What are your child's options after GCSEs?
- May 1, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 22
This is just a snippet from The Parents' Guide to Post-16 Options. If you’d like the full version, with clear, up-to-date advice, practical tips and actions you can take at home, click below.
Read the full guide: The Parents' Guide to Post-16 Options
In some cases, not much thought is given to a teen’s choices at 16; they’ll stay in the same school and take qualifications in whatever that school offers at sixth form. For many students that’s a perfect choice and sets them up for the future, but for others it isn’t ideal and they'd do better considering other alternatives.
Things to think about include the subjects they’d like to study, the type of qualification they’d like to gain, where to study, and whether they’d prefer to learn while working or without working. Read on for tips on what might be best for your teen once they finish their GCSE years.
What are the rules for 16 year olds living in England and Wales?
All 16 year olds must stay in education or training until they're 18. This doesn’t mean they have to stay on at school or go to college; they can get a job with a training element, but they can’t work full-time without some training.
Their options are to take academic qualifications, such as A levels, BTECs, the IB or T Levels, or to take vocational qualifications, such as an apprenticeship or a job with training.
If they’ve struggled to get good results at GCSE, they can do an internship or traineeship to gain the experience to progress.
Helping your teen choose what to study after their GCSEs
For some teens, the decision on what to study after their GCSEs will be fairly straightforward. If they know what they want to do when they leave school at 18, this may influence their choices. For example, someone who hopes to train as a dentist will need to take the sciences at sixth form, and someone who wants to go into IT may want to take digital business services.
Alternatively, if they know what they enjoy, they may decide to continue similar studies in greater depth. For example, someone who loves languages may want to study French, German and Spanish.
For others, narrowing subject choices may prove trickier, especially if they don’t have a firm idea of what they want to do (and may not even know whether they hope to progress to further education once they're 18). In these cases, it may be a good idea for your teen to make choices that give them some experience in lots of areas, so they can find out more about what they like rather than limiting their options by taking similar subjects.
They may also want to consider the type of qualification they’d most enjoy studying, and then decide what subject to study based on what’s on offer for that qualification type.
What type of qualification gives them the best chance of future success?
Sixth form qualifications fall into two categories: academic or vocational. Academic qualifications are subject-focused and largely theoretical, while vocational qualifications are usually more hands-on and relate to industry and the world of work. The best-known qualifications are A levels and BTECs, because most schools with sixth forms offer both. However, there are other alternatives that could be a better fit for your teen.
Studied at school or college:
A levels
BTECs
Cambridge Technicals
the International Baccalaureate (IB), offered by only a small number of schools
T Levels (England only, usually offered by colleges rather than schools)
Studied through work (with release to an educational centre for the learning element):
BTEC apprenticeships
technical qualifications (such as NVQs, Tech Bac or City & Guilds)
The better the grades your teen achieves at sixth form, the more options are available to them. They’re likely to do better when they’re studying something they enjoy learning that's presented in a way that appeals to them. In broad terms, those who like coursework and prefer doing will enjoy BTECs, T Levels or apprenticeships, while students who prefer listening and taking exams will enjoy the traditional A level or IB approach.
All of these options provide routes to higher education after sixth form, so your teen won't be closing down their chance of further study by taking any one of them.
However, while most universities base entry requirements on UCAS points, some specify certain criteria (for instance a certain number of UCAS points, including two A levels).
If your teen has a specific course or university they hope to start after sixth form, they should check the entry requirements before choosing what to study.
If your teen has their heart set on a career but little aptitude for the subjects needed to progress towards it, vocational courses can help. Someone who wants to go into business could avoid a maths-heavy economics A level and take a BTEC in business studies or a T Level in business services instead. Alternatively, they might start an apprenticeship in an area they're interested in (such as hotels and leisure) and work towards their goal from a different angle.
Where to study after GCSEs: the pros and cons
It may seem an easy decision to continue at their current school, but this isn't always the best option and is sometimes not possible. Some schools may not offer the subject or qualification choices your teen wants, some don’t have a sixth form, some have a joint sixth form (which your teen may not like if they’re used to a single-sex school), and some students are just desperate to leave the school environment. It's important that your thoughts and feelings are taken into account, but remember, the choice should ultimately be your teen’s.
Continuing at the same school
There can be lots of benefits: they know the staff, they'll have friends there, and they're familiar with journey times and routes. It’s also nice for them to be role models to younger pupils, and this, combined with the familiar environment, can build self-confidence. In most cases, sixth forms are smaller than colleges and provide more support.
For students with special educational needs, they know what support is provided and whether their needs are met (support can vary widely from one institution to another). However, because schools tend to be smaller, they’re unlikely to have as many subject choices or vocational courses as colleges, and students need to watch out for becoming complacent as a big fish in a small pond.
Applying to sixth form at another school
Provided the school offers the right subject and course options for your teen, this can be a good compromise between staying at the same school and going to college. The challenge of meeting new teachers and friends, and working in a different atmosphere with a different journey, still exists, but so do the smaller numbers, greater guidance and nurturing environment. It can be a good way for your teen to start taking control of their own life, build confidence and improve communication without changing everything at once.
Depending on GCSE results, moving schools can provide the opportunity of going to a more academic school, or one with a greater focus on co-curricular interests that may lead to future opportunities (such as rowing, music or drama). A fresh environment can inspire fresh ideas.
Going to college
The great thing about colleges is that they have a huge range of academic and vocational courses, so there'll be plenty of choice. Also, all their focus is on the 16 to 19 age range, so facilities and additional offerings are aimed at the same age group, unlike schools caring for students of many ages, sometimes as young as early years. Teachers and lecturers will all be experts in their specialist subjects for the sixth form age range.
Colleges tend to be larger and less personal than school sixth forms; the experience is much closer to life at university. This is ideal for students who are disciplined at managing their own studies and can meet deadlines on their own, but students who need nudging, coaxing and reminding are less likely to do well.
Learning these skills is important regardless of whether they want to go on to university or start work after sixth form, but some 16 year olds need a little more guidance than others. The question is whether your teen will do well with new teachers to get to know, a new environment and, in most cases, a whole new set of friends to make.
If they like the challenge of stretching beyond their comfort zone, it can be a great stepping stone from school to university, but if they're reserved, it could be overwhelming.
Independent learning providers
It doesn’t have to be a choice of school or college. There are independent organisations that offer entry-level courses and employability training for young people who want to get a qualification or learn the skills to help find a job.
Vocational learning
If they're taking vocational learning, such as an apprenticeship, the learning location is chosen by their employer, who'll have an arrangement with a local school, college or other education provider. Your teen won't be able to influence this.
Your teen’s more likely to succeed at what they’re good at and enjoy
To leave you with a final thought, almost all of us tend to be better at things we enjoy than things we don’t. If your teen has a natural passion for certain subjects, they'll likely make good sixth form choices. Don’t forget, they'll need to spend a lot of time on each option they select (much more than at GCSE), so it’s a good idea they have an interest in the subjects they study, rather than studying them to please you.
GCSE results can be a good indicator of aptitude, but if they haven’t already studied a subject at GCSE, don’t let that put them off choosing something new. They can always speak to their teacher for advice on new subjects.
Do bear in mind whether your teen excels in practical or theoretical studies. This can be a big influence on qualification and subject choices.
Find out more
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