Post GCSE options – what’s available and how to decide what’s right for you.

Whether you have just completed your GCSE’s, or you are prepping for next year’s exams, considering your future can be a daunting task, but what exactly are your options when you finally finish your exams????

In the UK, you’re expected to stay in education until you are 18 years old, but this doesn’t mean your only options are college or Sixth Form. In the 2021/22 academic year so far, there have been a whopping 288,000?people starting?apprenticeships?throughout England.??

?What is an apprenticeship???

Apprenticeships allow young people to achieve qualifications whilst working and earning money. They typically last between 12 and 24 months and unlike college or university, there generally aren’t many qualification-based entry requirements.?Your training plan will cover off-the-job training delivered by experienced and qualified Tutors either face to face or virtually, plus teaching and?learning?that?happens through on-the-job training?delivered by work mentors, line managers and?in-house trainers.?

In short, apprenticeships can give you the skills, knowledge and behaviours to build a successful career in a supportive and practical setting. In England, there are apprenticeships for over 1,500 job roles, which means you are almost guaranteed to find an exciting and fulfilling position to suit your interests.?

What are the main benefits of taking on apprenticeship rather than going to college?or Sixth Form???

1. Less pressure to achieve particular exam results before you start.???

If you didn’t pass your exams, you can still thrive in an apprenticeship environment. There generally aren’t any minimum entry requirements for an apprenticeship, you just need to have passion and a willingness to learn.???

2. Learn in a supportive and highly-skilled environment.??

Learning on?and off-the-job means you are surrounded by industry experts; you also have your expert apprenticeship Tutors to go to for support and guidance.?

3. Earn money.??

Apprenticeships allow you to earn a wage whilst you are working and studying!??

4. Gain experience as well as qualifications.

During an apprenticeship, around 80% of your time will be spent working and roughly 20% will be spent studying so you’ll have plenty of time to really get to know the industry you have chosen to work in.?As you progress in your career you will have a head start on others that may have taken a more traditional route. You will be ready for promotion before they are and when looking for a change of employer you will have more experience which is what employers want!??

What’s it like to be an apprentice???

Apprentices are hardworking, determined and passionate about what they do. You will need to juggle study time, assignments and exams, with a paid?job.??

Apprenticeships are an opportunity for young people to earn a wage whilst they learn, and to build confidence in their workplace whilst pursuing their chosen career path.?Watch a video interview with one of our childcare apprentices, Olivia here.?

How to decide what’s right for you.???

Think about the following questions:??

1. Do you work better in a hands-on, practical environment??
2. Is your chosen career something you need a real work environment to really learn???
3. Did you struggle in a classroom environment and feel you need a more diverse setting to learn in???
4. Do you want to go straight into working at least?30?16?hours per week????

If the answer to those questions is yes, then taking on an apprenticeship almost certainly the best route for you.??

How can we help??

We are a specialist UK training provider who have been offering fulfilling apprenticeships in the UK for over 10 years and have helped hundreds of young people to start their careers in Childcare and Early Years Education, Hairdressing, Beauty and more. Get in touch to find out more about our range of apprenticeships:?[email protected]?