Careers Guidance
The Learning to Work CIAG and Future Focus programme will bring Information, Advice and Guidance to life.
Through a series of sessions, the Future Focus process will:
Inform you about education, training and career opportunties
Encourage you to think about your future possibilities and to aim high
Motivate you about your achievements in school and beyond
Depending on your school you will also engage with local business volunteers to give you real-life business perspective
This will put you in good stead for the next chapter of your lives, be that further education or employment. Remember, every employee was once in your position, wondering how on earth they were ever going to have the right knowledge and skills for work!
To prepare you for your 1-2-1 meeting, take a look at what our Career Advisors have to say during our Work Ready Club.
Special Educational Needs (SEND)
SEND students and those with an EHCP should speak directly to education providers, as your further educational options and entry requirements may vary.
6th Form
What do I need to Study?
You can normally study three or more A levels over two years, and they are usually assessed by a series of examinations. Some 6th Form’s also offer Level 3 BTEC courses which are the equivalent to A Levels, these can sometimes be combined with A’ levels. A BTEC is a practical-based, vocational qualification which can be studied at school. They provide the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a field or subject, are a viable alternative to the more theory-focused, classroom-based ways of learning. Some 6th forms will also offer Level 2 BTECs giving the opportunity to re-take GCSE English and/or Maths if required
Entry Requirements:
To gain entry to School Sixth Form you must fulfil the average point score and GCSE English and Maths requirements outlined on the pathways table as well as the entry requirements for the subjects listed. If there are no extra requirements mentioned for a subject, then you will have to meet the entry requirements stated.
Sixth Form Schools
Reading/Wokingham Schools
Sixth Form Schools
Buckinghamshire
RBWM (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead)
Slough
Bracknell/Reading
Greater London
Hampshire
Further Education (FE) Colleges
These colleges will have multiple Open Events throughout Year 11, dates will be stated on their websites.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships don't follow the same application and deadlines as applying to 6th form or uni. The deadline is down to the employer and you apply to them directly, you are not restricted to one apprenticeship application either.
Some basics:
You can start at the level best suited to your stage of learning, the job you’re applying for and the apprenticeship standard the employer wants to use.
Each apprenticeship vacancy gives the entry requirements and qualities the employer is looking for.
For higher and degree apprenticeships, employers generally ask for A levels and other Level 3 qualifications. Also check the job description for any skills and specific qualifications needed.
You can search for apprenticeships and their entry requirements on platforms like https://careerfinder.ucas.com/
As an apprentice, you must receive at least the apprenticeship minimum wage (MW) of £4.81 per hour – and after your first year, the minimum wage for your age group. Most employers offer more than the minimum though – they want the best people for the role, just like you want the best role for you. Here’s a complete guide to apprenticeship wages and finances - https://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships/money-funding-and-finance-apprenticeships
Apprenticeship Links:
If you are interested in an apprenticeship, you can use the websites below to research apprenticeships in more depth, create accounts where applicable, search and apply for any opportunities you are interested in.
The Decision Making Process
Every student will have a different idea about what they want to do: perhaps you have a burning ambition already, or maybe you are undecided. Here are some links that may help you in your decision-making process:
University
If you have any ideas about Higher Education courses you might want to study, it’s worth doing a bit of research now:
Check entry requirements for any courses you're thinking about – these may mention specific subjects or qualifications you'll need, as well as any grades you'll need to get.
Universities and colleges may also list entry requirements using Tariff points. https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/entry-requirements/ucas-tariff-points
Compare course content – even courses with identical titles can vary, so if you’ve got an idea of what you'd like to study, compare the details by browsing subjects in the UCAS undergraduate search tool or the university's own website.
Great websites you might wish to use are The Uni Guide or Complete University Guide these give a rounded, unbiased opinion of the universities and give great course guides.
The Basics:
Think about going to open days and events. Don’t be shy, contact universities directly and ask questions.
Remember look at the details of any courses you want to study to check if there are any specific qualifications you will need.
If you're applying through your school/college, please check their deadline, and follow these timescales to get your application in on time. This gives them enough time to read your application, check you've entered your qualifications correctly.
Makes sure you write and attach your reference and submit your application.
Some course providers require additional admissions tests to be taken alongside the UCAS application, and these may have a deadline. More information can be found on https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/ucas-undergraduate-when-apply
2025 Entry Application Deadlines:
30 April 2024 – 2025 entry courses will be shown in our search tool.
14 May 2024 – you can start your undergraduate application for 2025 entry courses, but you cannot submit it to UCAS until 3 September 2024.
15 October 2024 at 18:00 (UK time) – deadline for any course at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or for most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry. You can add choices with a different deadline later, but don’t forget you can only have five choices in total.
29 January 2025 at 18:00 (UK time) – deadline for the majority of courses.
Also refer to the link for information on the application process with tips and information about how and when to apply:
Additional Resources
Medical Schools Council - https://www.medschools.ac.uk/
Want to study Medicine? Find out what what you need to know, including GCSE requirements & admission tests.
Gap Year
Benefits of taking a Gap Year
A gap year can give you an advantage when you are applying for jobs or courses.
Some of the advantages include the opportunity to:
Think about your career plans
Travel and experience other cultures
Earn money to support yourself in future study
Improve your CV by doing work experience
Get skills you cannot learn in a classroom
Become more mature, focused, and motivated
Activities to do on your gap year
You should choose activities to build the skills you think you’ll need in your future career. Popular skills include teamwork, leadership, problem solving and independent learning
Depending on your circumstances you could:
Get a paid job
Volunteer or find work experience
Do a year in industry placement
Travel or work abroad
Learn a language or take online courses
Resit your exams
Improve your applications
You can enhance your personal statement or job applications by describing your gap year in the right way
The key to a successful GAP YEAR is planning ahead and there re plenty of website s that could help you.
You might like to start with:
Employment
What Job Westsites can I look at?
There are numberous sites that you can use, a few are listed below:
Where else can I look?
Linkedin - Set up and maintain a LinkedIn profile and apply for vacancies advertised on the site
Search and apply for vacancies via employers’ own social media - Facebook, Instragram, TikTok
Recruitment Agencies
Local Newspapers
Job Fairs
Networking
LMI
Labour Market Information (LMI) varies by region and provides insights into the present state of employment and job conditions.
LMI showcases the abundant career prospects within the county, shedding light on the diverse opportunities available.
It simplifies the complexities of the workforce by presenting information in easily understandable segments.
LMI plays a crucial role in fostering social mobility. It empowers young individuals to comprehend the opportunities within their region and guides them in making informed decisions regarding their future career paths
Want to know Where the work is, try this interesting link "Where the work is"
It will allow you to browse: -
mid-skilled job prospects by location
which occupation groups have the most openings
which occupations are most promising?
Useful Websites:
National:
Local:
Skillsometers
Skillsometer is a freely available widget provided by the LMI for All service. Skillsometer has been designed for those who are not sure what jobs they may be interested in. Thinking about skills, interests and the ways these can link to jobs can be a helpful first step in identifying possible future jobs. Users take the quiz, which requires them to reflect on a number statements and decide what they love, are not sure about or dislike. The statements are presented within six well established occupational categories (Artistic, Realistic, Investigative, Conventional, Enterprising, and Social), which are then ranked against jobs. Once the user has completed the quiz they are given a short list of job suggestions that are most likely to be suited to their own particular skills and interests. Each job can be explored as a description is presented together with information on pay and hours.
Careerometers
To explore your career further, Careerometers can be used to explore and compare key information about occupations, help you learn about different occupations and identify potential careers.
Careerometers provides access to a selection of UK headline data relating to pay, weekly hours of work and future employment prospects for different occupations, as well as a description of the occupation.
Simply type in the title of the job you are interested in and the widget provides a series of options from which you can select the most relevant to you. You can then look up another two occupations and compare. You can also select ‘display the UK average’ and compare the information with the occupation you have selected.
Want to know Where the work is, try this interesting link "Where the work is"
It will allow you to browse: -
mid-skilled job prospects by location
which occupation groups have the most openings
which occupations are most promising?