Study Options After Year 11

The law requires all young people in England to continue in education or training until at least their 18^th birthday. After completion of your GCSE’s there are many study option available to you.

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships are an exciting alternative to academic study. Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job alongside study. As an apprentice you’ll:

• Have a contract of employment
• Earn a wage
• Have at least 20 days paid holiday per year plus bank holidays
• Work alongside experienced staff
• Gain industry specific skills
• Work at least 30 hours per week in your place of employment
• Undertake paid part time study usually through a mixture of day or block release however this may also include distance or e learning

There are 4 different levels of apprenticeships: intermediate, advanced, higher, and degree and depending on the level they take between 1 and 5 years to complete. Apprentices have equivalent educational levels:

Click here for further information regarding apprenticeships

Full time study

The courses available to you after year 11 will depend upon the GCSE grades that you achieve. GCSE English and Mathematics grade 4-9 are a requirement for all full time courses therefore, if you don’t not have these qualifications you will be require to continue studying them alongside your chosen courses. If you’re not interested in completing an apprenticeship, then the other options available to you are.

• School Sixth form
• Sixth Form College
• College

School Sixth form

School Sixth forms are attached to a secondary school and are available for students ages 16-19 years of age. They traditionally offer level 3 qualifications such as A Levels or BTECs. However, some establishments may also offer level 2 qualifications that after successful completion would allow students to progress onto a level 3 qualification after the first year.

A Levels

A Levels are highly valued by universities and employers; they focus on academic subjects. Students are expected to study three A Level qualifications alongside one another. A Levels are assessed through formal examination at the end of the two-year course. Some courses may involve an element of coursework.

BTEC

BTEC Qualifications are often referred to as vocational qualifications; they are designed for students who are interested in a particular sector or industry. BTEC’s offer a mixture of theory and practice, students are assessed through a combination of formal examinations and coursework completed throughout the two years of study. BTEC’s have an A Level equivalent:

Students are required to study the equivalent of three A Level courses, this can be achieved by studying a combination of A Level and BTEC qualifications

Bradford Schools Sixth forms

Beckfoot Thornton - www.beckfootthornton.org/

Beckfoot School - www.beckfoot.org/   

Beckfoot Oakbank - www.oakbank.org.uk/  

Belle Vue Girls - https://bvgacademy.co.uk/

Bingley Grammar - www.bingleygrammar.org/

Bradford Academy - www.bradfordacademy.co.uk/post-16

Feversham Academy – www.feversham-academy.fetrust.org.uk/for-pupils/sixth-form  

Hanson Academy – www.hansonschool.org.uk

Parkside school – www.parksideschool.net

Bradford Grammar - www.bradfordgrammar.com/sixth-form

Immanuel College - www.immanuelcollege.net/sixth-form

St Benedict’s – www.sbsj.co.uk/st-benedicts 

Titus Salt School - www.titussaltschool.co.uk

Tong Leadership Academy - www.tongleadershipacademy.com

Sixth form College

Sixth form colleges offer the same provision as school sixth forms. However, they are separate from secondary education. They are much larger and therefore offer a greater variety of courses.

Local sixth form colleges

Dixons 6^th Form Academy   https://www.dixons6a.com/   

Greenhead College - https://www.greenhead.ac.uk/

Huddersfield New College - https://www.huddnewcoll.ac.uk/

New College Bradford - https://ncbradford.ac.uk/

Notre Dame Catholic 6th Form College - https://www.notredamecoll.ac.uk/

Trinity Sixth Form Academy Halifax – www.sixth.trinitymat.org 

College

Colleges offer a wider variety of courses that are suitable for learners of all abilities and ages.

GCSE the GCSE’s offered at each college will vary, there is often a large choice of different subjects and all will offer GCSE English and Mathematics

A Levels the A Levels offered at each college will vary, there is often a large choice of different subjects and courses usually take two years to complete.

BTEC’s are related to broad employment areas such as business, IT, engineering or health & social care

Technical Levels: that lead to specific jobs such as hairdressing, plumbing, or engineering.

Courses that prepare people for Higher Education, such as Access Courses

Vocational Higher Education Level courses, such as Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and Certificates (HNCs).

Foundation Courses to develop Maths, English, study skills, confidence and employability. These courses can give students the chance to try out several different vocational areas.

Learning for leisure these courses are usually part-time and often in the evenings. They may involve learning more about a hobby or interest e.g. ceramics, art.

Local Colleges

Bradford College - https://www.bradford.ac.uk

Calderdale College - https://www.calderdale.ac.uk/

Keighley College - https://keighleycollege.ac.uk/

Leeds City College - www.leedscitycollege.ac.uk

Shipley College - https://www.shipley.ac.uk/ 

Kirklees College - https://www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk/

Leeds College of Building - https://www.lcb.ac.uk 

For further information regarding your child’s further education click here