Information for Young People

When you have a job you can earn money which you need to buy food and clothes, a place to live in and things like computers and holidays. You make friends at work and you are happier - if you didn’t work you would get bored.

Don’t worry.

As you learn more at school you will begin to enjoy doing some things more than others and that will help you to choose a career or a job.

We usually think of a career as working in one particular area where you might have to study at university or work your way up to more responsibility and more pay, for example, a teacher or a bank manager. To have a good career you will have thought ahead and made a plan.

You may have many jobs in your career but each one will give you new skills to make you better at your work. Some people just have a job without a plan and this may mean that they not have studied after they left school and probably will not get paid so much.

You should work hard at English and Maths and the lessons you enjoy. Read a lot and do sports activities. You will have to study for three or four years after you leave school.

Work hard at skills. Join a club and perhaps a talent scout will watch you play.

But don’t be disappointed if you are not good enough to be a professional player, there are other sports careers like personal trainers, teachers, etc.

There are lots of different jobs in television. Some people help to make the programmes when they first start work and then get a chance to appear on screen themselves.

At school you should work hard at English, read a lot and see live entertainment and theatre. You will probably choose media studies and go to university first.

Yes, you have to work hard. You must be good at Science, Maths and English. You have to study at university for at least five to seven years and practise in hospital after that before you qualify. You will be the sort of person who likes people and wants to help them. There is a lot of responsibility but it is well paid.

At school work at English and read poems so you get ideas to write your own songs. Have dance and singing lessons and learn to play the piano and guitar. Go to the theatre to see live entertainment.

Be prepared to work hard and to be disappointed when you don’t succeed straight away.

There is very little you can do in your future life and career without an understanding of Maths, English and Science. Lots of young people don’t listen to this and think that these subjects don’t matter and then they find that, when they want to go for a job or training, they are either unsuccessful or they find it really hard until they get these qualifications.

You might as well work now.

That is why these subjects are compulsory at Key Stage 4. To find out more about which subjects are compulsory meaning that you have to take them visit Directgov.  

Some schools also make some other subjects compulsory as well, particularly if they are specialist schools, so read any options information and booklets you are given very thoroughly.

It may be possible to change some of your option choices if you decide that you do not like the subject you have chosen. However the longer you leave it the harder it may be to change your choices. This is because some courses may be full but also there may be too much work to catch up on if you have left this decision for quite some time.

Some courses are fairly easy to pick up later on for example you do not necessarily need a law or psychology GCSE to study these subjects at Advanced Level. However some courses like art, music, sciences and languages for example may be very difficult to pick up later on. Subjects like geography and history may also be difficult to pick up later on. You are obviously at an advantage if you have studied the subject at GCSE Level first. You may need a GCSE in a grade C or above in some subjects in order to progress to studying it at Advanced Level.

Although some subjects can be picked up later on if you have already passed the GCSE , BTEC first certificate or NVQ Level 1, you will have an advantage and probably find the advanced level study more manageable. Subjects like Electronics and the vocational courses - construction, hairdressing and animal care for example, can be picked up after you finish year 1.

The optional subjects you can take in Years 10 and 11 vary from school to school and the range is increasing all the time. Your teachers will tell you what subjects are available; some schools also put this information on their website. You could also find this information if you visit your 14 -19 Prospectus, Futures4Me.

Your school must provide you with access to at least one course in each of four areas. These four ‘entitlement areas’ are:

• Arts (including art and design, music, dance, drama and media arts)
• Design and technology
• Humanities (history and geography)
• Modern foreign languages

You might continue with some of the subjects you already study but there will also be some entirely new subjects to choose from as well.

1. Your school will probably provide you with an Options Booklet or course leaflets - make sure you read these thoroughly.
2. There will probably be a Year 9 options evening in your school, make sure you go to this event and take your parents or carers with you. This will enable you to talk to the individual subject teachers. Make sure you ask them about the types of things you will be studying if you choose their subject. Remember also, that your subject teachers will probably be trying to sell you their particular course.
3. Also ask students in Years 10 and 11 at your school what they think of the courses they are studying.
4. Speak to your brothers and sisters if they are older than you.
5. You can also do some research using magazines like Which Way Now . If you visit Directgov you will find the online ‘booklet' Which Way Now. The 2011-2012 updated version is now available to purchase
   NOTE - the 2011-2012 version will not be available on line and individual copies cost £1.50 with £4.25 postage for orders under 5 copies

You need to read your school options booklet carefully and discuss how subjects are assessed with the relevant subject teachers.

If you prefer coursework and do not like exams then the BTEC first certificate courses may suit you as they are all coursework based. National Vocational Qualifications or NVQs are also assessment based and students produce a portfolio of evidence; there are no exams but there may be some small tests.

GCSEs are both exam and coursework based. Some subjects like history and geography for example tend to be largely examination based about 75% with 25% coursework, whereas other more practical subjects like design technology tend to be more coursework based for example 60% and 40% exam based.

They are all GCSEs but Applied GCSCs (Specialist) or what used to be called Vocational GCSEs are qualifications that:

• Relate to work in a particular vocational area, such as business, ICT or engineering
• Are practical and allow students to learn by doing
• Can be mixed and matched with other GCSEs and a variety of different courses
• Are mainly assessed by coursework.

To find out more you can look at the new Qualifications and Credit Framework.

General or academic GCSEs can be taken in over 45 different subjects and usually involve studying the theory of a subject, combined with some investigative work. To find out more visit Directgov.

No, but you will need to have achieved Level 2 qualifications in order to progress to a Level 3 or Advanced Level course. There are other qualifications which will enable you to progress onto an Advanced Level course. For example BTEC First Certificates, NVQ Level 2 qualifications, The Higher Diploma, OCR Nationals, Level 2 Functional skills. A GCSE at A*-C grade is a Level 2 qualification.

Some courses are fairly easy to pick up later on for example, you do not necessarily need a law or psychology GCSE to study these subjects at Advanced Level. However some courses like art, music, sciences and languages for example may be very difficult to pick up later on. A lot of Sixth Form Colleges will ask for these subjects at GCSE in a grade C or above in order to progress to Advanced Level.

No, not necessarily, lots of young people do not choose their career path until much later than Year 9.

However if you do have a future career in mind then it is advisable to do some research in case there are certain subjects you will need. This site may help you.

A lot of careers just require a certain level of qualification but others do ask for specific subjects. For example medical and veterinary science careers will require you to have studied science and maths. For other careers, like journalism for example, certain subjects are very useful like English. Do some research in your school Connexions Resource Centre or Careers Library. Go online and visit relevant websites including Next Step for job profiles. A new series of articles on the careers page of this website is being developed call 'How can I find out about working in ....?' and you could find this a useful starting point.

Your school will probably provide you with an options booklet or individual course leaflets. These should indicate what future career these subjects are useful for. Speak to your subject tutors, careers co-ordinator and careers adviser if you are uncertain which careers certain subjects might lead to.

If your school has subscribed to software programs called ‘Careerscape’ or ‘u-explore’, then use these to find out which careers you can pursue with certain subjects. Another software program called ‘Higher Ideas’ is very useful for suggesting which Higher Education courses you can study with certain subjects. Your school would need to subscribe to this program though.

It entirely depends on the job or career you choose. 

If you are unsure of your future career aims try to keep your options open by choosing a wide range of subjects. So, for example, do not choose food technology and catering unless you are sure you want to pursue a career in cookery or catering; choose one of these subjects plus another quite different subject area.

Do some research in your school Connexions Resource Centre or Careers Library. Search this website - you could start at your local area.

Find out at this site.

Visit the information on Directgov.

Visit your Connexions library or YSS centre for books and other resources about university life. You can also find out what it’s like at university by looking at these films.

A graduate is a person who has a degree which is a Level 4 /5 qualification. This is a long way off and the economic situation may change by the time you are thinking of taking a degree, however, if you look at this list of careers in each it gives the statistics and lots of information.

After Year 11, you have a lot more choice about what you want to do. Whichever route you choose, it pays to keep learning.

More and more, employers are looking for people with higher level skills and qualifications. Although qualifications cannot guarantee you a job, people with the right skills and qualifications have a better chance of finding a job with good prospects and more money. They may also have more job security.

If you visit this site DirectGov you will be able see the full range of qualifications open to you. Not all will be available in your area but, perhaps, it might be worth travelling if there is something that you really want to do. If you visit DirectGov you can look at ‘It’s Your Choice’- The 2011-2012 updated version is now available to purchase NOTE - the 2011-2012 version will not be available on line and individual copies cost £1.50 with £4.25 postage for orders under 5 copies.

Planning your future is a big thing to do but you should not be put off, if you have a plan then you have something to aim for and every step on the journey will be an achievement to celebrate.

However, few people are in the position to make cast iron plans and so you should keep your options open and explore possibilities around the area of work that you think you may like to go into.

The best piece of advice is to try your ideas out, work experience or volunteering being very good ways to see if you like a broad area of work.

There is so much information but if you visit relevant websites including Next Step for job profiles and a new series of articles on the careers page of this website which is being developed called 'How can I find out about working in ....?', you could find these useful starting points. Also you will find useful links on your local area page.

Visit Careersbox to see a video which is a useful overview of the options open to you.

• If you have not been thinking about this then it is not too late too start researching in the Autumn term in Year 11
• Most schools and colleges hold open evenings.
• Visit the 14 – 19 prospectus, Futures4Me, to find out more.

If you stay on in education, you'll find there are a few differences. Some of it involves more work,some of it involves having more independence, but a lot of people find the environment much better once they get used to it, and it's an opportunity to improve yourself and the way you get on with the world around you.

The Work:

• Whatever you're studying for (A Levels, Diplomas, NVQs, BTEC...), you'll be looking at fewer subjects, but in more detail than before
• The standard you're expected to reach may be higher - but the teaching will be different to help you get there
• You might have more reading, coursework and homework to do, depending on the subject you study. The good thing is, you will have chosen the things you're studying, so it'll be interesting, and more challenging. You can develop the knowledge and skills you want.

The jump from GCSE to sixth form or college can look a little daunting, so before you leap, here's a look at what you can expect

The Responsibilities:

• You'll be in charge of managing your time a lot more, if you have free periods, deadlines, etc. At some schools, sixth formers are expected to set an example to other pupils; some are prefects, head boys / girls as well. This looks very good on your CV
• You'll be supported, but no-one's going to spoon-feed you information any more. You're young adults, you can take care of yourselves.

The Philosophy:

It's not just about the grades. Schools and colleges want you to be able to get on in the world: sixth forms will offer a Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) programme on top of the subjects you choose; colleges will offer similar opportunities, some voluntary (and some not), depending on the institution. The way these are taught varies from place to place, and may look at things like sex, citizenship, careers guidance, and volunteering. Faith schools may also base programmes on their beliefs. Ask the school or college you are hoping to go to.

• Schools and colleges have prospectuses which explain what courses they offer and what they expect from you in order to be eligible to join their course. For A-Level courses you will need at least 5 SCSE grades at A*-C or equivalent qualifications
• Courses at Further Education colleges have different requirements, depending on what you are wishing to apply for. Again either request a prospectus, visit the college or school website
• You will find the addresses and contact details in the 14 – 19 prospectus, Futures4Me or search the page on Yell.com.

When choosing A Levels, think about:

• What you enjoy
• What you are good at
• What may support your plans in the longer term or keep your options open in the longer term.

What you should do:

• Research your choice of subjects well
• Speak to tutors, students, parents
• Visit open evenings
• Try out ‘taster’ sessions.

Most schools have resources in the Careers area of the library to help support. All Year 11’s are entitled to a careers interview, where this is explored in detail and information provided to assist.

There are three programmes for students aged 3 to 19 help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.

If you want to study a wide range of subjects at a detailed level, the International Baccalaureate Diploma may be for you. It's designed for highly motivated students, and is offered by a growing number of schools and colleges.

Again, school help with this and your careers advisers carry out group work sessions aimed at equipping you with the skills to research their HE ideas related to their career thoughts.

This is not an easy decision with now over 1,000 degree subjects with over 70,000 course options in over 300 universities and colleges. Visit The Big Choice and Directgov to find out about qualifications or Directgov  to research your career ideas.

In school  careers advisers carry out group work preparing students who want to leave school at the end of Years 11, 12 or 13. They cover the usual things including:

• Preparation for employment
• Research
• CV’s
• Application forms
• Interviews
• And much more.

If this is what you have decided you want to do we will put you in touch with advisers in the YSS centres to help support you once you have left school- you will find lots of help on the careers page.

If you look on the careers page you will find some useful links and the Making preparations page has help to prepare your CV, personal statement, write application forms, make phone calls etc

• Look at your local area on Get Connected Now. Here you will not only find information to help you but you will also find a long list of national companies with their recruitment websites.
• Look at the Apprenticeship Vacancies website. If you need to help to register contact your local YSS centre
• Look at the links page on Get Connected Now where you will find links to many major general and specialist job hunting websites
• Scan the local (and perhaps national) press.  This helps to build a picture of the job market.
• Look at your local papers
• Look in shop windows and on notice boards
• Go into places that you would like to work - you should have your CV ready (go here for some advice) and if you take some copies, folded neatly in blank envelopes, with you, you can ask to speak to the manager and say that you are looking for work and ask if there are any vacancies.  Even if there are not, if you are smartly dresses, polite and sound keen, they may keep your details and contact you when there is a vacancy.  If you still do not not get anything you could go back in a month's time just remind them that you are still around.

There is a lot of support available for you and a good place to look is the Directgov website .

Also you can look on the Making Preparations page on this website.

You will be able to find information here.

If you are aged 16-19 and need help with the cost of transport to and from your school sixth form or college, your local authority may be able to help Local Contacts Transport – telephone: 0845 3452153 in writing: student support Room 31 Education Office Ainsty Road Harrogate HG1 4XU. You can  visit this site. 

There is so much help available to you from your teachers and careers advisers in school/college to YSS advisers in the YSS centres. You only have to ask.

You can use your one year course as a stepping stone to the next level, for example, if you start on a foundation course this can progress to an intermediate level course, again one year, and then onto a two year advanced level course.

Alternatively, you could choose to leave after one year and then continue to train to gain further qualifications in the workplace. Visit the Apprenticeships website to find out more.

You can arrange to meet with a Connexions Careers Adviser to explore your ideas and discuss your options. If you have done a two year advanced level course you could look at employment options or use your qualifications to progress onto higher education. You may find this website useful.

If you are on a work based learning programme you should ideally be working towards an NVQ Level 2 or 3 qualification which normally takes around two years to complete.

You can use this qualification as a stepping stone to further qualifications whether this is an NVQ at Level 4, which is a degree level qualification or further professional qualifications linked to the job area you are working in.

Further qualifications can be studied part time and may even be paid for or part funded by your employer – after all it is in their best interests that you are as well qualified as possible.

• You can arrange to meet with a Careers Adviser to explore your ideas and find out how to achieve a change of direction
• Career matching programmes may also help and your careers adviser will be able to recommend some.
• Psychometric tests are also available to help signpost you in the right direction, but there may be a charge
• One to try at home is Fast Tomato at www.fasttomato.co.uk (if you’re your school or college subscribes to it) which will link your skills/interests to career areas or there are programmes that you can use in the Youth Support Service centres
• Visit GetSmaart which is an excellent user friendly site. It gives career advice for school leavers with course information, including apprenticeships, and student life advice. You can sign up to receive emails and a newsletter with information about summer jobs, open days, events and so much more 
• Look at the Next Step job profiles.

If you are unemployed you need to talk to a Connexions Adviser who can give you information, advice and support on your next steps.

The Government is guaranteeing all Year 11 leavers a place at school, college or with a training provider by the end of September if you come under one of these categories:

• I’m leaving Year 11 this year
• I left Year 11 last year and wish that I had applied to school or college
• I left Year 11 last year and left a course I started
• I’m 17 and enrolled on a one year or short course after school.

If one of those applies to you then the Government is guaranteeing you an offer at a school, college or training provider by the end of September!

The offer can be:-

• Full or part-time education in a school sixth form, sixth form college or further education (FE) college
• An apprenticeship
• Foundation learning
  
• Employment with training to NVQ Level 2.

The offer must meet your needs. So, it will have to take account of the qualifications you already have, be somewhere that you can travel to, and the sort of learning you want to do.

E2E has been phased out and replaced by Foundation Learning. To find out what this is go the Qualifications and Pathways page.

• There is a lot of support available for you and a good place to look is this website and this page
• Also if you look at the Links page you should find organisations to support you.