Future Self in the Sixth Form

Apprenticeships are real jobs with real employers, allowing you to work, earn a salary and gain valuable qualifications and experience. With over 600 different apprenticeship standards covering everything from accountancy to zoo keeping, there is an apprenticeship out there for everyone.

A degree level apprenticeship allows you to earn a degree whilst you work and you can expect to spend at least 20% of your time studying, usually one day a week or one week a month, but this varies across providers.

In England, there are four levels of apprenticeship:

1. Intermediate (Level 2 - equivalent to five GCSE passes)

2. Advanced (Level 3 - equivalent to two A level passes)

3. Higher (Levels 4, 5, 6, and 7 - equivalent to a foundation degree)

4. Degree (Levels 6 and 7 - equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree)

Most pupils at CHS who apply for apprenticeships are looking at degree level although some will also explore higher level apprenticeships as well.

1. You earn a salary - the average salary for a Degree Apprentice is £23,344 per year and you’ll be earning money from day one.

2. No debt - the average student graduates in the UK with £45,000 of debt. The costs of studying for an apprenticeship will be paid for you by your employer and the government. Studying for a degree in the UK currently costs up to £9,250 a year and this does not cover accommodation or living costs.

3. Real world experience - in the same amount of time, you will have gained real work experience within your chosen industry, making you more employable upon completion of your degree with 93% of apprenticeships retained by their employers upon completion of their degree. It will take longer to complete a degree however, typically between 4-6 years.

4. NUS - you are still eligible for an NUS card and you will be affiliated to a university whilst studying for your degree. This means you can still get involve in student lifestyle, join university societies and represent the university at sport, depending on your work commitments.

5. Accommodation - whilst many studying for apprenticeships tend to stay at home, you can still move into university accommodation or private halls to begin with. This will help widen your social circle and allow you to meet new people and experience moving away from home and immerse yourself in a new place.

An apprenticeship isn’t for everyone and some careers still require you to study via a more traditional route. However every year more professions are now offering apprenticeship routes (including medicine and teaching) and we expect the provision of apprenticeships to expand considerably in the coming years.

The best schemes are highly competitive and highly sought after! Employers are looking not just at your academic qualifications, but your wider CV and achievements and applying is not an easy option. For those wanting to apply for apprenticeships you need to be really switched on and proactive in the following ways.

1. Know which websites to use to find opportunities and set alerts as they get updated daily.

   1. Browse apprenticeships before you apply - This has details of all opportunities currently open on the government site. You need to check this on a regular basis as there are daily/weekly updates from companies posting opportunities.

   2. Search for opportunities through UCAS - The UCAS apprenticeship search engine is a great resource as well.

   3. Apprenticeship Application Guides - UCAS now has tailored advice for specific sectors

   4. Company websites - if there’s a scheme or company you would like to apply, go onto their website and find out when applications open and sign up for updates.

2. September to December of Year 13 - this is the most popular time for companies to launch their schemes and opportunities. They may even stop receiving applications before the deadline due to the high level of applications so apply early.

3. Start looking in Year 12 - find out what is available a year before you think about applying, set alerts for the following year and create a longlist of everything that interests you.

4. Start building your CV - what work experience have you completed in the summer of Year 12, do you have a part time job, have you taken part in co-curricular activities that are relevant to your chosen apprenticeship and how can you stand out in a crowded field?

5. Expect to have to do a lot - the process tends to involve lots of stages from an initial application, online testing, interviews, presentations and assessment centres. It will put into perspective the challenges of a UCAS Personal Statement!

6. Submit a UCAS application anyway - here at CHS we would recommend that everyone submits a UCAS application to keep their options open.

7. Don't be afraid of taking a year out - it may take two cycles of applications to find the right apprenticeship for you and having the time and space to consider your options after Sixth Form may be beneficial to you, alongside some travel and wider life experiences.

There will be dedicated Form Time throughout the Spring and Summer of Year 12 and start of Year 13 to help those who want to apply for apprenticeships alongside Form Tutor, Head of Hall and Head of Sixth Form input and support. Parents and pupils should contact any member of the Sixth Form Team should they have any queries and the links below are invaluable for applicants.

• Apprenticeships through UCAS | Learn About Apprenticeships And Find The Right One For You - The UCAS website now has lots of excellent resources regarding all aspects of apprenticeships.

• Parent and guardian guide to apprenticeships - UCAS has specific information for parents and guardians 

• Amazing Apprenticeships - This is a brilliant resource for further information about apprenticeships, how to apply and guidance for applicants.

• An introduction to apprenticeships : Unifrog - All pupils have a Unifrog account and can log on to utilise the resources and information here.

• The government apprenticeship website - There’s lots of great information on here which gets updated regularly.

• RateMyApprenticeship - This organisation provides reviews and feedback on providers to help applicants scrutinise their options and choices.

• National Apprenticeship Week - Information regarding National Apprenticeship Week, usually in February each year 

• National Apprenticeship Week - Another site also with information regarding National Apprenticeship Week

• Degree apprenticeships - guide for apprentices - Office for Students 

• Accommodation for Apprentices | UCAS - advice on securing accommodation for applicants

• Springpod - gain virtual work experience with top employers and universities on Springpod

• How to use LinkedIn as a student or apprentice - set up a LinkedIn account and this guide talks you through how best to do this 

Higher education in the UK isn’t necessarily the most cost-effective choice. A recent study conducted by HSBC found that Germany was the least expensive place to study at less than half the annual cost of a degree in the UK, with France coming a close second.

There are thousands of graduates with similar qualifications seeking jobs every year. Studying abroad will help you stand out – it’ll give you more life experience, cultural awareness, and perhaps a different perspective on life to your fellow graduates.

According to the QS World University Rankings, six of the top ten universities on the planet are abroad, with five of those being in America. Although four of the top ten are UK-based course providers, why not try something a little different and experience the same high level of tuition but in completely different surroundings?

In our global economy, an awareness of the wider world can go a long way. Just think of all those international businesses looking for clued-up employees, with an understanding of different cultures and how the world works.

Want to see the world but can’t justify an extended holiday? Combine the two and study abroad where you can explore as extensively as you like!

Whilst we hope that all pupils have secured their Firm or Insurance offers, each year a handful of applicants use Clearing because they've missed the requirements for their offer or they want to change to a different course. Please see this guide to Clearing, which this year opens on 5th July 2024 ahead of Results Day on Thursday 15th August 2024.