YEAR 11
Year 11 Information, Advice and Guidance
The first major crossroads in your life is fast approaching, it is important not to let time drift and be caught by lethargy. We need to set goals to help maintain resilience, focus and purpose.
We include a timeline below advising you on the action you should take over the next few months so that you are fully prepared for the next steps in your career and academic pathway.
Your GCSE Grades
Your GCSE grades will stay with you for the rest of your life. Employers will constantly ask you how many GCSEs you achieved and many will specifically ask what GCSE grades you were awarded for your English and Maths GCSE. Trust me, I was asked at the age of 50!
Results are usually released in the middle of the third week in August. This allows you plenty of time to re-assess or confirm where you plan to go for the next stage of your studies.
Your Next Steps Planning for Your Future
Timeline of Actions:
September onwards - If you haven't had one already, you will have a careers interview in the first two or three terms. You need to start to firm up your ideas of what to do next and visit college and sixth form open events as they come up. You then start putting in your applications. If you want to do an apprenticeship, many of the best ones are very competitive and you must apply early.
October onwards - As you apply for places, you will start to get offers of interviews. Make sure that you look smart, give a good impression of yourself and have prepared some answers about why you want to study a particular course.
You will hopefully then be offered some places. You can apply to lots of different places and accept several offers then decide on decide results day which to take. If you are applying to an apprenticeship or a competitive course, you must have a back-up option.
May - recheck your plans and take time to consider your broader career pathways. Look at all the links on the schools CEIAG, follow the link below: https://www.rednockschool.org.uk/information-advice-guidance/careers/
If you are unsure, we can offer an online/telephone careers interview which you will need to BOOK via email to annie.traynor@rednockschool.org.uk
Confirm, by email, that your application form to your next course at Rednock or elsewhere has been received. You can change your mind. Contact Mrs Barker Assistant Headteacher - Head of 6th Form, to discuss your options and next steps and a place at Rednock 6th Form
June - Follow up your application to confirm that you have been accepted and assume that you are going to attend either Rednock or your preferred College. Ask for preparation coursework and wider reading lists for you to start so that you are ready for September. Do not rely upon phone calls but make sure you use email so that you have a written record. First key contacts are ben.cheeseman@rednockschool.org.uk and linda.wright@rednockschool.org.uk
Begin the posted transition and support work for your chosen courses to ensure that you are prepared for the demands of these courses
July - continue with your preparation work, make notes and records in just that same way as you were taught to revise. Remember, next academic year will probably start slowly; it is not an excuse for you not to work.
August - you will receive your formal GCSE grades. Telephone or email Rednock 6th Form or your preferred college to report your grades and confirm that you will be attending your courses in September.
September - Start your new courses, remember “look forward and do not look back”.
Which way now? My plan for the Next Steps
Which way now? The next stepping stone is all about the next direction you will take
Sixth Form?
College?
Apprenticeship?
Please take a look at the Year 11 Next Steps Handbook. It gives your simple advice and guidance on the variety of choice that is available to you and how to get there.
You also need to learn the art of completing application forms and writing personal statements that attract potential employers to want to interview you.
Please use these Guides on:
Pathways to explore
A levels, BTECs and other Level 2 and 3 Qualifications
We offer a whole range of different qualifications at Rednock Sixth Form. There are also other Sixth Forms in the area that you might wish to explore. Each one offeres a slightly different range of courses.
Further Education college courses
A huge array of different courses are available at colleges in the local area. Some of these courses are A levels and BTECs, similar to those offered in Sixth Forms. Colleges also offer a range of different vocational training courses designed to help you into a variety of professions. You can find out more about Further Education colleges here.
T levels
T levels are a fairly new qualification that incorporate a long period of work experience and allow you to get qualifications related to specific career areas. Find out more here
Traineeships
Traineeships are courses that prepare you for work or an apprenticeship. They are paid jobs, that lead to some kind of formalised qualification, for example attending evening classes at college for English and Maths, or pursuing professional qualifications such as in marketing, accountancy and financial services. You can find traineeships here.
Helpful Links
A range of useful websites and resources to use:
Careersbox
Careersbox is the national careers film library, a free careers resource showing hundreds of real people doing real jobs - https://www.careersbox.co.uk/
Career Pilot
Career Pilot includes expert careers information and tools for 11-19 year olds, all in one place. Explore different job sectors and how you can study and work at the same time – even to university level. Information about vocational qualifications, plus the top 20 apprenticeship vacancies in the South West
CareerRadar
Students can register with CareerRadar using their school email address to undertake a simple psychometric test and explore suggested career pathways.
Gloucestershire County Council
What’s Next? is a booklet that gives Gloucestershire students information and advice about choosing GCSE options, post-16 study, the world of work, and preparing themselves for adulthood.
Designed with the help of students, it takes young people through the choices they have and suggests lots of resources where they can explore these options for themselves. It encourages students to think about what subjects they enjoy, what they're good at and what they might want to do after school.
Click here to download the What's Next booklet.
NGTU
Not Going to Uni is the #1 website for school and college leavers. Search thousands of jobs, opportunities and apprenticeships in UK and find your perfect fit!
PROSPECTS
Prospects guide millions of students to make the right choice. Match your skills and personality to 400+ job profiles.
Keep up to date with the latest job news, career advice and postgraduate study opportunities with Prospects' range of print and digital publications. https://www.prospects.ac.uk/prospects-publications
reed.co.uk
Post 16 advice and information on applying for jobs. Reed advertises vacancies on behalf of employers and recruitment agencies who are looking for staff.
Start Profile
Start helps schools and colleges to meet their statutory duties around careers guidance, combining the most comprehensive source of information with a personalised student experience and tracking capabilities to help teachers monitor student progress and engagement.
Whatuni?
Whatuni is the UK's biggest university course comparison site! Search 1000s of courses and read 1000s of real student reviews to find your perfect course. Plus use Whatuni to book open days and order prospectuses!
Library/Book based
There are lots of books to look at in the LRC for you to find out about different jobs and how to get there. We keep this section up to date and keep an eye out for future employment trends. Key books to look at are: Heaps 2020, and Careers Books 2019-2021.