Student Careers Hub

What is the difference between a-level and vocational courses? One of the main differences between a BTEC and A Levels is the way students learn and are tested.

A Levels mainly involve two years of study with exams at the end, whereas BTECs are assessed throughout the two years through a combination of tests, coursework and practical projects.

Level 2
The entry requirements for Level 2 BTEC courses vary from college to college. Generally, Level 2 applicants are expected to have at least 3 GCSEs at grade 3

Level 3
As with A Levels, students generally need at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, to include English and Maths, to study a Level 3 BTEC.

Progression
Plenty of universities and higher education colleges will offer places onto degree and degree-level courses to students with 18 unit BTECs. If you opt for a 12 unit BTEC, most higher education courses will require you to have an A Level or AS Level as well. It’s all down to the individual institution and course, so it’s worth checking what level and combination of qualifications you might need if you already have an idea of what you want to study after Level 3. Many of our students go on to prestigious universities, while others enter the world of work and complete further study for degree or higher level apprenticeships

A-Levels
A Levels (Advanced Level qualifications) are a U.K subject-based qualification for students aged 16 and above. They are usually studied over the course of 2 years, and lead to qualifications recognised for entrance to higher education institutes in the UK and many others worldwide. Most higher education institutes require a minimum of 3 subjects.

Students choose which A-level subjects they want to study when they are doing their GCSEs, and admission is usually dependent on your GCSE grades.

You generally need at least five GCSEs at grades 4-9 / A*-C to be able to take A-level subjects. Sometimes you also need a 5 / B or above at GCSE in the subject you want to take at A-level. But this varies depending on the school or college you’re going to so make sure you check this.

You usually study three or more A-levels over two years and they are assessed by a series of exams.

Further links to help guide you on A-Levels and vocational courses…

Not sure what to do after A levels or sixth form? | Ucas – Click HERE
Thinking about uni? | Undergraduate | UCAS – Click HERE
Further education and skills: Apprenticeships – Click HERE
GMHigher – Young Persons Guide to Higher Education – Click HERE

What is an apprenticeship? An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable experiences.

Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

Apprenticeship Levels

There are four different levels of apprenticeship:

• Intermediate – equivalent to five good GCSE passes.
• Advanced – equivalent to two A-level passes.
• Higher – equivalent to the first stages of higher education, such as a foundation degree.
• Degree – comparable to a Bachelors or Master’s degree. Find out more at degree apprenticeships.

Length of Apprenticeships

The length of your apprenticeship will depend on a number of factors, such as the level of the apprenticeship, your chosen sector, employer requirements and your individual ability.

That being said, apprenticeships will usually last between one and six years. Their length follows a basic framework:

• Intermediate apprenticeships typically last between one year and 18 months.
• Advanced apprenticeships are usually studied over two years.
• Higher and degree apprenticeships take three-to-six years to complete.

Who can apply for an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a great paid work opportunity for people over the age of 16 in England who are:

• Early in their career
• Looking to upskill in their current job
• Looking for a career-change
• Not in full-time education

Where to Find an Apprenticeship

To search and apply for an apprenticeship in England please visit the links below;

Find an Apprenticeship – Click HERE
Amazing Apprenticeships – Click HERE
Degree Apprenticeships – Click HERE
Apprenticeships – Click HERE

 

Labour Market Information (LMI) is a useful tool to help students to research future careers/job in the local area, understand the skills needed for certain roles and the demand for future employment.

The labour market information for lifelong guidance is defined as information about the following items:

• Labour market profile and trends including employment, unemployment and earnings outlooks by sector, occupation. Data should be available at a national, regional and local dimension where statistically reliable information and non-disclosive data are available. Basic principles of labour market regulation, laws and labour market policies.
• Trends in skills, including skills needs and mismatches, skills gaps, together with current and future skill demands. The regional and local dimension should be included if statistically reliable and non-disclosive information is available.
• Information on occupations including information on skills requirements, educational background, interests. working conditions, skills shortages, pay and earnings.
• Entry and progressions routes into and through occupations including job vacancies.
• Entry and progression routes in education and training in order to gain skills for an occupation, or bridge a skills gap for a desired occupation.
• Career planning information on where to find information and assistance.
• Equal opportunities and diversity issues (support measures), and changing workforce profile.

Why is the LMI so important to our students?

LMI is pivotal to effective careers practice because high quality, impartial, current, expert knowledge about the labour market distinguishes careers support from other types of helping. It can also help when thinking about what the future might hold, so can support career decision making. In summary, LMI provides the knowledge and understanding of how the labour market functions and is crucial for making sense of changing economic circumstances. It can also help when thinking about what the future might hold, so can support career decision making.

Click HERE to watch the video “National Careers Service – Labour Market Information”

Useful Links for LMI Information

LMI For All – Click HERE
Careers of the futurel – Click HERE
Bridge GMl – Click HERE

NCS – A youth programme like no other. Designed especially for 16 and 17 year olds, the NCS experience will give you a clearer idea of what you want from your future.

On NCS, you’ll mix with a new crowd, and take on fresh challenges together. Before you know it, you’ll be rooting for each other, as you all tackle your own little hurdles. Along the way, you’ll also get a taste for independence and pick up skills that’ll help you smash your future goals. And if that’s not enough for you, you’ll also be given a platform to have your voice heard and pursue a passion project. The NCS experience might last just a few weeks, but the impact? That lasts a LOT longer. Over 500,000 people have already done NCS – want to join them?

Want to make this summer one you’ll never forget? Register for NCS today and get ready to meet a bunch of new mates, learn life lessons, skills and hacks, get your voice out there, and push yourself to new limits…in the best way possible!

Click HERE to register for NCS.

The National Careers service provides careers information, advice and guidance. They can help you and your daughter make informed choices on learning, training and work at all stages of your career.

Click HERE to learn more about the National Careers Service.

Deciding what’s next for you and your academic career is one thing that may be playing on your mind. Open days provide a vital insight into those next steps, helping you to find the place where you’ll be studying over the coming years.

Discover All You Need to Know

That first day at college/6th form is just as daunting as your first day at Flixton Girls, but with the knowledge gathered at an open day students are given the confidence and clarity they need to thrive from day one. Open days provide all you need to know about student life at your new college/6th form.

Most open days run workshops and activities for prospective students and their parents to discover more about the courses on offer, giving you the information you need to decide which vocational or A-Level subjects are right for you. If you’ve already decided on the courses you’d like to pursue, open events are still worth attending.

Meet Tutors and Students

There’s nothing more informative than listening to the experiences of students who are already studying. As well as being given the opportunity to view student work and demonstrations, you’ll get to meet current students and the tutors who teach them, and may even teach you in the coming years. Student ambassadors will also be on hand to give you the lowdown on student life at the college/6th form.

Take a Tour

Touring the facilities available at college/6th form is another benefit of attending an open day. You’ll get to see first-hand where you’ll be studying, and get to grips with the logistics of travelling to, from and around campus. Some colleges/6th forms have more than one campus, so be sure to find out which locations your shortlisted subjects will be studied at, and explore! Take a tour of the surrounding area too, you may just find some hidden gems to spend those lunchtimes and free periods.

Make the Most of Your Open Day

There’s no doubt that college/6th form open days provide parents and students with a taster for their potential college of choice. Making the most of your open event however is the key to making an informed decision about where you will continue your education. “It’s a good idea to think of some questions to ask – maybe about particular courses, the routine and timetable, length of classes, free periods, study facilities, numbers in a class, exam results, social events or opportunities to get involved in clubs, sport and drama.”

 

Sixth Form Students Look at Universities

Sixth form students who are starting to look at university will benefit from the following link as it names all university open days.

Click HERE to learn more about university open days.

T Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses, which launched September 2020, have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study.

T Levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days)

When they will start?

The first 3 T Levels are now available at selected colleges, schools and other providers across England.

A further 7 T Levels will be available in September 2021 with the remaining courses starting in either 2022 or 2023.

Click HERE for a list of the providers who are offering T Level courses up to September 2022.

How T Levels will work with other qualifications?

T Levels will become one of the main choices for students after GCSE alongside:

• Apprenticeships for students who wish to learn a specific occupation ‘on the job’
• A levels for students who wish to continue academic education.

The Government is currently reviewing post-GCSE qualifications to create a simpler, high-quality system that students, parents and employers will all understand.

T Levels are based on the same standards as apprenticeships, designed by employers and approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute). We expect the total time for a T Level to be around 1,800 hours over the 2 years, including the industry placement. This is a significant increase on most current technical education courses.

This differs from an apprenticeship, which is typically 80% on-the-job and 20% in the classroom and is more suited to those who know what occupation they want to pursue, want to earn a wage and learn at the same time and are ready to enter the workforce at age 16.

Click HERE to learn more about T Levels.