After year 11 and until you are 18 you have the following options:
- stay in full-time education, for example at a college
- start an apprenticeship
- spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training
If you need help making a decision, speak to family, friends, teachers or a careers adviser.
Learning pathways
Academic
Academic pathways often include:
- A levels
- knowledge based learning
- assessment through essays and exams
Technical or vocational
Technical or vocational pathways often include:
- diplomas (such as BTECs or City and Guilds)
- skills based learning through practical application (doing)
- assessment through coursework and observation of practical work
Things to consider
When you are deciding on your options:
- decide if you prefer academic or vocational studies
- if you have a chosen career, make sure you are taking the right options to get there
- think about whether you want a course with more work experience
- think about whether you are ready to work full time and study for an apprenticeship
- look at local colleges and sixth forms - you can look online for open events
Your options
Sixth form
Sixth forms offer Advanced Level (A level) qualifications. A levels are a level 3 academic qualification which are mainly assessed by exams. They can lead to university or higher level employment.
To get into sixth form you usually need 5 GCSE’s at grades 5 to 9. However, each sixth form will vary so make sure you check the entry requirements for the subjects you want.
Some sixth forms also offer level 2 and level 3 vocational qualifications.
The sixth forms in Bracknell Forest are:
College
Further education colleges usually offer technical and vocational courses. These are mainly assessed through coursework and observation of practical work.
Our local college is Bracknell and Wokingham college.
Course levels
- Level 1 is the entry level. For some level 1 courses you don't need any GCSE’s and for some you need GCSE’s at grades 1 to 3.
- For level 2 courses you normally need 3 or 4 GCSE’s at grades 2 or 3. One level 2 course is equivalent to 5 GCSE’s.
- For level 3 courses you need at least 5 GCSE’s at grades 4 to 9. The level 3 extended diploma is equivalent to 3 A levels.
Other courses
Colleges also offer A levels which are an academic qualification.
Colleges offer T levels. One T level is equivalent to 3 A levels. T levels are more focused on vocational skills. This means they have more practical and technical learning.
Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship is a job combined with education.
Read more about them on our apprenticeships page.
Qualifications
| Qualification level | Academic | Technical | Apprenticeship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 8 | PhD or Doctoral degree | ||
| Level 7 | Master's degree | Master's | |
| Level 6 | Bachelor's degree | Degree | |
| Level 5 | Foundation degree | Higher national diploma | Foundation degree |
| Level 4 | Certificate of higher education | Higher national certificate | Higher |
| Level 3 | A levels (A2 and AS) | T Levels and Level 3 awards (certificate or diploma) | Advanced |
| Level 2 | GCSEs (grade 4 to 9 - C to A*) | Level 2 award (certificate, diploma or functional skills) | Intermediate |
| Level 1 | GCSEs (grade 1 to 3 - G to D) | Level 1 award (certificate, diploma or functional skills) | Traineeship |
The difference between T levels and BTECs
T levels
A T level is a technical (or vocational) qualification for 16 to 19 year olds.
They take 2 years. They focus more on practical subjects than academic ones. For example, construction, education or healthcare.
One T level is equivalent to 3 A levels.
BTECs
A BTEC is a work related practical qualification (there are other similar vocational qualifications available).
You can study different levels from the age of 14:
- level 2 BTEC - equivalent to GCSEs
- level 3 BTEC national extended certificate - equivalent to 1 A level
- level 3 BTEC national diploma - equivalent to 2 A levels
- level 3 extended diploma - equivalent to 3 A levels