Reach out for Support

Information For Students

Looking ahead to your future can be quite a daunting task, especially when we live in a world where there are so many different options for your education and career. But starting to think about your career and what you want to do at an early age is important to ensure you make the right choice for you.
 
Why should I start thinking about my career at a young age?

 

Explore Your Options

When you’re young, you have time to figure things out, try out different options, and see what you’d be interested in. Making a decision when you’re young isn’t always easy, but it gives you the time to find out what you’re passionate about and what you’re not passionate about

Make Better Decisions

Expecting to know what you want to do with your life at a young age and making a decision that will influence your career path is a heavy burden to carry. However, when you start thinking about your career at a young age, take part in extracurricular activities and workshops, as well as learn new skills, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to be able to make a better decision

Enhance Your Skills

One other advantage of taking an interest in your career at a young age is that you manage to enhance your skills, giving you an edge over many others.

Be Able To Make A Career Shift

While starting young might sound unnecessary to some, it is a great opportunity to experiment and it gives you a chance to change your mind without time being an issue. When you think about your career at a young age, you have an idea about what your options are and this gives you the benefit of trying different things out and focusing on your future. However, it is also a great opportunity to make you realise early on if you’ve made a wrong decision; you will still have the chance to make a career shift without worrying about throwing your life away by starting from scratch.

 

So what actually are your options for the future…?

 

Year 9: GCSE Options

When you are in Year 8, you will be asked to choose subjects which you want to take for your GCSEs. This is the first big step in your career pathway and can be a trick decision. Have a look at the link below to learn more about how to choose the best GCSEs for you.

 

BBC Bitesize

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrjh92p

Careerpilot:

https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/information/gcses/choosing-your-gcsespct.co.uk/ 

Academy 360 Options Booklet

green_pathway_booklet.pdf

blue_pathway_booklet.pdf

yellow_pathway_booklet.pdf

Year 11: Post 16 Options

Once you finish your GCSEs at the end of Year 11, you then need to decide what your next step is, and again, this is a big decision.

Your main choices are:

  • Academic qualifications (e.g. A Levels)
  • Vocational qualifications (e.g. BTECH)
  • Apprenticeship

Local colleges, 6 Forms and Independent Providers are listed below:

 

A lot of research and thought needs to be put into this decision as this is potentially the next 2 or 3 years of your education. Have a look at the links below for more information on your options and how to make the best decision for you.

 

Careerwave Choices at 16:

https://www.careerwave.co.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Choices-at-16-FINAL.pdf

Careerpilot:

https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/information/your-choices-at-16/help-with-choosing-your-post-16-options

Knowing what you want to do or be in the future is one of the most difficult decisions you’ll ever make. It can also play a huge role in how happy and successful you are as most of your days are spent at work. To help you make an accurate decision, starting early, exploring your options, and getting to know yourself will have a huge impact on the outcome.