Post-16 Choices

Parent Information Evening 13th November 2014

Mr P Jones - Careers Coordinator

N.B. The Diploma is no longer offered as a qualification

Notes: ______

Local colleges

Below and on the following page are profiles of the most popular local colleges accessed by students leaving after Year 11. A full list of open days/evenings for all colleges in the local area is available via http://www.wilmslowhigh.com/curriculum/key-stage-4/year-11/

Macclesfield College is a general further education college offering courses from pre-GCSE to Degree level in a large number of subject areas and the Year 11 section of their website opens as follows: College provides high quality education for school leavers from across the area from their base on the state-of-the-art Macclesfield Learning Zone campus. The College has been built around what you need and is designed to inspire you to succeed. It benefits from industry-standard training facilities including the European Centre for Aerospace Training (ECAT), the Pure Hair and Beauty Salon, the Silk Room Restaurant, the sports hall and fitness centre and a number of specialist art and design studios. - Macclesfield College provides a subsidised bus service for full-time 16-18 year old students at a current cost of £210 per academic year (2013/14 cost). There are contract services for the College running from Wilmslow/Handforth and Knutsford/Alderley Edge

Stockport College is a general further education college offering courses from pre-GCSE to Degree level in a large number of subject areas ranging from Hair and Beauty to Engineering, Catering to Health and Social Care, Construction to Travel and Tourism. The college proudly claims that its town centre campus on Wellington Road South to have “state-of-the-art facilities” for teaching, learning and the social aspects of student life such as a Students’ Union and Travel Shop. With courses like construction or motor vehicle being highly competitive, students are encouraged to apply early. - With regular and fast rail services from Alderley Edge, Wilmslow and Handforth stations, and the 378 bus stopping right outside the college, the popularity of with Wilmslow students is perhaps not surprising.

Reaseheath College is a specialist provider of vocational education and training for businesses, industries and communities which are mainly, but not exclusively, rural and land based. Consequently the college offers a diverse range of courses in agriculture, horticulture, animal management, equine studies, adventure sport, countryside management, food technology, land-based engineering and technology, construction and business. All of these courses take place on a 330 hectare campus that includes farms, parklands, a lake, woodland, a zoo and sports facilities, including a golf course. In addition, the college is the National Dairy Champion within a sector skills academy for food and drink. - All of these qualities have made Reaseheath increasingly popular with Wilmslow students in recent years with the result that it has been possible for a direct student coach service to be introduced that picks up and drops off students in Wilmslow town centre.

Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College has now become two individual colleges – The Cheadle College – Marple Sixth Form College. Both colleges remain linked together but now as major hubs within an overarching framework called The C&M College Network. There is a section of their website focused on the needs of Year 11 students at www.camsfc.ac.uk/cmsfc-school-leavers.asp. Both colleges offer students a wide range of academic, vocational and work-based courses, from AS and A Levels through vocational programmes, to Apprenticeships and the CHOICES programme for students at Pre Entry and Entry Level.

Trafford College is a large further education college, which has approximately 11,000 students across four sites, located in Timperley, Stretford (x2) and Manchester City Centre. It prepares learners for a wide range of sectors, offering traditional academic or vocational courses. The College has been recognised as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, and as a result has maintained the Beacon Status, awarded only to the top 10% of Colleges nationally on the basis of their student results. The College has also been awarded National Skills Academy Status for excellence in Retail, Environmental Technologies and Hospitality.

Aquinas College is a Catholic further education college, which predominantly offers A-Level courses along with some vocational courses spanning QCF Levels 1-3. The college takes pride in being an open-access college (no academic selection), which is founded on ‘mutual respect, equality and tolerance’ as well as setting high expectations for academic achievement. - The College is located just off the A6, approximately one mile South of Stockport train station

Useful Websites

National Careers Service nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk This is the Government’s hub for careers advice for people of all ages where you can find help with drafting letters, CVs or exploring your skills. Alternatively, you can speak directly with an advisor via webchat or on 0800 100 900

The area of the site dedicated to supporting young people aged 13-18 in pursuing their career ambitions and offering guidance on making decisions can be accessed via nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/youngpeople/Pages/Youngpeople.aspx

Other websites www.wilmslowhigh.com – details curricular choices offered at WHS, the careers education programme supporting key decisions and how to access information, advice and guidance. www.wayahead-cheshireeast.co.uk – the online prospectus for all of East post-16 education providers. www.plotr.co.uk – investigate careers, watch videos and get great advice, find out about employers and work experience opportunities in your area. www.careerswales.com – a good general careers website and job profile database. www.fasttomato.com – an interactive careers website to help with ‘careers matching’ programme to help with career choice (log in for a free guest pass). www.careersbox.co.uk – video based job profile information and skills explorer tool. www.icould.com - aims to help you to make the most of your potential by showing how others have used theirs, take the 'Buzz' personality profile quiz. www.apprenticeships.org.uk – the National Apprenticeship Service website provides general advice and information about apprenticeships. Also advertises current vacancies. www.notgoingtouni.co.uk – opportunities that exist outside of university. www.careersworld.co.uk - general & regional careers resource includes apprenticeship vacancies. www.ucas.com – information about university courses on offer, also the Stamford test to help with ideas about subjects to study. www.therussellgroup.ac.uk – represents 24 leading universities, source of careers information & advice including ‘informed choices’ a downloadable guide to making post 16 choices. www.prospects.ac.uk – find out which areas you could access after a particular degree.