Courses and Qualifications

Some will be new to you - even if the title seems familiar, the way a particular course is put together can be very different from what you're used to.

Possible options include:

Vocational (work related) courses

• Some courses, like NVQs, are designed to give you the specialist skills needed to a particular job - you usually need to be on an apprenticeship or similar to take NVQs
• Other vocational courses are broader. A BTEC or OCR in business, for instance, could be useful for many occupations which require business skills and knowledge
• The Diploma combines academic study and practical elements including work experience - you specialise in one area  but also develop 'functional skills' of English, maths and IT
• Compared with GCSEs and GCE A Levels, vocational courses often have more projects and course work which will count towards the final mark

Foundation Learning

• Foundation Learning are flexible learning programmes at Pre- Entry, Entry level and Level 1
• There are courses available for almost all students, including those with additional needs
• The programmes combine subject or vocational learning with functional skills and personal and social development (e.g. home cooking skills, money skills, developing useful work-related skills). There is often an opportunity to specialise, which means that there will be a clear path towards Level 2 qualifications or other goals

GCSE and A-Levels

• GCSE re-take courses or new subjects are occasionally available after the age of 16
• A-Levels are 2 year courses made up of AS level in the first year and A2 in the second. Each is worth 50% of  the overall grade. Most students take 4 subjects in the first year and 3 in the second year

International Baccalaureate

• The International Baccalaureate is an alternative to A-levels and is accepted by universities worldwide. It is a full time, 2 year course in which you study six subjects (at 2 different levels) plus 3 further compulsory elements including an extended essay
• NB This is not the same as the English Baccalaureate, which is not a qualification as such but is used by the Government to demonstrate the number of students in each school who have obtained a C grade or above at GCSE level in English, maths, history or geography, the sciences and a language.

Higher Education courses

• There's an extremely wide range of subjects and a range of possible courses (including degrees and foundation degrees) - see the UCAS site for lots more information

What next?

Find out what's available locally by looking at the 16-19 courses. If you're interested in higher education check out the UCAS website.

Click here to view our course levels chart