The Educational Development Trust provides information, advice and guidance to help pupils to make realistic choices about their education, training and work. A career adviser will provide impartial job, training and study-related advice in order to help pupils make decisions about their future and reach their full potential.

You will learn about careers through:

• Work done throughout our curriculum
• Work done in PHSE lessons and Personal Development
• STEM (Science, Technology, Maths and Engineering) activities 
• Activities provided by employers and other agencies e.g. careers week
• Work linking careers to the different subjects you study
• One-to-one career guidance 

Get Career Confident - A series of short films showcasing a range of jobs and what the job involves.

BBC Bitesize - Explore Careers - Looking for job inspiration? Check out the job profiles to help you get started. Hear from people working in areas that interest you, see how much you could get paid for different roles and find out what qualifications you might need to follow in their footsteps.

North East LEP - working with partners to develop a more competitive economy for the North East, helping to create more and better jobs for everyone.

We aim to provide the highest quality careers education, independent advice and guidance possible to raise the aspirations of our students and ensure they reach their full potential.

We help students to

• Finding out about careers and the world of work
• Developing employability skills
• Take responsibility for planning your own career pathway

This is delivered in a variety of ways, including

• PHEE lessons 
• RRA and Crew
• Visits to and from employers, colleges and universities
• Inspirational speakers for schools
• One-to-one career interviews
• Activities are delivered within curriculum areas.
• Visits to workplaces and encounters with employers 

The best way to approach leaving school and making choices is with knowledge and information of the choices available to you. The information available in these sites is a good start for you to build up this awareness of the various routes you can take when you leave. 

Apprenticeships

Doing an apprenticeship allows you the opportunity to learn, ‘earn’ and gain real-life work experience. You will be expected to attend college or a training centre during your apprenticeship to build skills outside the workplace environment and complement your personal progression in that field of work.

During your placement you’ll be expected to work a minimum of 30 hours per week over a completion period of one to four years (duration depends upon the specific apprenticeship programme).

Apprenticeships are not limited to engineering or construction trades but can be found across most work-finds or areas. In addition, you can now complete a Bachelors of Master’s degree through an apprenticeship programme.

There are four different types of levels:

• Intermediate - roughly equivalent to five good GCSE passes
• Advanced - equivalent to two A-level passes
• Higher - equivalent to the first stages of higher education such as a foundation degree
• Degree - comparable to a Bachelors or Master’s degree

The Amazing Apprenticeships website offers a wealth of opportunities for students to explore various career paths through engaging webinars. These sessions cover a wide range of industries, providing insights into different apprenticeships and career options. Whether your child is interested in technology, healthcare, engineering, or creative sectors, the website hosts regular webinars featuring industry experts, offering invaluable guidance and inspiration for those looking to start their professional journeys. Please take the time to look at the website—it’s an excellent resource for exploring future careers and making informed decisions. https://amazingapprenticeships.com/

Useful links:

• Apprenticeships Info (UCAS): https://www.ucas.com/ucas/16-18-choices/search-and-apply/post-16-apprenticeships
• Apprenticeship Info (Gov): https://www.getingofar.gov.uk/apprenticeships
• Apprenticeship Info (Prospects): https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/apprenticeships/what-is-an-apprenticeship
• National Apprenticeships Services Search Engine (Gov): https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch
• Apprenticeship Info (Success at School): https://mailchi.mp/successatschool/naw-students?e=[UNIQID]

Traineeships

Like an apprenticeship, this form of development combines learning with the world of work. Traineeships are designed to support the transition into an apprenticeship or job. Usually, those who participate in a traineeship don’t have key skills in English or Maths. The traineeship is designed to build these skills and provide individuals with work experience alongside them. The duration of a traineeship is shorter than the usual apprenticeship and could last up to a maximum of six months.

Importantly, traineeships could also be unpaid – at the discretion of the employer and are not bound by minimum wage requirements. There is a 16-19 year old bursary fund available. Further information on this fund can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund.

Useful links:

• Traineeships Info (UCAS): https://www.ucas.com/ucas/16-18-choices/search-and-apply/traineeships

NVQs

National vocational qualifications include practical work-related tasks and are available in subjects ranging from plumbing to hairdressing. This form of qualification can be studied in a college or workplace and are the best option if you know what job you’d like to do.

There are five levels of NVQ and you do not need to start at level one, you can select the level that suits you and then work your way up the NVQ scale.

Useful links:

• NVQ Info (UCAS): https://www.ucas.com/ucas/16-18-choices/search-and-apply/qualifications-you-can-take/nvqs

Vocational and Technical Courses

Vocational and technical courses are work-related qualifications and broader in terms of subject. Such courses are best for young people who are interested in working within a particular industry but not 100% certain. A vocational and technical course tends to relate to a subject area such as art and design or business and IT but includes work-based elements also.

Subject specific information about vocational and technical content can be found through the college websites in the profile of the course you are interested in. Further information on this form of qualification can be found in the download below.

A-levels

A-levels are qualifications which tend to focus upon academic subjects but may also include work-related activity. Most people take three or four A-levels, which can be a mix of the traditional maths /science /english /humanities paradigm.

When choosing A-levels, you should choose the subjects you enjoy. However, it is also important to consider the impact they may have on acceptance of a university subject choice (if this is something you are considering). Some university courses require you to take specific A-level subjects in order to meet their entry requirements. When choosing your level, it is worth researching the subject recommendations for the potential courses you may take at university.

Useful links:

• A level Info (UCAS): https://www.ucas.com/ucas/16-18-choices/search-and-apply/qualifications-you-can-take/levels

T levels

Designed in partnership with employers to give you the skills and knowledge to get on in the workplace. T levels combine classroom learning with industry placements to prepare you for skilled work or higher level study. One T Level is the equivalent of three A-levels.

Local SIXTH FORMS 

Southmoor Sixth form 

St Roberts, Washington 

Durham Sixth form 

Local Colleges 

Gateshead College 

Newcastle College 

Newcastle Sixth Form 

Tyne Coast College 

Sunderland College 

Northumberland College 

East Durham College 

Newcastle UTC 

Local TRAINING PROVIDERS 

Springboard 

Sunderland Engineering Training Association (SETA) 

Tyne North Training 

The following websites might be of use to you when thinking about careers and your Post 16 options:

For further research, try:

www.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk

https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/

www.barclayslifeskills.com

www.futureme.ac.uk

www.amazingapprenticeships.com

https://icould.com/buzz-quiz/

https://careermap.co.uk/careerometer/

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-your-education-and-training-choices?utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=gtj_launch