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Schools and education

School and college leavers

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

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 enrichment programmes across a range of areas.

For further information, visit:

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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.

BTEC Awards, Certificates and Diplomas (Level 2 and 3) are 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.

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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

T Levels are 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.

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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

Apprenticeships are 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

NVQs 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 - you build up evidence of what you've done at work; and by observation - an assessor watches you work and checks that you can do the tasks

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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.

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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 13 to 19 of the 2023 to 2024 Post 16 Pathways guide.

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Open days

To find out more about open days from local sixth forms, colleges and universities, please visit the following websites.

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Helping you decide

General support

You can find support in York from:

  • our 2023/2024 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
  • 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
  • Barclays LifeSkills
  • 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

York Apprenticeships help guide you through the benefits of doing an apprenticeship in York and the support which is available.

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
  • Success At School - a national careers website for students aged 11 to19, as well as teachers, careers advisors, parents and other influencers

Higher education

See advice and support for going into higher education:

T Levels

See government T Levels advice:

Volunteering

A number of organisations offer volunteering advice:

Raise York

Providing information and support to parents, carers, children and young people:

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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:

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Further support for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Visit the York SEND Local Offer to find out more about:

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Also see

Skills Team

West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA
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