Next Steps
Year 11? Big decisions to make
Here is some updated information for Years 11 and 13 on applying to college in the current situation.
If you are in Year 11, you have some big decisions to make for your future pathway. Your main choices are:
Remain in full time education - i.e. 6th Form (Greensward or another school) or Further Education at a college such as SEEVIC, SEC, Writtle, etc.
Find an Apprenticeship - you will be working and studying towards a related qualification
Work or Volunteer while studying part-time
For more information go to: www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school
The majority of Year 11 students do remain in full-time education. Greensward students will not automatically be offered a place at Greensward 6th Form. Students must apply and you must meet the entry criteria for the courses they offer. Students need to apply for a place at 6th form or college before GCSE results are received and ideally by Christmas. Always have a first choice and a back-up option.
All Year 11 students will have the opportunity for a one-to-one careers meeting with a careers adviser to discuss their plans but in the meantime:-
Look out for Open Evening and taster events
Talk to teachers to get your predicted GCSE grades
Make sure you have a back-up plan
Useful links are below.
The Essex Employment & Skills Board are passionate about ensuring that young people are aware of the wide range of career opportunities available on their doorstep and they have created a new Essex careers website: www.whatsyourthing.org.uk. What’s Your Thing? will help inform and inspire students in the career choices they make by providing an insight into the careers available in seven priority sectors which contribute significantly to the local economy and have thousands of job opportunities. These sectors include Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, Construction, Health, Logistics, Care, Finance & Insurance and IT, Digital & Creative.
Apprenticeships
To find out more about apprenticeships see: www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch. The National Apprenticeship Service has also produced a guide for parents which can be viewed here.
School Leavers Summer 2022
Financial Support for students in Further Education (16-18)
One reason students may give for not going on to college or sixth form after year 11 can be finance, in some cases where students are aware of their family's financial situation, the costs associated with staying in education after year 11 can seem like a huge barrier that cannot be overcome. Many students don't even want to discuss this issue with parents and carers as they don't want to worry them.
In the middle of a pandemic when many parents / carers may be facing unemployment or have been furloughed; finance maybe an even bigger concern than it normally would. Students may feel that college or sixth form is not available to them. However, there is a direct relationship between the level of education a student achieves and their future earnings, this email is about the financial assistance that is available to eligible students when they go on to Further Education whether at Greensward or at another establishment.
There are a number of options which may be available to students, depending on individual circumstances. All further education establishments have access to bursaries that students can apply for, you will find details of how to apply for financial assistance in the college prospectus and on the college website.
The first thing to be aware of is that currently students who are aged 16 to 18, and who have lived in the UK or an EU country for 3 years before going to college, do not have to pay tuition fees to go to college or sixth form after year 11.
Bursaries
There are two types of Bursary which may paid in weekly or monthly instalments: -
1. Discretionary Bursaries
Students aged 16 to 18, whose family's income is less than £25,000 a year and who are in receipt of certain benefits, may be eligible to receive a discretionary bursary to help with essential costs, such as: -
-Travel
-Equipment e.g. - books and materials
-Trips - if these are an essential part of the course
-DBS check - if required for the course (e.g. Childcare courses)
-Help with the cost of meals at college.
2. Bursaries for Vulnerable Students Some students aged 16 to 18 may be eligible for a bursary of up to £1,200.00 if they are:
-In care
-A young care leaver
-Receiving both Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit and either Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence payments in their own name
-Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in their own name
Free Meals in Further Education
Some students, aged 16 to 19, may be eligible for free meals while they are at college or 6th form. Free meals will normally be available for those students whose family income is less than £25,000 per year.
Travel Costs
Students may also be able to get help with their travel costs. For example, if the college the student chooses is the nearest college to their home address offering their chosen course, and they live more than 3 miles from the college campus.
More information about financial assistance for travel to college is available form Essex County Council at: - https://www.essex.gov.uk/school-transport/post-16-transport
Care to Learn
Students under 20 years old, who have to pay for childcare while attending college may be able to get help towards the cost of childcare. More information and details of how to apply are available from: - https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn The scheme is available for publicly-funded courses in England, which includes courses offered by sixth-forms in schools sixth-form and further education colleges
For more details of the support available and how to apply students and their parents/carers should contact colleges and sixth forms direct or look at the support section of the establishment's website.
Apprenticeships
Students who decide to go on to an apprenticeship after year 11 are paid a minimum of £4.15 per hour or £124.50 for 30 hours per week. However, some employers may pay more than this.
Useful websites: -
Links:
Bursaries
https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/financial-support further-education https://www.essex.gov.uk/school-transport/post-16-transport
Care to Learn
https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn
Apprenticeships https://www.gov.uk/become-apprentice/pay-and-conditions