Education and Training
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2013 - 2014 Education and training We have designed this guide to help make your education and training choices easier and to identify the many different opportunities available to you. Contents Who can help you? 3 14-19 Pathways and qualifications 4 & 5 Understanding the education system Learner entitlement 6 Safeguarding 14-19 area prospectus 7 Frequently asked questions 8 Labour market information The world of work 9 Support for parents 10-12 The Isle of Wight year 10 and 11 offer 13-15 The Isle of Wight 16+ offer 16 -19 The Isle of Wight College 16+ offer 20-22 The Isle of Wight training providers 23-25 Isle of Wight Council participation team 26 Isle of Wight post 16 initiatives 27 Useful contacts 30 2 www.facebook.com/choicesiw Who can help you Everyone needs a bit of help with decision Where should you look for information making. Make sure you get all the help and and advice on the internet? support you need – your option choices are too important to leave to chance! ‘Which way now?’ (key stage 4 options) and ‘It’s your Choice’ (post 16 options) are the National When looking for information a good place to start Choices publications. Designed as an online tool is at your local school or college. If you are looking these informative workbooks can be used to access for information on the internet remember that the following information; schools, college and training providers all have their own websites which will have a great deal of • Up-to-date and impartial information about the information relating to their course offers and full range of 14-19 pathways training opportunities. • Easy-to-use action points taking students through For local contact information see page 30 of this the steps they need to follow publication. • Real life case studies of young people who have experienced the options process • Useful tips and signposts for where to find out Who knows what you need to more know? To download the National Choices publications visit www.education.gov.uk - www.cegnet.co.uk Don’t let teaching methods, workload and Bookmark and browse the ‘Young people’ assessment come as a surprise. Find out what an pages on www.gov.uk They have information and option is really like, where it leads and how it could advice about education and training opportunities help you in the future. and careers written especially for you, with links to Check that it suits your abilities and interests. Read other useful websites. all the information you get. See page 30 for local contacts and the National Browse your 14-19 area prospectus. Careers Service offering information, advice and www.ucasprogress.com guidance relating to the choices available to you. Go to options events. Sign up for taster activities and visits. Talk to the people running the courses and if you can, the students doing them. There’s help at hand Careers lessons. The careers resource centre. Who knows you really well? Options events. Course tasters. Progress reviews. Online prospectuses. Subject teachers. Careers advisers. Talk to your parents or carers and subject teachers. Speak to the people who are helping you with They are all there to help you with your other parts of your life – like friends, mentors, decision making. Make the most of them so that coaches, learning support staff and careers you choose options that work for you. advisers. They want the best for you. They will Your parents or carers want the best for you but tell you if they think that an option will suit you and things have changed a lot since they went to explain why. They will also help you to explore and school. Help them to understand what you are think about the alternatives. doing and how they can help you. Show them the parents and carers pages within this booklet. Who can give you expert help if you’re confused? Get as much information and support as you can so you choose well. If you have no particular career in mind, look for options that will give you plenty Speak to the careers adviser at your school or of choice post 16. If you have a firm career idea, college. research it and choose your options accordingly. www.facebook.com/choicesiw 3 14-19 Pathways and qualifications Qualifications allow you greater access to further qualification is – the higher you go, the harder the opportunities in education, training and work qualification. Whatever you want to do in life, there is a • Most employers ask first-time job applicants for qualification to help you do it. The important thing is level 2 qualifications (for example GCSEs at grades to choose the right ones at the right time. To do this A* to C) – but they increasingly want people with you need to understand qualification levels. There qualifications at level 3 and above. are nine qualification levels. Entry level up to level 8. Every level includes different types of qualifications. • You need level 3 qualifications to get on to most Some are subject-based. Some are work-related. university courses. You generally need a grade C or Some are job-related. The level tells you how hard a above in GCSE English and mathematics too. Functional skills at entry Work Entry level Entry level level (English, related certificates maths and learning ICT) Traineeships Functional skills at level Work GCSEs NVQs Level 1 1 (English, related (Grade D-G) at level 1 maths and learning ICT) OCR Functional Nationals skills at level GCSEs Intermediate NVQs Level 2 BTEC First 2 (English, Traineeships (Grade A*-C) Apprenticeships at level 2 Diplomas & maths and Certificates ICT) BTEC Diplomas, Advanced NVQs International Level 3 A levels Certificates Apprenticeships at level 3 Baccalaureate and Awards Foundation Higher NVQ at BTEC Level 4 - 8 Degree Degree Apprenticeships Level 4 HND, HNC Decision points There are three main decision points for young people at 14, 16 and 18, for those who take one year courses post 16, and at 17 as well. A learner can easily change from one course to another at these points. 4 www.facebook.com/choicesiw Study programmes A levels A Levels like most GCSEs have already been updated From September 2013, new 16 to 19 study programmes and modernised. Stronger connections between topics have been introduced. All those in either full or part- and more open ended questions increase the level of time education aged 16 to 19 will be expected to follow challenge for students. A Level students will be able to a study programme tailored to their individual needs, gain an A* grade, determined at A2, to recognise the education and employment goals, including students higher levels of achievement. with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Apprenticeship Traineeships As an Apprentice, you can earn whilst you learn and The new traineeships programme is one that will gain nationally recognised qualifications at the same support young people to develop the skills they need time such as a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), to secure and succeed in employment, including BTEC or City and Guilds. apprenticeships. Traineeships will be introduced from Apprenticeships come in three levels. August 2013 for 16- to 24-year-olds (and young people • Intermediate Level Apprenticeships - equivalent to 5 with learning difficulty assessments up to academic good GCSE passes age 25). Traineeships will fit within broader study programmes for 16- to 19-year-olds. • Advanced Apprenticeships - equivalent to 2 A level Employers tell us that they are concerned that young passes people often lack the right skills and attitudes when • Higher Apprenticeships - lead to qualifications at NVQ they apply for an apprenticeship or other employment. L4 or in some cases a foundation degree Yet many young people are highly motivated by work, There is no set time to complete an Apprenticeship or the prospect of it. as they vary widely in content and size. The length of Traineeships will offer these young people the time taken will depend on the ability of the individual opportunity to undertake a substantial work placement apprentice and the employer’s requirements. and work skills training, alongside support to improve Key benefits: Earn a salary, get paid holidays, receive their English and mathematics. Depending on the training, gain qualifications, learn job-specific skills. young person’s needs, a range of other support and For more information visit: www.apprenticeships.org.uk flexible training may be offered to help them develop their skills and progress quickly onto an apprenticeship or secure other employment. GCSE / A LEVEL GCSEs - Qualification • GCSE – one full GCSE TOP TIP • GCSE Double Award – equivalent to two full GCSEs If you’re not sure what to do next, Learning or need help making a decision Mostly classroom learning. Mix of theory and subject make an appointment with the based investigations. The amount of practical work careers adviser at your school/ depends on the subject. college or talk to teachers, careers Assessment coordinators or other professionals • Mix of written examinations and internal assessment. that may be able to help. • Achievement is graded A* to G. • Some subjects have two tiers of assessment: Foundation and Higher. Your school will decide which tier you should do. Foundation tier leads to grades C to G. Higher tier leads to grades A* to D. What next GCSEs will help you whatever you plan to do after key stage 4. You can use them to meet the entry requirements for level 3 courses, an Apprenticeship and other form of job with training. Having 5 GCSEs at grades C and above (including English and mathematics) gives you a much bigger choice of post-16 options.