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16+ Choices – What Happens After Year 11?
Whether you’re in Year 11 and having a bit of a wobble about your plans, in Year 10 and just starting to think about what comes next, or a parent of a younger student who wants to understand the process, the post‑16 landscape can feel big and confusing.
Don’t worry, you’re not expected to have all the answers yet.
Let’s break it down.
After Year 11, there are three main pathways you can take:
1. A‑Levels
Usually studied at a Sixth Form (either in school or at a dedicated Sixth Form College).
You typically choose 3 subjects and study them in depth over 2 years.
A‑levels are great if you enjoy academic study and want to keep your future options open for university, apprenticeships, or employment.
2. Vocational & Technical Courses
Examples include T‑levels, BTECs, and other specialist qualifications.
These courses are often more practical and focus on specific areas like health, IT, engineering, childcare, or business.
They are delivered by some sixth forms but mainly by local Further Education Colleges such as New College Durham, Darlington College, and Bishop Auckland College.
T‑levels also include a work placement, giving you real‑world experience alongside your studies.
3. Apprenticeships & Work‑Based Learning
This route combines paid work with accredited training.
You’ll gain hands‑on experience while studying for a recognised qualification (often 1 day a week at college or with a training provider).
Apprenticeships range from entry‑level to degree level in many industries.
These are the three main ‘directions’, but there are variations and combinations within each. Thinking about it this way keeps things simple to start with, then you can explore the details as you go.
Information about what's next
Information about what's next
Watch the video and have a look at the grid to see what your options are after Year 11.
Click to find out more
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships
When you do an apprenticeship you’re out in the workplace four or five days a week and earning a wage, but some of your time is also spent working towards professional qualifications. Certain types of apprenticeships can also lead to university qualifications.
Apprenticeships are jobs with training and are very competitive.
To find out what’s on offer locally look at
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/ and Notgoingtouni app guide
T-Levels
T-Levels are a new type of tehnical qualification, designed for after your GCSEs. They've been developed alongside employers to make sure that what you learn meets the needs of industry and prepares you for work.
Click to find out more
Work-related qualifications are sometimes called vocational qualifications:
Work-related qualifications are sometimes called vocational qualifications:
They are related to a work area
Employers and professional bodies helped to develop them
They include OCR Nationals, BTECs and City & Guilds qualifications
They are on offer in a range of subjects covering:
Broad work-related areas such as art & design, engineering or hospitality & catering
And narrower, job-specific area such as automotive engineering, graphic design or food & beverage service
A Levels & AS levels
A Levels & AS levels
(AS - not all sixth forms & colleges now offer this qualification)
(AS - not all sixth forms & colleges now offer this qualification)
There are about 80 different A levels - although not all of them are on offer in every school, college or sixth form. You can continue with subjects from year 11 and/or choose new subjects. A levels are usually taken over 2 years.
AS - In the first year, you usually choose 3 or 4 AS levels. You can count this first year AS as a qualification on its own or continue into a second year to get the full A level award.
A level - In the second year, you can continue with the same subjects and get the full A levels in some or all of your subjects, do more AS levels or change on to another course.
A/S and A levels are valued by employers but do not prepare learners for specific types of work – they help to build skills and learning which prepare for all types of work. The study of certain subjects, such as maths and science may be important for specific career pathways.
Foundation Learning (Entry Level and Level 1) may be for you if you:
Foundation Learning (Entry Level and Level 1) may be for you if you:
Have not got qualifications at level 1 yet and would find GCSE level courses difficult
Find it difficult to learn without extra support
Need more help to decide what you are going to do in the future
Progression booklet coming soon!
Progression booklet coming soon!
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