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Post-16 Options

Sixth Form or College?
Can't decide between college and sixth form? We give you the lowdown on both options.

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A Levels
Taking A levels? Read our guide to choosing the right subjects, and what happens on results day.

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Applying To University
Information and advice on the UCAS application process, including how to write your personal statement and ace the interview stage.

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Finding A Job
Want to land your first job? Craft a perfect CV, target those cover letters and excel in the interview.

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International Baccalaureate
Find out what you will study in the IB, how it’s assessed, and more.

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Post 18 Options
What are your options after finishing school, college or an apprenticeship?

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SQA Results Day Guide
If you’re getting your SQA results this summer, read our guide to find out what to do on the day.

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School Leaver Programmes
This growing alternative to university can lead to a professional qualification and a job.

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Vocational Qualifications
Don't feel A levels are the right step for you? Consider a vocational course at an FE college.

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Traineeships
Get a quality work placement that can lead to a job or an apprenticeship.

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Enterprise
With the cost of a university education rocketing and an increasingly tough job market, now has never been a better time to go it alone and create your own job.

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Army
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already been considering joining the British army. But what are the key things you need to think about before making the decision and committing yourself to life in the armed forces?

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What's the difference between sixth form and college?

Colleges are usually more informal settings than a sixth form at a school, and tend to be bigger and offer a wider range of study options.

Sixth forms are smaller, and provide a more structured setting. You may also find the quality of education is higher at sixth forms than at FE colleges.

How many GCSEs do I need to get into sixth form?

Entry requirements for school and college sixth forms vary – ranging from four to five C grades (so between a 4 and 5 under the new GCSE grading system), with perhaps Bs in the subjects you want to study, through to at least six GCSEs at grade A for the more competitive colleges.

What are A levels in the UK?

Advanced Levels or A-Levels are subject-based qualifications that UK students aged 16 or older must obtain if they plan to enter university or just want to gain better knowledge in a specific area or profession they're interested in pursuing.

A level courses are provided by school sixth forms and further education colleges.

Should I take A levels?

Taking A levels is absolutely essential if you plan on applying to university. However, it's important to remember that employers won't just be looking at your exam grades when you start looking for a job later on.

Your character and people skills are also an important factor.

If you're not sure whether A levels are the right step for you, take a look at your other options to see if something else is better suited to you.

Should I take 3 or 4 A levels?

It's important you are realistic here - if you genuinely feel you can do four A levels without your grades or extracurricular commitments sliding, taking four A levels rather than three could give you a useful safety net.

If you don't do well in one A level, you'll still have three good ones to help you meet your university offer requirements.

Can I get into university without A levels?

It's possible to go to university without A-levels by studying an Access to Higher Education Diploma.

This course is accepted by many universities and can help you to meet the entry requirements for a number of different courses.

What does International Baccalaureate mean?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a worldwide, nonprofit education program founded to give all students the opportunity to receive an education fit for a globalising world.
 
There are four IB education programs, all of which are intended to develop students' intellectual, emotional, personal and social skills.

When is SQA results day?

This year, SQA results are posted 1st class and arrive on Tuesday 4 August 2020 or sign up to MySQA to receive your results by text or email.

What is a school leaver programme?

School leaver programmes are an option for students who don't want to do more full time study.

They are designed and offered by individual companies to train and develop students who do not want to go to university after finishing school or college.

They are full time paid programmes which involve working for the company while also benefiting from training and development.

What are vocational qualifications?

Vocational qualifications are practical qualifications that relate to a specific job or career sector.

Unlike more academic courses like A-levels, they combine a mix of theory and practical learning and you’ll probably do some work experience too.

There’s a huge range of different courses that you can do, such as BTEC, NVQ, and HNCs, and many types of qualifications you can get, from entry level to advanced.

The length of the course depends on what level you study at.

What are traineeships?

A traineeship is an education and training programme that involves work experience, preparing candidates for their careers by helping them to become ready for the workplace.

Employers are not required to pay trainees for the work placement and traineeships are currently exempt from the minimum wage.