Leaving school or college and wondering what your next steps could be?
The good news is that there are many different opportunities in York to help you learn, grow and earn, and there are plenty of resources available to help you make your decision.
- Academic Qualifications
- Vocational, Sector-Related, or Applied General Qualifications
- Technical or Job-related Qualifications
- Work-based Qualifications
- Higher Education Level 4 to 7
- Below Level 2
- Additional Pathways for Students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
- Open days
- Helping you decide
- Further support for care-experienced young people
- Further support for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Academic Qualifications
Focused on in-depth study of subjects. If you want to continue studying your favourite subjects in-depth at a sixth form, college or other provider or if you’re thinking about university.
A Levels Level 3
A key route into higher education for degrees or degree level apprenticeships.
You will typically choose 3 A Levels which are available in a wide range of subjects across the city; for example history, maths and sciences to more applied subjects such as business, media studies and IT. They are usually studied at the same time over two years. Alongside your chosen A Levels, you will have opportunities to undertake activities that expand your learning beyond the subjects you’re studying (these are known as enrichment programmes and can cover a range of areas).
For further information, visit:
Vocational, Sector-Related, or Applied General Qualifications
If you’re interested in a particular sector or industry, but not sure what job you’d like to do and would like to develop transferable knowledge and skills. They are available in a range of sizes which are equivalent to one, two, or three A levels and can enable entry to employment, an apprenticeship or a range of higher education courses. These are typically more coursework based.
BTEC Awards, Certificates and Diplomas (Level 2 and 3)
Equivalent to one, two or three A Levels. They combine practical learning with subject and theory content, helping you to develop transferable knowledge and skills and depending on which level you do, can lead on to higher level study, entry to employment or an apprenticeship.
For more information, visit sixth form and college websites to see which courses they offer.
Technical or Job-related Qualifications
If you would like a course that's more practical, includes some work experience, or you already know what type of job you want. There are many types of technical qualifications in a wide range of subject areas and levels. They enable entry to employment or an apprenticeship in that occupational area, or progression to a related further or higher education course.
T Levels Level 3
Equal to 3 A Levels. They provide a mixture of classroom learning and an industry placement of approximately 315 hours as a route into work, further study or a higher apprenticeship.
Examples of local T Level courses include Agriculture, Animal/Equine Care and Management, Beauty & Barbering Leadership & Management, Building Services Engineering for construction (Electrical Installation), Building Services Engineering for Construction (Plumbing), Construction Design, Education & Early Years, Engineering & Manufacturing: Design & Development, Hair, Health, Surveying & Planning, and more.
For more information, visit college websites to see which courses they offer.
Technical Certificates/Diplomas Level 2
These give you the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge and skills to cover jobs where employers recruit people with specific level 2 qualifications, as well as jobs where you need to have a level 2 qualification before you can progress to level 3. Typically, they are more exam and coursework based, and are often used alongside re-takes of English and/or maths qualifications and will be designed to support you to progress to higher level study such as T-levels or apprenticeships.
Work-based Qualifications
If you know what sector or organisation you’d like to work in, or want to gain transferrable skills that employers value.
Apprenticeships Level 2 to 7
A great way to learn while you earn and provide a paid job with training, working alongside experienced staff and gaining job-specific skills.
You usually start on Level 2 or 3 (equivalent to GCSE or A Level) and could progress up to Level 6 or 7 (bachelor’s or master’s degree level).
You benefit from off-the-job training to improve your skills and knowledge to help you perform better in your role. You complete a portfolio, formal assessments, qualifications and examinations or projects. Apprenticeships often lead to progression in employment or to university.
See more information about apprenticeships in York.
NVQs Level 1 and above
These can be taken by school and college students with a work placement or part-time job* that enables them to develop and demonstrate the appropriate skills employers need. They are assessed in a combination of ways: portfolio and observation.
* if you are aged 13-16, your employer must obtain a child employment permit from your local council.
Higher Education Level 4 to 7
You can progress to Higher Education (HE) with a range of qualifications, including A Levels, BTECs, diplomas and apprenticeships.
York has 2 Further Education and Higher Education colleges
York has 2 universities:
These settings offer a wide range of HE courses, both academic and work-based, including degree-level apprenticeships and foundation degrees.
Below Level 2
If you’ve left Year 11 but aren’t quite ready to progress to a level 3 qualification, then Foundation Learning could be for you.
Foundation learning is an individual programme, to help you focus on your own specific needs, e.g. personal and social skills, confidence building, reading, writing, numeracy and digital skills. Programmes include vocational learning and skills development and can include a range of vocational options of various durations or supported internships.
For more information, see pages 21 to 23 of the 2024 to 2025 Post 16 Pathways guide*.
* the information within this guide was correct at the time of publication (October 2024) and may therefore be subject to change.
Additional Pathways for Students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
Local, specialist providers are offering further education, tailored learning and work experience programmes, Supported Internships and Supported Employment programmes.
More information is available on the York SEND Local Offer website for post-16 provision and Supported Internships, or see pages 41-51 on the 2024-25 Post 16 Pathways Guide*.
* the information within this guide was correct at the time of publication (October 2024) and may therefore be subject to change
Open days
To find out more about open days from local sixth forms, colleges and universities, please visit the following websites.
- Askham Bryan
- Secondary school contact details
- University of York
- York College
- York St. John University
Helping you decide
General support
You can find support in York from:
- our 2024/2025 Post 16 Pathways guide* provides young people, parents and carers with information on local options available after Year 11, including additional/specialist options for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. *The information within this guide was correct at the time of publication (October 2024) and may therefore be subject to change.
- Your school - teaching staff will be able to support you with your next steps
- Careers Advisers employed by our schools
- UCAS has resources and information on careers, apprenticeships and university including quizzes, so you can explore which one is right for you
- Admissions teams at York College and Askham Bryan College
- York Mind can support anyone who is particularly worried about their results and next steps. You can contact them by email: office@yorkmind.org.uk or telephone: 01904 643364
Apprenticeships
You can find further information from:
- Apprenticeships in York
- Apprenticeship and Technical Education Information and Resources (Amazing Apprenticeships)
- National apprenticeships advice (GOV.UK)
- Apprenticeship information from UCAS
Careers
Careers advice and resources:
- Career Map - up-to-date labour market information and career support on apprenticeships, courses and graduate programmes
- Skills for Careers - Start exploring your training and career possibilities or get help working out your options
- National Careers Service can help with local employment and training opportunities
Higher education
See advice and support for going into higher education:
- Office for Students - official website to help compare information on universities
- Student finance for undergraduates - including a calculator to provide an estimate of support you could receive
- UCAS - courses, tuition, institutions, applications and deadlines
T Levels
See government T Levels advice:
Volunteering
A platform to search for local volunteering opportunities.
Raise York
Providing information and support to parents, carers, children and young people:
Further support for care-experienced young people
If you're a care-experienced young person and you require support with your next steps, you can speak to your Specialist Learning and Employment Adviser, or your school careers lead.
The following resources are useful for care-experienced young people:
- Apprenticeship Bursary (GOV.UK)
- Higher Education Bursary (Care Leavers' Association)
- Apprenticeships guide for care experienced young people and care leavers (Amazing Apprenticeships)
- Care Leavers Factsheet (Care Leaver Covenant)
- Leaving care (The Prince's Trust)
- Local Offer for Care Leavers
- National Network for Education of Care Leavers
- Support for care leavers (University of York)
Further support for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Visit the York SEND Local Offer to find out more about:
- Post-16 education options
- Supported Internships
- Preparing you for work
- Specialist Learning and Employment Adviser Team - helps young people with Education, Health and Care Plans to take their next step towards employment by providing advice and guidance on how to access appropriate education, training or employment opportunities