Information & Advice on Qualifications & Pathways

An apprenticeship is a scheme which lets you gain a nationally recognised qualification related to your work while you are working and so you are being trained on the job. So, if you want to earn and learn, an Apprenticeship could be the ideal choice. There are now over 180 different Apprenticeships available across around 80 different sectors.

There are three levels of Apprenticeship available for those aged 16 and over:

1 - Apprenticeships (equivalent to five good GCSE passes)

2 - Advanced Apprenticeships (equivalent to two A-level passes)

3 - Higher Apprenticeships (Level 4 qualification)

Apprenticeships typically take between one and four years to complete, depending on the type of framework. There is no set time to complete an Apprenticeship as they vary widely in content and size. The length of time taken will depend on your ability and the employer's requirements.

You do not have to have a job to become an apprentice. You can find an Apprenticeship and an employer through Apprenticeships Vacancies. This is an online system where you can search, apply and then manage your applications for Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships opportunities anywhere in England.

The system is free.

Apprenticeships are open to all age groups above 16 years-old whether you are just leaving school, have been working for years or are seeking to start a new career.

If you have a look at this table you can see where they sit.

There is no set group of people. If you feel that you would really benefit from working and learning then this could be the best route for you. Competition for places with employers can be fierce, so you will need to show that you are committed, and aware of your responsibilities to both yourself and the company who would employ you.

You also need to be happy to work as both part of a team and individually, and be able to use your own initiative.

There are lots of benefits to doing an Apprenticeship. You can earn while you learn, and learn in a way that is best suited to you – through hands-on experience on the job which you not get when you take A Levels or other forms of full time education.

Earnings

Research shows that apprentices earn, on average, over £100,000 more throughout their lifetime than other employees. Your career doesn’t have to stop at the Advanced Apprenticeship, if you want to go on to University you will find many institutes of Higher Education value your skills and knowledge and will happily offer you a place on a Foundation Degree or other higher Level qualifications.

Support during training

Your employer or training provider will make sure you have support, advice and guidance. Their job is to ensure that your training fits your personal requirements, offers the skills needed for the job and satisfies national standards. They will also be there to help you through any difficult times.

Prospects

Apprenticeships can be demanding but they are very rewarding. Because Apprenticeships train you in the skills employers want, they give you choices in your career. When you’ve ?nished you can carry on working, maybe get promoted or go on to higher education in a college or university.

A choice of industries and employers

Apprenticeships have been developed by a wide range of industry sectors and are available with different types of employers from large national companies such as British Gas, BMW and Orange to smaller local companies.

1. Apprenticeships are designed with the help of the employers in the industry, so they offer a structured programme that takes you through the skills you need to do a job well.
2. Employers all over the country recognise and value Apprenticeships as they show that you’ve been trained in the skills they need.
3. Career progression is excellent for apprentices, and over the course of their careers, those with an Apprenticeship earn, on average, £100,000 more than those without.

• Apprentices learn on the job, building up knowledge and skills, gaining qualifications and earning money all at the same time.
• The learning provider provides the knowledge and develops skills while the employer provides the practical experience to put those skills to the test.
• Training can be classroom based, in a workshop or in a workplace, depending on the subject and on the learning provider.

An Apprenticeship is essentially a set of qualifications called a ‘framework’ developed by Sector Skills Councils. Most Apprenticeship frameworks follow a standard format that comprises:

• A National Vocational Qualification (Level 2 for Apprenticeships, Level 3 for Advanced Apprenticeships)
• Key Transferable Skills
• A Technical Certificate.

Many different industry sectors share the same skill sets. These core skills are transferable across sectors and are built into the Apprenticeship to maximise flexibility and choice for employers and apprentices.

They include:

• Communication (mandatory)
• Application of number (mandatory)
• ICT
• Working with others
• Improving own learning and performance
• Problem solving

Apprenticeships are available in the following sectors:

• Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care
• Arts, Media and Publishing
• Business, Administration and Law
• Construction, Planning and the Built Environment
• Education and Training
• Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies
• Health, Public Services and Care
• Information and Communication Technology
• Leisure, Travel and Tourism
• Retail and Commercial Enterprise

Apprenticeships in demand in York and North Yorkshire include:

• Construction - Starting salary (once qualified): £17,000 - £20,000
• Hairdressing - Starting salary (once qualified): £10,000 - £16,000
• Vehicle Maintenance - Starting salary (once qualified): £13,000 - £15,000
• Business Admin - Starting salary (once qualified): £12,000 - £18,000 depending on industry and location within the UK.

• Some Apprenticeships already attract UCAS points or allow you to study for a Technical Certificate.
• Once the Apprenticeship has finished there’s the opportunity to carry on working, maybe get promoted or go on to higher education in a college or university.
• The National Apprenticeship Service is working with UCAS to extend this system so that more qualifications gained during an Apprenticeship count towards an individual’s university application.
• To find out more talk to your Connexions adviser about opportunities for progression to Higher Education from Apprenticeships.

All employed apprentices must receive a wage of £95 per week*. However, as skills develop, many employers tend to increase wages – in fact, research has found that apprentices earn an average of £170 net pay per week.

* Please note that wage rates for roles within the Agricultural sector may differ from the minimum wage stated above.

As is the case of all employees aged over 16, all apprentices must still pay tax and national insurance on their income.

You do not have to pay anything to become an Apprentice. While you are on an Apprenticeship, your employer pays you a salary and supports you whilst you undertake your training. Most of the training is ‘on the job’ within the workplace however the rest can be provided by a local college or by a specialist learning provider or in some cases it could all be undertaken by your employer.

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) will pay the costs of your training depending on your age:

• Age 16 -18 NAS contribution - 100%
• Aged 19 - 24 NAS contribution – 50%
• Aged 25+ NAS contribution for specified places

For further information and guidance on getting started with your Apprenticeship, contact:

• The National Apprenticeship Service 
• Or, if you are 13-19 years old, contact your Connexions Careers Adviser in school or college or Connexions advisers at your local Hub or the Connexions Direct service by calling 080 800 13219 or visiting their website
• If you are 20+ (or 18–19 if you’ve been referred by Jobcentre Plus) the Next Step Careers Service can offer you further advice. Visit nextstep.direct.gov.uk and use the map or the links to get information about your nearest next step office.

The National Apprenticeship Service also runs Apprenticeships vacancies. This is an online system whereby employers and learning providers can advertise and manage vacancies, and potential apprentices can search, apply and then manage their applications for Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships opportunities anywhere in England.

The system is free and available on the Apprenticeships website.

Here is a link to films showing what apprenticeships are, their benefits and the careers they offer.

Visit Apprenticeship Vacancies  to see what the Apprentices say. Case studies tell you how each apprentice has benefited from their Apprenticeship and what they have achieved. You could be next!

1. Whether you've got a career in mind, hope to go to university or just want to see what's out there, the Diploma is the perfect way to explore your options. It's a new qualification for 14 to 19 year olds that you do at school or college. It offers a mix of classroom learning and hands-on experience - all designed to prepare you for wherever you want to go in life.
2. It teaches you about an area of work you're interested in and combines essential skills and knowledge with hands-on experience which is different from GCSEs and A Levels. You can pick from up to 14 Diploma subjects and there will 3 more in September this year. At the end, you'll have a better idea of what you want to do next. It could be more study at school or college, a job, university, college or an Apprenticeship. A Diploma gives an introduction to a broad range of careers in a particular industry or business and prepares you for a wide range of jobs and university courses.
3. The Diploma is different because it is designed to help you make decisions about your future while keeping all your options open, and you can use it as a stepping stone to higher education, training and employment. All of the Diplomas are designed to give you a great head-start in whichever industry you choose, by teaching you the theoretical side of things, as well as the practical.
4. The Diploma route has been designed to offer you the best combination of classroom learning coupled with a fun, creative and practical approach. In many cases you will also have the chance to study outside the classroom, gaining valuable experience of the workplace, or at other colleges. You'll do this alongside your classroom study, learning the theory behind your chosen subjects so that you get the best of both worlds.
5. Your Diploma will give you insight into lots of different careers within your chosen sector and so, unlike an Apprenticeship, you don't need to already know exactly what you want to do once you finish studying. With more emphasis placed on independent study and research skills, you will have the chance to investigate topics for yourself and will have more control over what you learn.

There are three different Levels of Diplomas.

• Level 1 Foundation Diploma is the same as 5 GCSE’S at grades D-G or from 2011 you can extend this to be an Extended Diploma at Foundation Level which is the same as 7 GCSE’S at grades D-G;
• Level 2 Higher Diploma is the same as 7 GCSE’S at grades A*-C or from 2011 you can extend this to be an Extended Diploma at Higher Level which is the same as 9GCSE’S at grades A*-C
• Level 3 Advanced Diploma is the same as 3.5 A Levels at grades A-E. or from 2011 you can extend this to be an Extended Diploma at Advanced Level which is the same as 4.5 A Levels. You can do a Progression Diploma at this Level which is the same as 2.5 A Levels

An Extended Diploma contains extra maths and English plus extra Additional and Specialist Learning. They usually take two years to complete whatever Level you study at although some post-16 Level 1 or 2 courses may be completed in one year.

The Diploma is a qualification which is part of a range of learning options to help you move from school or college onto university, a job or further training. It’s another option for you to consider and it does not replace existing options. If you are at school you will take GCSEs alongside a Diploma and you can even choose to take a GCSE as part of your Diploma course. If you are taking an Advanced Diploma you might take an A Level as part of your Diploma. Foundation Learning prepares you for all these options.

All Diploma students need to achieve a good standard in English, maths and ICT. These are the same as what you will be covering anyway. But it also means that you will gain experience in how to apply these subjects to practical situations to help you achieve them, and have passed functional skills tests to show this.

Anyone can take the Diploma.

When you have taken a Foundation or Higher Diploma you could go on to take a Diploma at the next Level, either in the same subject or you could change to another area. You could go on to do GCSEs, A Levels or another qualification. You might decide instead to do an Apprenticeship or start a job with training. After an Advanced Diploma you could go onto university to do a degree.

What’s important is that doing a Diploma won’t limit any future options for any student. With this qualification, you could go on to the Sixth Form, go on to college, start a career or an Apprenticeship. With an Advanced Diploma you could go and do a degree at university.

After taking a Foundation or Higher Diploma you can do an Apprenticeship. A Diploma how will that help you if you decide to go for an Apprenticeship because you will already have a sound understanding of the sector in which you are interested and you have done some work experience. These factors combined with your achievements in Functional Skills will give you a head start.

There are many benefits to taking a Diploma because it is is different to what you're used to. You get more choice about what you learn and you can keep your options open for the future by exploring subject areas without committing to a career in them. Other benefits include:

• It's usually a 2 year course, whatever Level you study at
• You'll learn in the classroom
• You might also spend time at another school or college in your area
• You'll do practical stuff like projects and work experience
• You will learn life skills that are important for work, study and the future
• You can use what you learn to tackle real life situations like you'd find at work, study or in research
• You keep all your options open with the Diploma. So when you finish, you can go into the sixth form or college and do another course - like the next Level up Diploma, A Levels or an apprenticeship. After an advanced Diploma you could go on to university or go into a job with training
• A Diploma gives an introduction to a broad range of careers in a particular industry or business and prepares you for a wide range of jobs and university courses.
• You will achieve a good standard in English, maths and ICT. These are the same as what you will be covering anyway, but it also means that you will gain experience in how to apply these subjects to practical situations to help you achieve them, and you will have passed functional skills tests to show this.

The Diploma is valued by employers because it is recognised as a direct equivalent of GCSEs and A Levels. Also, you will acquire transferable skills that any employer, in any sector would recognise. You will enter the workforce with more relevant skills and an understanding of work, including the ability to apply English, Maths and IT at work.

The Diploma will prepare you for a very wide range of work because you have had a sound grounding in a particular industry sector but you also have transferable skills.

Diploma course is made up of several different qualifications.

You’ll do:

• Functional Skills - this is the English, maths and ICT
• Principal Learning
• Additional and Specialist Learning
• Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills
• Project or Extended Project
• Work Experience

Principal learning is the work-related part of the Diploma that focuses on one particular industry for example, Engineering or Hair and Beauty. You will develop the knowledge and skills and understanding associated with that sector. Additional and specialist learning takes place in the options that you choose in your specialist area

A Foundation Project, a Higher Project and an Extended Project are qualifications at the named Level involving a single piece of work that requires a high degree of planning, preparation, research and independent working. Students will explore in depth a topic based on their own interests and aspirations. They may be completed alongside the other elements of your Diploma.

You can expect at least 10 days doing work experience, giving you an insight into what work is really like without committing to a career in it. This is a great way to use the skills you have learnt in the classroom and apply your knowledge to real workplace situations.

Grades are represented in a similar way to GCSE or A Level grades:

• Foundation Diploma: A*, A, B or ungraded (u)
• Higher Diploma: A*, A, B, C or ungraded (u)
• Advanced Diploma: A*, A, B, C, D, E or ungraded (u)

To achieve a Diploma, you will also need to pass the three Functional Skills in English, maths and ICT and the subjects you chose for your ASL. Your student transcript, will show all the individual qualifications that make up your Diploma course and record the work experience you completed, and your personal 'learning and thinking' skills.

When you finish, you'll receive a Foundation, a Higher or an Advanced Diploma in the subject you chose. You’ll also get all the individual qualifications that make up your Diploma.

The term 'functional skills' refers to the practical English, maths and ICT skills that you need to deal with everyday situations at home, at college, at work, or out and about. They provide the essential knowledge, skills and understanding needed to operate confidently, effectively and independently in life and at work.

These are the skills that help you make sense of the world around you, whether you're doing the shopping, applying for a job, managing your money, or doing an Apprenticeship in plumbing.

Functional skills qualifications aim to teach you the essentials of English, maths and ICT and will be taught in Key Stages 3 and 4. Each subject will be assessed separately to make sure you've got the skills and knowledge employers are looking for.

Visit this site to find out more. 

14 Diplomas are available now.

• Construction and the Built Environment
• Creative and Media
• Engineering
• Information Technology
• Society, Health and Development
• Environmental and Land-based Studies
• Business, Administration and Finance
• Manufacturing and Product Design
• Hospitality
• Hair and Beauty Studies
• Travel and Tourism
• Public Services
• Sport and Active Leisure
• Retail Business
• And 3 more will start from September 2011:
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Languages and International Communication
• Science

To find out more visit this site.

• Diploma students have the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to go on to college or university
• To find out more about the Diploma, you can talk to your teachers, Careers Adviser or Connexions Personal Adviser and visit the Directgov website
• It is important to think carefully about what you do in the 'additional and specialist learning' component of a Diploma because you will be looking in depth at a particular topics and this study could be important for you later
• No diploma is more valued that any other. They are all of equal standing but you may find that the HE institution that you would like to go to would prefer that your Diploma had been in an area related to the subject that you would like to study.

The Progression Diploma is a subset of the Advanced Diploma and is made up of only the principal learning and generic learning components. It requires 720 guided learning hours and is equivalent, in terms of UCAS points, to two and a half A Levels.

The Diploma is part of your learning and so, if you are over 16, Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) could give you up to £30 a week to help with your costs.

This won’t affect a penny of any benefits you get. About 45% of students over 16 in full time learning do so already. To find out more visit this site.

To find out more about the Diploma, you can talk to your teachers, Careers Adviser or Connexions Personal Adviser and visit the local 14 – 19 prospectus, Futures4Me. 

To find the entry requirements look through the prospectus, Futures4Me, and when you have chosen the diplomas that you would like to study and the place at which you would like to study it, you can visit their website and/or contact them to find out what the entry requirements are and what the selection procedure is.

• Diplomas are not only for people who want a future career related to the line of learning because you will acquire transferable skills that any employer, in any sector will recognise.
• A Diploma will not limit your options for the future because you have been studying by relating what you’re learning to real world situations. It has meant doing lots of projects and applying what you know to solve practical, work-related problems as well as organising yourself to complete a task. Because you have to cover theory as well as practical skills, you will keep your options open for the future. With both theory and practical learning, any route is possible when you finish - further study, or a job with training.

To follow a day in the life of young people finding out about diplomas visit this site.

If you would like to find out about the SCAAT and UCAS point score for 14 – 19 Diplomas visit this site.

Foundation Learning is a new way to provide young people and adults with their own personalised learning programme at Entry Level and Level 1. It helps them to find out what they are good at, how they can get better and develop new skills and it prepares them to progress towards an apprenticeship, a diploma or GCSEs should they wish to do so. The qualifications can sit along side other Programmes, and can support other courses. You could be doing 5 GCSE’s, a Level 1 BTEC and a Foundation Learning programme all at the same time, giving them 3 progression pathways.

A Foundation Learning programme will include:

• Subject or vocational knowledge, skills and understanding
• Functional skills – maths, English and ICT
• Personal and social development learning.

From 1 August 2010 Foundation Learning is replacing E2E. This means that E2E is being phased out and will no longer be available to you after 31 July, 2010. If you are already on an E2E programme you will be able to finish your course.

 Foundation Learning can be for both young people and adults. As well as those in mainstream education at Entry Level and Level 1, it's suitable for learners:

• Who may not be achieving their full potential in all their subjects for a wide variety of reasons
• On key stage 4 engagement programmes
• On Entry to Employment programmes
• With special educational needs
• With learning difficulties and/disabilities
• Not in education, employment or training (NEET)
• Attending pupil referral units.

A Foundation Learning Programme can be made up of a combination of qualifications at three different Levels: entry 1, entry 2, entry 3, and Level 1 qualifications.

You can get a range of entry Level and Level 1 certificates/qualifications (there are over 450 different courses not all of which are available in this area), and functional skills. You are given credits for every certificate that you get and when you have enough you have ‘passed’ and you can move on to GCSEs, a diploma or an apprenticeship.

The programme of courses is put together for each person so there is no time limit. It would be difficult to complete all the courses in less than 4 months and it would probably take quite a lot longer than that, it would depend on the number of days per week foundation learning took place on.

You can study entry Level certificates at a pace that suits you; there is no set time for when you can take them.

Foundation Learning gives you a really solid grounding in the basics so everyone will know that you are now ready to do more.

You can resit your GCSEs but sometimes this can be hard because you are doing the same work again. If you take do Foundation Learning you may find it easier to show what you are good at and learn to be good at things you did not like because you may find Foundation Learning more ‘fun’ as it relates to your everyday life.

• A Foundation Diploma is at Level 1 and when you have finished you will have a qualification that is the same as 5 GCSE’S at grades D-G but although Foundation Learning has some Level 1 parts, it prepares you for the Foundation Diploma
• A Foundation Diploma is a set programme and a set qualification, whereas Foundation Learning is a combination of qualifications which make up a programme pathway
• It can also run alongside any other qualification, GCSE’s, apprenticeships etc. From foundation, learners can move onto Level 2 courses, and could go onto a higher diploma.

Foundation Learning is valued by employers because it shows that a person is willing and able to learn the basics and this means that they may be prepared to do more training.

It will prepare you for a very wide range of jobs at a basic level, then, when you are working, you will be able to learn ‘on the job’ and become more skilled and earn more.

Functional skills are those core elements of English, maths and ICT that provide people with the skills and abilities they need to be confident, effective and independent in their life, their communities and work. The examples that are used are related to real situations in the real world which helps to make learning easier.

All the qualifications that you do have to do must be written in a way that makes them relevant to you so that your functional skills are being developed.

There are certificates that you can do for developing yourself, such as, in looking after yourself and preparing for work, as well those in maths and English and ICT and the work area that you are interested in. Also, there will be staff who will be there to support you and help you if you need it.

Foundation Learning is part of your learning and so, if you are over 16, Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) could give you up to £30 a week to help with your costs. This won’t affect a penny of any benefits you get.

For the 2010/11 Academic Year, all applicants for EMA will be subject to an income assessment, taking account of the household income.

Visit Futures4Me to find out where you can study and then the place that you choose will tell you how to enrol.

This will be coming soon.

GCSEs:

• GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education
• GCSEs are qualifications at Level 2 in the National Qualifications Framework
• GCSEs are mostly taken after a two-year subject-based course
• They are available in a wide range of over 50 subjects
• Some subjects are also offered as short-course qualifications, which are equivalent to half a standard GCSE
• Some subjects are offered as double Award, which are equivalent to two GCSEs
• Some subjects are offered as Vocational or Applied GCSEs and most are double Award
• GCSEs are the main entry requirements for study at Level 3 and may be required for some jobs
• GCSEs may be taken by people of any age.

A-Levels:

• A-Levels are subject-based qualifications mostly taken by UK students aged 16–19 in school sixth-forms or at college, but there are no age restrictions on entry
• A-Levels are qualifications at Level 3 in the National Qualifications Framework
• A-Level is short for Advanced Level Examinations, because they test a more advanced level of education than the GCSEs
• An A-Level is normally achieved through a two-year course that is a progression from a GCSE or equivalent
• AS (Advanced Subsidiary) is the first half of an A-level, as well as being a stand-alone qualification. A few subjects are offered only at AS level
• A2 is the second half of an A-Level qualification
• Some A-levels 'vocational A-Levels' or 'GCEs in applied subjects', which may be offered as single or double Award (equivalent to two A-Levels)
• A-Levels are the main route to higher education and may be required for some jobs
• A-Levels may be taken by people of any age.

The extended project is a new qualification which requires students to produce a single piece of work of their own choosing, showing evidence of planning, preparation, research and autonomous working. The aim of the project is to strengthen programmes of study for 16 to 19 year-olds while testing a wide range of skills.

The way that GCSEs are assessed:

• They are usually assessed by exams at the end of the course and coursework completed by the students during the course. Some modular GCSEs are assessed by regular end-of-module tests
• GCSE Awards are graded A*–G. In most subjects foundation or higher tier papers are provided, with grades C–G available from the foundation tier and A*–D from the higher tier.

The way are that A-Levels assessed:

• A-Levels have areas of study called units: most students take three AS units and three A2 units
• A-Levels have been revised. The new specifications are for first teaching in September 2008. These A-Levels mostly have four units
• The units are assessed either by written exam or by coursework
• In most A-Levels, coursework accounts for 20–30 per cent of the marks
• Students may take units as they proceed through the course or, if they wish, take all the units in one sitting at the end
• Each unit is graded A–E, but the performance level for AS units is that expected after one year's study, while the level at A2 is that expected after two year's study.

The way that the Extended Project Qualification is assessed:

Students are assessed on their ability to manage, develop and realise their projects. The EPQ can be with any awarding body and is graded on an A*–E scale; with the grade contributing to the level of AQA Bacc awarded. Students can also take the EPQ as a stand-alone qualification or as a compulsory element of our Advanced Diplomas.

AS (Advanced Subsidiary) is the first half of an A-level, as well as being a stand-alone qualification. A few subjects are offered only at AS level

Some A-levels involve the study of a sector of industry and the development of work-related skills: these are described as 'vocational A-levels' or 'GCEs in applied subjects', which may be offered as single or double Award (equivalent to two A-levels). A-levels are the main route to higher education and may be required for some jobs.

Vocational or Applied GCSEs:

• Involve the study of a particular area of employment and the development of work-related skills
• They prepare you for further vocational study or work
• You get an introduction to an area of work such as art and design, leisure and tourism, and health and social care
• They are usually double awards, and so are equivalent to two GCSEs
• You are assessed mainly by coursework.

Applied A-Levels:

• They are vocational qualifications that prepare you for work or higher education
• They are the next qualification up from GCSEs and BTEC First Certificates and Diplomas
• They're work-related courses in broad work sectors like Applied Business, Engineering, and Applied Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• They have replaced the Advanced GNVQ
• They're assessed mainly by coursework
• As with standard A-Levels, you do AS units in the first half of the course, A2 units in the second half, with each part contributing 50% of the total marks. Three units is an AS level, six units is an A-Level or a Double Award AS level, and 12 units is a Double Award A-Level
• You can do Applied A-Levels in Engineering, Media: Communication and Production, Performing Arts, Leisure and Recreation, Applied Art and Design, Applied Business, Health and Social Care, Applied ICT, Travel and Tourism,and Applied Science.

By looking at the table you at the end of the answer you can see how all the qualifications relate to one another.

Yes, you can do an apprenticeship or a diploma after taking GCSEs/A-Levels because apprenticeships are a ‘work-based’ qualification, whereas GCSEs/A-Levels are academic, and Diplomas are ‘applied learning’. You can do an Apprenticeship after you have done a Diploma or academic qualifications.

Yes, you can take A-Levels after having done a Higher Diploma.

Functional skills are practical skills in English, information and communication technology (ICT) and mathematics that allow you to work confidently, effectively and independently in life.

At the moment you can achieve a separate Level 2 functional skills for the award of a GCSE A*-C in English, mathematics or ICT but from 2012 this will no longer be required because the new GCSE criteria embed functional skills.

The benefits of taking GCSEs include:

• Getting a GCSE can lead to a number of routes: for example, work, further study or an Apprenticeship
• If you complete GCSEs at Level 1, you could move on to other courses or work-based training at Levels 1 or 2
• Completing GCSEs at level 2 can lead to other Level 2 courses and Level 3 courses of all types. However, sometimes if you want to take a level 3 course (such as an A -Level), you'll be expected to have a GCSE in the same subject
• If you're thinking about higher education, you may need GCSEs in certain subjects. Most universities and colleges will ask for five GCSEs grades A*-C, including English and maths (as well as A levels or equivalent qualifications).

The benefits of taking A-Levels include:

• You are able to study a particular subject in detail
• They are highly valued by schools, colleges and employers
• Being able to study a subject over a two year period
• A and AS Levels are one of the main routes into higher education and are widely recognised around the world, as well as being the standard entry qualification for assessing your suitability for academic courses in UK Universities
• They're also useful if you want to go straight into a job, such as office administration or trainee accountancy.

By taking an Extended project you have the opportunity to show your full potential because you will have produced a single piece of work of your own choosing, showing evidence of planning, preparation, research and working on your own. and

All these qualifications prepare you for a very wide range of types of work at many levels because you will have demonstrated your ability to think for yourself, work hard, learn how to use information and be proactive.

You can:

• Talk to your Teachers
• Talk to your Careers Coordinator
• Talk to your Connexions Adviser
• You can also look at your local 14-19 prospectus, Futures4Me, to see which courses and qualifications are available in your area
• Research on the web by looking for information about the particular course or career you are interested in
• Visit Connections Direct where you will find information on course and careers.

GCSEs are available in over 50 subjects, from English and maths to economics and health and social care. So the good news is that there are almost certainly subjects you will find exciting and interesting.

Visit Futures4Me to see what courses are available in your area but you need to remember that you may be limited in your choice by the area in which you live.

• A Levels and the Extended Project are highly valued by universities because they the level at which you are capable of working
• GCSE/A-Level subject choices important if you want to go to University because they give you an understanding and insight into the particular subject areas which you will need to be able to take full advantage of the course you have chosen
• Some A-Levels should not be more highly valued than others by Universities but it depends on what they are looking for
• You can find out more by visiting the UCAS website.

• GCSEs or A-Levels are part of your learning and so, if you are over 16, Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) could give you up to £30 a week to help with your costs. This won’t affect a penny of any benefits you get. About 45% of students over 16 in full time learning do so already. To find out more visit this site
• You can ask about extra help with funding from Directgov.

You should visit Futures4Me for North Yorkshire where you will be able to find out about all the course available in the area.

In theory you can take any but in practice it depends on what you school/college is offering.

• Talk to your friends and people who are doing or who have already done the course you are interested in
• Go to open days.

Employment with part-time learning or training is where you have job but your employer allows you time off during your usual working hours to undertake training or learning that is relevant to the job you are doing. This may be through attendance at a college or training provider, through open or distance learning or through a training provider visiting you in the workplace and setting you work to do towards a qualification.

• If you are 16 or 17 and don’t already have a Level 2 qualification (such as GCSEs at grades A*-C, an NVQ Level 2 or certain other qualifications, such as a BTEC First Diploma) you are entitled to reasonable paid time off during normal working hours to study or train for an approved qualification. This qualification must help you with your future employment prospects. Any time off you get will depend upon your employer’s needs, your circumstances and what the qualification is.
• If you get to 18 and you haven’t completed the qualification you will be able to finish it off.
• If you are over 18, you can speak to your employer and ask about the possibility of training through work but it doesn’t guarantee that they will be able to grant this request. There is funding through a scheme called ‘Train to Gain’ which enables employers to apply for funding for you to take further qualifications. If you don’t have a Level 2 qualification, then they can get funding for basic skills training and also your first full Level 2 qualifications (or if you are capable of going straight to Level 3 then they will fund the whole of your Level 3 qualification). If you have a Level 2 qualification already then they will provide funding for a significant amount of your Level 3 qualification. (Then, if you have a really kind employer – your employer will pay for the rest; otherwise you’ll have to foot the bill!) They also may be able to contribute towards staff costs to cover the time you spend away from the workplace.
• In agreement with your employer they may say you can take unpaid time off to study or they may say you can still be paid. This will very much depend upon the size and capacity of the business.
• Alternatively if you are unable to get time off for work during working hours then local colleges and Adult Learning Services offer evening classes that you may be able to attend. Funding again is dependent upon your age and what qualifications you already have.

The benefits of continuing to learn/training once you have a job are that you will be ensuring you have the most up to date skills and knowledge for the job you are doing. This will make you a valuable asset to the employer and may allow you to progress within your job and access more senior roles. You also may be able to progress to further qualifications and even higher education.

There is a whole range of qualifications that you can take whilst at work. You may be able to brush up on your numeracy and literacy skills or take a course that improves your IT skills. You may be able to take NVQs, National Certificates, a CACHE certificate, GCSEs or qualifications specific to your role. This will depend on local provision and funding, however if you have financial support from your employer or through your own finances, most types of qualification are available through distance learning.

Generally for getting into Higher Education you will need to have taken a Level 3 qualification – this may be A-Levels, National Diplomas or Advance Diplomas. Most of these are full-time, however, though through distance learning, you may be able to take some of these whilst working. There are also Access Courses that are available from local Further Education Colleges, for people who are returning to learning or did not achieve the qualifications necessary to apply direct to Universities. These are available to people 19+.

You can also take NVQ Level 3 and National Certificates which are part-time which would allow you to apply to University. Depending upon your qualification you may need to apply for a Foundation Degree which is a work-based Higher Education Qualification, though some qualifications such as CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare & Education can lead directly to a full degree qualification.

To find out whether your qualification will lead to university entrance you will need to look at the UCAS website and see if it is listed within the UCAS tariff, and if so how many points it is worth. This will then link to the Universities entry requirements for that course. Alternatively, if you have a specific course and institution in mind then it is always worth ringing them up and speaking to them because they sometimes look at what experience you have within the work place as well as what qualifications you have. (However this may change with there being more competition for places at the moment due to the economic climate.)

• If you are 16 and 17 and eligible for time off for study and training you will get paid by your employer for time off. If you are older it will be dependant upon your employer.
• You may be able to get support from the college you are attending if you are struggling financially as well as other support that you might require as a result of a learning difficulty or disability.
• There are also Professional and Career Development Loans that are available and if the course is a Higher Education course then you can apply for Grants from Student Finance England (Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Student Finance Wales or Student Finance Northern Ireland for those studying in other countries).

You cannot usually claim benefits until you are 18, except in certain circumstances. If you are under 18, not working but still want to study part-time then if it is a full Level 2 or 3 qualification you are applying for you will get your tuition fees paid for (though there may be an enrolment or exam fee – check with your provider.)

If you are under 18 and eligible to claim benefits you will need to check with the Jobcentre, and depending upon the number of hours your course is it may require you to change your claim from Jobseeker’s Allowance to Income Support. They may also allow you to claim JSA and study part-time if they feel that the amount of hours doesn’t stop you from getting into paid employment.

If you are over 18 and claiming JSA, again, you will have to speak to the Jobcentre. If they feel that your course is stopping you from finding paid employment then it will affect your benefits.

If you are eligible for income support, for example because you are lone parent then you may be able to study part-time and keep your benefits. Again, it is best to speak to the Jobcentre.

Ask them! It is up to the employer what support they give you, however most employers are happy to support their staff in training and know the benefits that qualified and motivated staff bring to their business. If you are 16 to 17 and entitled to time off for study and training and your employer unreasonably refuses time off for you or doesn’t pay you for this time off then you can take your complaint to an employment tribunal.

From 6th April 2010, if your business has more than 250 employees you have the right to request time for study and training. (You will need to have worked for them for 26 weeks) There are a few exceptions to this but from 6th April 2011 employees from any size organisation will have this right (again subject to certain exceptions). Again if they unreasonably refuse this request then you can appeal.

You can find out about local opportunities from your local Connexions’ team. Alternatively there are various websites that you can access, such as your local 14-19 Prospectus -  or others such as Learn Direct.

You can also look at local college websites or the website for your local Adult Learning Service.

Information will be available soon.

 It is made up of qualifications:

• That are higher than Level 3
• Studied at universities, colleges and some can be via distance learning at home.

• You can be more employable than someone without a HE qualification
• You have the potential to earn more money
• You will meet people, gain new skills and improve your independence and confidence.

Study at HE is essential for some jobs. A degree from a British university is valued by employers world wide with many employers targeting graduates when recruiting.

1. Honours Degrees
2. Joint Honours Degree
3. Sandwich Degree
4. Foundation Degrees
5. Diploma of Higher Education - Vocational 3 year course combining study with work experience
6. Higher National Diploma/Certificate - Work related HE qualifications, Diploma – 2 years and Certificate – 1 year, Some have the options to top up to an honours degree www.ucas.com, www.aimhigher.ac.uk, www.ukcoursefinder.com.

Foundation degrees:

• Combine academic study with a work based placement
• 2 years full time
• You can top-up to an honours degree with further study
• Visit this site (click here to find out more)

Honours degrees can be awarded as follows:

• BA – Bachelor of the Arts
• Bsc – Bachelor of Science
• BEng – Bachelor of Engineering
• BEd – Bachelor of Education
• MB - Bachelor of Medicine
• Joint Honours Degree - a degree that combines two or more different subjects of study.
• Sandwich Degree is an an honours degree with a year of work experience sandwiched in the middle of it. Normally taken after the second year of the degree. It will normally take 4 years to complete. Most full-time degrees take 3-4 years but some such as medicine take up to 6 years to study.

There are many post-graduate courses available; you will normally require a bachelor degree to do one. More information about available courses can be found at:

• Prospects which is the official graduate careers website
• The official website for the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR)
• Postgrad, the complete guide to post graduate study.

• HE courses normally take 3-5 years full time
• They are assessed by a mixture of examinations and coursework. More details can be found in the university prospectuses or on their websites.

There are thousands of different subjects and combinations of subjects that you can study at Higher Education. See the ucas website for an up-to-date list.

• Most courses are competitive to get into but some such as Medicine and Law often carry very high entry requirements
• Details of entry requirements for all courses can be found in the university prospectuses, on the university websites and on the ucas website
• You are awarded so many ucas points for each of the qualifications that you take at further education – for example an A at A-Level would be 120 points, B = 100 points, C= 80 points and D = 60 points. For a full detailed list of qualification and points see the ucas website.

• Most are studied at universities across the country. The Open University offers students courses to study in their own homes
• No, you do not necessarily have to move away from home to study an HE course – it depends where you live and where the course you want to study is offered.

You will have two main expenses – tuition fees and your cost of living such as books, rent, food, clothing and transport. Financial support is available, you may be eligible for: a tuition fee loan, a maintenance loan, a living cost grant and most universities have bursaries and scholarships. How much you would get depends on where you live, household income, the course you want to study and the university that you are going to.

More information can be found on the Directgov website.

 Go along to university open days, there are usually student ambassadors on hand to talk to. Also there is usually information on the university website

You can also check out the following websites:-

• Yougo
• The unofficial-guides

• Study at HE is essential for some careers such as medicine, teaching, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine and law to name a few
• Employment and progression success rates of different courses can be found at www.unistats.com and also at Prospects
• Look on Connexions Direct – Jobs4U to find out more about entry routes into certain careers and whether they require HE study.

You should look at the adult learning prospectuses for the colleges in your area. You can find these on their websites or contact the college using the contact details on the Contact page. Alternatively, you could go into your local Connexions hub or local/information centre library.

You can also visit Directgov to find out more.

There are so many different types of qualifications you will need to ask an adviser at the place at which you find a course that you would like to take.

There are so many different types of qualifications you will need to ask an adviser at the place at which you find a course that you would like to take.

 There are so many different types of qualifications you will need to ask your Connexions Adviser, teacher or an adviser at the university you would like to go to.

If you visit Directgov you will be able to find out about funding. If you would rather talk to someone, then you can ask the college that you hope to attend or your Connexions hub.

Ask the course provider or visit their website.

You can usually find out by going to an open evening or open day.