Student Information
GENERAL INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE
Birmingham Careers Service - This is a detailed list of Colleges in the Birmingham area and how they are currently operating, contact details and how they are taking applications during the current period of social distancing. https://www.birminghamcareersservice.co.uk/colleges/
What are my options?
- studying at a college
- studying at a sixth form
- completing an apprenticeship or training programme
It is vital to make your choices based upon your skills, aspirations and the opportunities available to you locally. The pathway you choose will be based on the following:
The GCSE/vocational grades you expect to achieve/have been predicted
How you like to learn
Where you want to study/train
What you want to do next (further study, training, career aspirations)
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES:
Engage with the Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) sessions you are given in school
Research the different careers that interest you
What are the entry requirements?
Are there different entry routes?
What does the job entail on a day-to-day basis?
What opportunities for growth are there?
How much will/could you earn?
Speak to your teachers, parents and other people you know
Book an appointment with our Careers Adviser
USEFUL CAREERS LINKS
Detailed profiles and case studies of growth sectors in the local area (Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing, Life Sciences, Business Professional & Financial Services, Tech and Digital) - https://businessbirmingham.com/sectors/
Not Going to Uni? Opportunities that exist outside of the traditional university route. These can include apprenticeships, degree apprenticeships, gap years, traineeships and jobs - https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/about-us
Target Careers - Top 10 skills for school leavers - https://targetcareers.co.uk/careers-advice/skills-and-experience/40-the-top-ten-skills-that-ll-get-you-a-job-when-you-leave-school
Get My First Job - CV template, CV, personal brand, and interview tips - https://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk/Develop/YoungPeople.aspx
Bragfolder – This website allows students to build a digital profile of their interests and careers experience and apply to trainee roles and apprenticeships directly - https://www.bragfolder.com
Barclays Life Skills - CV Builders and cover letters. Allows students to build their own personalised profile - https://barclayslifeskills.com/i-want-help-applying-for-jobs/school/cv-builder
BBC Bitesize - Where will your favourite subject lead you? https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhst2sg
First Careers - Search careers through subjects. Includes videos - https://www.firstcareers.co.uk/
Future Morph - Career opportunities in English and Maths - http://www.futuremorph.org/
Learn Live - Learn live provides 24/7 opportunities to ask questions and get advice from employers. Students can ask questions and they will get a response as a form of chat, also regular broadcast opportunities to book onto and ask questions from home - https://learnliveuk.com/careers/
Spark Careers - Spark Careers run broadcasted events to inspire young people. Free opportunity - https://www.sparkcareers.org/careers
Careersbox - National careers film library, a free careers resource showing hundreds of real people doing real jobs - https://www.careersbox.co.uk/
Interested in Engineering? Then check out this 'Meet the Engineers' video.
COLLEGE/SIXTH FORM ROUTE
CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES...
If you are considering engaging in further study, there are a number of factors you should consider:
TYPE OF PROVISION? School sixth form? Small, specialised college? Larger college?
WHERE? Do you want to stay local to your house or are you prepared to travel?
WHAT? 'Traditional' A Levels? Vocational qualifications? Subjects you already study? New subjects? It is important to choose subjects that you think you will enjoy and do well in and that will help you reach your future goals.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS? What do you need to achieve to get in? Are you being realistic? Are you being ambitious enough?
WHAT NEXT? If you want to go on to university and have a particular degree or subject in mind, it is worth checking out the entry requirements on the UCAS site, so that your post 16 choices are the right ones to ensure you get where you want to go post 18!
SPECIALISE OR KEEP IT GENERAL? If you definitely know what you want to do, you could start to specialise BUT if you really don't know what you want to do at 18 (which is totally fine!), but you think higher education might be of interest then choose a broad range of subjects at 16 so you have maximum choice of university subjects later. There are some A Level subjects highly regarded by virtually all universities. These are sometimes known as ‘facilitating’ subjects and include: Maths, English, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, History, Geography and languages. This does not mean you have to choose these subjects!
LINKS TO COLLEGES & SIXTH FORMS
Here are some of the local colleges and sixth forms that our students have applied to in recent years (this list is not exhaustive). Click on the name of the college to take you to their website.
COLLEGES
SIXTH FORMS
Aston University Engineering Academy (Sixth Form)
King Edwards Five Ways Sixth Form
King Edwards Camp Hill Sixth Form
University of Birmingham School
apprenticeship information
Many of our students will be set on moving into further and higher education at local sixth forms and colleges which is absolutely fine. However, this 'traditional' route is not for everyone. An increasing number of young people throughout the country now apply for apprenticeships and training schemes in an ever increasing array of industries and sectors. Apprenticeships can offer many of the same benefits as sixth form/college study but also offer the opportunity for young people to:
gain invaluable occupational and workplace experience;
work towards recognised qualifications, technical certification and key employability and transferable skills;
work alongside experienced professionals and gain job-specific skills;
earn money!
If students are interested in applying for apprenticeships or just want to find out more information, they should:
use the guidance on this page
follow the links to additional information
speak to Mrs Storer-Young, Careers Leader
book an appointment with out Careers Adviser
There are more and more apprenticeships available in an ever increasing array of industries, from mechanical/engineering to sports and leisure, from business/administration to the creative sector...and everything in between.
Apprenticeships are also offered at different levels of entry, from school leavers right the way through to degree level. The length of time taken to complete an apprenticeship will depend on the level of the qualification but most apprenticeships are achieved in 1-5 years.
Apprenticeships have equivalent educational levels as follows:
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT APPRENTICESHIPS AND HOW TO APPLY
However, there are other sources which are worth investigating:
Amazing Apprenticeships offers lots of excellent information and resources about apprenticeships.
Get My First Job offers information about apprentice and job opportunities within Birmingham.
Not Going to Uni offers information about apprentice and job opportunities within Birmingham.
wmjobs offers information about apprentice and job opportunities within the West Midlands.
All About Apprenticeships lists apprentice opportunities throughout the country.
And, don't forget, if you have a specific employer/work place in mind, companies will list opportunities on their individual websites too.