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At the end of Key Stage 4 (years 10 and 11), your child will be asked to choose their next stage in compulsory education – key stage 5. There are things you need to consider and questions you need to ask as a parent/carer to help your child make the most appropriate choices.
· Does your child’s secondary school have a sixth form?
· Which 16-18 courses are offered in your child’s school?
· Should your child be doing A levels, Applied General Qualifications, an Apprenticeship, volunteering, or looking for work?
· Before GCSE results day, ask which subjects is your child thriving in?
· On GCSE results day, what subjects did your child perform well in?
· Which subjects did your child enjoy during Key Stage 4?
· Which subjects were a source of anxiety and stress for your child during Key Stage 4?
· Which subject areas consistently yield strong outcomes in your child’s school at the end of Key Stage 5?
· Which subject areas have a high turnover of staff and perhaps, therefore, less successful outcomes in your child’s school at Key Stage 5?
· In which subject areas is the behaviour outstanding in your child’s school, so that progress and learning are evident?
· How many subjects is your child able to choose?
· Has your child considered the amount of homework particular subjects yield to help them choose how many and which subjects to choose?
· Does your child’s school offer A levels, BTECs or any other alternative?
· What is your child’s preferred learning style – practical subjects or theoretical?
· Does your child have a career in mind already so that they can choose subjects based on their dream job?
· Does your child want to go to University, into an Apprenticeships or enter the world of work after Key Stage 5?
· Is your child only choosing subjects to be with a favourite teacher or to stay with friends?
· Is your child’s school offering an Options Evening to enable you to seek guidance from teachers?
· Is there someone you know doing the job to which your child is aspiring to seek advice from?
· Has your child spoken to young people currently in apprenticeships, on A level courses, or on BTEC course to get feedback on the reality of each experience?
· If considering a university, has your child contacted them to see if they have pre-requisites in terms of A level or BTEC choices?
· Have you and your child fully researched the various options (recommended websites below)?
A levels at school or college
Applied General Qualifications at school or college
Level 1 or level 2 Apprenticeships
Part-time education or training plus volunteering for 20 hours or more a week.
Part-time education or training if you are employed or self-employed for 20 hours or more a week.
Useful websites
Gives help with “A” level, degree and career choices.
https://my.sacu-student.com/sacustudent/f?p=SACU_BROWSE:331:0
What A Levels do I choose and what degree course can I study with my choice of A Levels?
Gives access to ’Informed Choices’ booklet, which gives definitive information on GCSE and A-level subject choices.
Gives short careers film clips.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/feb/03/how-to-decide-which-a-levels-to-take
Link to FE colleges:
https://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk
Gives information about a range of apprenticeships available in over 170 industries.
Voluntary work:
Paid work:
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