At Youth Employment UK, we endeavour for all young people to be well informed about the options, pathways and support available to them regarding their career and future. Making these decisions can feel overwhelming, and with a wide range of options available, it can be difficult for a young person to know what option would suit them best. As a home educating parent/carer, you naturally wish to be in the best position possible to support a young person during this time. The aims of this resource are to:
- Help you understand the various pathways that are available to a young person, including education, training and employment
- Share resources that will support a young person with making those decisions.
Our free online Home Education programme includes learning material, support and information to help young people make these choices when they’re ready, and understand the options available to them.
This is included in the modules:
- Making choices for next steps in learning or training
- Exploring career ideas
- Discovering people who can help you on your way
What Options are Available?
There are different options available for young people post-16, and here we will outline what some of these options are. Depending where you live in the UK, there will be different training schemes available.
Please keep in mind that education and training is compulasory until age 18 in England. In Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland the compulsary age is 16.
- To educate at home or with a school, college or education provider
- To enrol in further training – this may be an apprenticeship, or BTECs or T-Levels (T Levels are available in England only)
- To engage in full-time employment or volunteering (full-time constitutes at least 20 hours per week), alongside part-time education or training.
If a young person chooses to continue to study full-time post-16, there are a few study options to be aware of. The Home Education programme will support a young person with understanding these options and how best to make these decisions, and here we will outline the qualification options.
Qualification Levels
Qualifications vary by level of difficulty, and the level suitable for your young person will depend on their previous study or qualifications. Here is an overview of qualification levels currently offered in the UK (taken from Your-Options-Quals-A3 – FINAL.pdf (careersandenterprise.co.uk) ):
Please note, some qualifications in Scotland have Scottish equivalents.
A person can progress from one level to the next. For example, after securing a Grade 4 GCSE (Level 2), a young person can move on to studying at A-Level (Level 3). , to develop and potentially progress, depending on their careers interests. Youth Employment UK’s Career Guides cover useful qualifications for various careers including vocational qualifications such as BTECs and T-Levels.
For qualification levels, there are different equivalents in Scotland. Find further information about qualification equivalants.
Types of Qualifications
We know that everyone has different learning styles. Some people are well-suited to academic study, such as completing written exams and coursework, whereas others are more practical in their learning. Here we will outline the key differences between these types of study:
- Academic Qualifications – Tend to be subject-based, and involves in-depth study of a chosen subject
- Vocational and Technical Qualifications – Contain practical elements to them, and involve a mixture of academic and industry-focussed study.
Here, we will provide an overview of example pathways available to young people post-16. As mentioned previously, the level of study will depend on the young person’s current qualifications.
A-Levels (Advanced Level Qualifications)
- Subject-based qualifications.
- Unusually assessed via examinations (depending on the subject).
- Can lead to further study (such as University), training or work.
The option to complete certain A-Levels can depend on a young person’s GCSE, IGCSE or vocational qualification results, and a young person can usually choose to study 3 or more over two years.
There are A-Level equivalents that suit some young people better in comparison with traditional A-Level qualifications. These include:
T Levels
- Vocational, technical and hands-on subjects that students can choose to do after GCSEs.
- Include a mixture of classroom-based learning and industry placements
- Available in England only
More information here: T Levels Guide
Vocational Courses e.g. BTEC’s
- Stands for the Business and Technology Education Council.
- A qualification based on practical study rather than academic study.
- Can be completed standalone at college or University, or alongside traditional A-Level qualifications.
More information here as to why they are a popular alternative to A Levels.
Apprenticeships
- A paid training programme that combines working for a salary with learning that leads to a nationally-recognised qualification.
- Last a minimum of a year, and can last up to four years depending on the nature of the apprenticeship.
Find out more here: An Overview of Apprenticeships
Home education resourcesSupported Internships
- A Structured, work-based study programme for 16 to 24-year-olds with SEND, who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
- Interns are enrolled by a learning provider, such as a school or college, but spend the majority of their learning time (typically about 70%) in a workplace setting.
