Post-16 Choices

My friends are all taking it. There is plenty of time to spend with your friends out of lessons and their company will not be enough to keep you smiling through two years of a subject you hate.

My parents want me to take it. Your parents know you well and you should respect their opinion but remember, it is you, not them that will have to sit through around 500 lessons over two years.

I need it to do X. Ok so this is not necessarily a terrible reason but remember, courses and careers have prerequisites for a reason.  You will need those skills and/or subject knowledge in your future job. If you dislike the subject that much, are you sure you will enjoy the career? 

I got good GCSEs in it. Your GCSE grades are a reasonable guide to your abilities and interests but remember that some subjects change a lot between GCSE and A-Level. Being good at GCSE does not guarantee that you will do well at A-Level or that you will enjoy the course content. It might be a good idea to have a look at an A-Level textbook and see what you think of the topics.

If you have a shortlist of possible careers saved in the portal then there will also be a tab suggesting different post-16 options. Remember to pay attention to the warning triangle or question mark. This tells you that there may be other subjects or skills you will require if you wish to pursue a certain career.

A-Levels are an academic qualification that are good preparation for university or for some school leaver programmes. Typically you would take three or four A-Levels over two years. These may be combined with an EPQ, as for most Monktonians or with AS-Levels, which Monkton do not offer. Some courses include coursework content but all will involve some exam based assessments. Most subjects will assessed entirely by a set of terminal exams.

T-Levels are a new technical qualification in subjects such as accounting, construction, engineering and media. They combine work based and classroom based learning. Typically you would take a single T-Level over two years and be assessed through a combination of coursework, portfolios and examinations. One T-Level is considered equivalent to three A-Levels. Monkton do not offer T-Levels but some local institutions such as Bath College do.

Technical and Vocational Qualifications  can be taken at levels below GCSE up to A-Level equivalents and above. They vary in duration and assessment methods but are designed to prepare you for a specific area of employment in areas such as social care, catering or IT. You can find out more about NVQs and other vocational qualifications here

Apprenticeships combine practical on-the-job training with classroom based learning. About 80% of your time would be spend in the workplace and you will be paid while you work and study. Subjects are wide and varied from accounting to cyber-security and business administration. You can complete apprenticeships at intermediate, higher, advanced or degree level. Entry requirements vary depending on the industry and level of qualification. Higher levels of apprenticeships will often require A-Levels and are an alternative to a degree rather than a post-16 option. Some traditionally graduate employers such as PWC and EY are now using degree apprenticeships as a major recruitment tool. You can find out more about apprenticeships here