEs and are broadly equivalent in size to 3 A-Levels. Launched in September 2020, these courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for entry into skilled employment, an apprenticeship or related technical study through further or higher education.

T Levels offer students practical and knowledge-based learning at a school or college and on-the-job experience through an industry placement of at least 315 hours – approximately 45 days. The courses are available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England and are being gradually rolled out. The first 3 T Levels launched in September 2020, with a further 7 introduced in September 2021. In September 2022, an additional 6 T Levels will be launched, with the remaining 7 beginning in September 2023.

More information on which providers offer T Levels can be found here.

If your son or daughter is interested in starting work and they are keen to learn some skills and gain qualifications, then an apprenticeship could be the right option for them. On an apprenticeship, they study for qualifications while working and they learn the skills they need for the job they are doing.

To start an apprenticeship, your child must be 16 years old or older, eligible to work in the UK and not in full-time education. There are three levels of apprenticeships for young people with average GCSE grades through to those with A-Levels or an Advanced Diploma.

Unifrog is an ideal support if you are considering an apprenticeship – this platform gives you all the information you need, and it is an outstanding source when searching for opportunities whether your search is based on industry sector, location or more specific career paths.

Apprenticeship Benefits

There are lots of benefits to doing an apprenticeship. Apprentices can learn while they earn and in a way that is best suited to them. As an apprentice they will:

• earn a salary.
• get paid holidays.
• be paid while attending college.
• receive training and gain qualifications and potentially be able to progress to Degree level.

What could an Apprenticeship lead to?

At the end of an apprenticeship, most apprentices are kept on by their employer as they have invested a great deal in their training. It is only fair to note however that this is not guaranteed.

Apprenticeships can be demanding but they are also very rewarding. They train you in the skills employers want so they give you choices in your career. It is possible to move on to the next level of apprenticeship and those who have completed an Advanced or Higher-Level apprenticeship could move on to Higher Education and study for a Foundation Degree, an HND or other higher level qualification including a Degree Apprenticeship, or a normal Degree.

• Post-16 Options
• Post-16 Research via the Royal Borough of Greenwich
• Career Alchemy Apprenticeships
• Information on Apprenticeships via UK Government
• Q&A regarding Apprenticeships
• UCAS Options Exploration  

Website Disclaimer – Scholars, parents and carers are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Ark Greenwich Free School or the Ark Academy Trust. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of these sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply endorsement of the views expressed within them or a recommendation to sign up with them.

AGFS encourage and expect our scholars to attend several post-16 open events in order to support them with researching into their chosen post-16 provider for KS5.

Below are the known up and coming post-16 open events for scholars to attend for the post-16 progression 2022-2023, along with the deadline date that Y11 scholars will need to submit their post-16 applications by. The list below is based on the 20 most popular chosen post-16 destinations in 2023.

This page will continually be updated when further events are known by AGFS, so if your chosen post-16 provider event/application deadline date is not listed below, please check back later. However, it is the responsibility of Y11 scholars to check with their chosen post-16 provider for this information. *

Please be advised that scholars should only attend events that are held outside of the school day, after 15:00 Monday - Friday.

• AGFS will not be held responsible for any changes to destinations’ open event details and application deadline dates listed here. Scholars must check these when researching destinations.