In Years 9, Hornchurch High pupils are required to reduce the number of subjects that they take and select specialisms which they will study alongside compulsory subjects such as English, Maths and Science. This is an exciting and crucial time for pupils as they can now begin to tailor their education around what they enjoy and/or steer them towards a particular career path.
As a parent or carer, you are in a great position to support your young person through this process and help them look ahead to consider the implications of their choices. As someone who knows them well, you can discuss their favourite subjects at school and what they might want to do in future. These conversations can help your child to choose options that reflect their strengths and potentially set them on the path to their chosen career. When supporting young people to select subject options, it is useful to discuss the following questions with them first:
- What subjects do you enjoy studying the most and what subjects don’t you enjoy?
- What subjects do you think you are best at?
- Are there any that you would like to study further at A Level?
- Would you like to go to University?
- What tasks/ skills would you like to do/ develop in a job? What is your dream career?
| Year 9 Options | ||
| TBC | Options Assembly | |
| TBC | Options Booklet sent to parents (digital) | |
| 19th Jan 2023 | Parents Options Evening | |
| 2nd Feb 2023 | Year 9 Parents Evening | |
| TBC | Submission Start | |
| TBC | Submission Deadline |
After Year 11 / GCSEs…
In Year 11 students start the process of applying for Post-16 Options at School Sixth Forms, Sixth Form Colleges, Further and Higher Education Colleges or Apprenticeship Providers. During this process students will be required to select fewer subjects and become more focused about their individuality and careers aspirations. They will need to investigate the options available to them and begin the application process to one of the following routes:
- Further education (at a College or 6th Form) – A-Levels
- Further education (at a College or 6th Form) – Vocational Qualifications
- T-Levels
- Apprenticeship
- Traineeship
- Armed Forces
How does my child apply for a course?
Most Post-16 Option applications are complete online. They will need to go direct to the website of the College, 6th Form or other Post-16 Option Provider of their choice.
Links can be found within the Careers Hub
How do I support my child in making the final decision about post-16 education?
Making a decision about where to go after Year 11 can be tricky, particularly while you are busy revising for your final GCSE exams, so it is important to consider the following factors that might help with decision making:
- Where can this option take me in the future? If they are thinking about a destination after post-16, such as university or higher/degree apprenticeships, it is important to know whether the qualifications they are taking from 16-18 can help them to progress on to these pathways. Use websites like the Russell Group’s Informed Choices (https://www.informedchoices.ac.uk/) or Success at School (https://successatschool.org/) to find out whether the course they choose after Year 11 will allow them to progress on to what they want to do or speak with staff at the sixth form, college or apprenticeship they are applying to in order to get further details!
For example:
- If they want to study Dentistry at university, they usually need to take A-Levels in Chemistry and Biology/Maths/Physics.
- Some universities do not accept BTEC L3 Extended Diplomas (although 95% do!)
- Apprenticeships have varying entry requirements – some ask for 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above while others ask for 2-3 A-Levels
When should my child apply?
Application Process – Students will begin applying for their post-16 options in autumn 2022 and the application process for sixth form, college and apprenticeships takes place throughout the course of the academic year. Here is a projected timeline for 2022-2023:
October 2022 – Sixth form and college courses for 2022-2023 visible on application sites
End of January 2023 – Closing date for Sixth Form and College applications
NOTE: Local School Sixth Forms and other local Colleges do not have the same deadlines and it advisable to check with specific institutions using their individual websites – but early applications are still advised!
February-March 2023 – Students are invited to sixth form/college interviews
March 2023 – Students begin to receive offers from sixth forms and colleges
March-July 2023 – Students accept or reject offers for different courses
September 2023 – Applications for 2023-2024 close
Applications for College / Sixth form can be submitted online on the respective websites.
NOTE: Apprenticeship and Traineeship applications run throughout the academic year with bigger companies starting the recruitment process much earlier – start looking in October/November 2022 for the big companies! Apprenticeships have a much more detailed application process than sixth form or college and require the completion of an application / submission of CV / Interview and in some cases an online ability test / assessment centre.
Open Days/Evenings – An important factor for your child in making decisions about their Post-16 education will be what they think of the learning environment of particular Sixth Forms, Colleges or Training Providers. To support your child with this, we recommend attending one of the many Open Days/Evenings that Post-16 Providers will be putting on for students and parents/carers in Year 11 this Academic Year. Details (including dates and timings can be found of schools and colleges websites.
Key Dates for 2022/2023
Sept-Nov 2022 – Post-16 Options Assemblies with specific focus on the different options available to Year 11 students upon leaving Hornchurch High School.
Oct 2022 – Post-16 Options and College Transfer Evening (5:30-6:30pm) –
3rd Oct 2022 – Havering RPA Careers Show Event – this is Careers Fair Event at Romford YMCA that provides opportunities for students to research various Post-16 Options Providers, Post-18 Option Providers and Apprenticeship providers, whilst also providing them with the chance to engage with specific workshops.
11th Nov 2022 – What Careers Live (London Olympia) – This trip to the National Careers Event at London Olympia is a great opportunity for students to research various Post-16 Options Providers, Post-18 Option Providers and Apprenticeship providers, whilst also providing them with the chance to engage with specific workshops.
18th Dec 2022 – Mock Interview Workshops – As part of the application process many Educational and Apprenticeship providers require students to attend a face-to-face interview. In order to support this part of the application process we will be conducting a series of Mock Interview Workshops with all Year 11 students. These workshops will be delivered by Prospects Careers Service.
Form Time (throughout the year) – Year 11 Form Tutors will be on hand to support your child with their Post-16 applications, including help with searching for specific courses and apprenticeships opportunities and producing academic and personal references.
Careers Interviews (throughout the year) – Prospects Careers Service will be providing all students with a 1 to 1 Careers Interview with a full trained Careers Advisor. These Interviews will help provide additional guidance and support to students in their decision making process for Post-16 Options and beyond.
Open Days/Evenings – An important factor for your child in making decisions about their Post-16 education will be what they think of the learning environment of particular Sixth Forms, Colleges or Training Providers. To support your child with this, we recommend attending one of the many Open Days/Evenings that Post-16 Providers will be putting on for students and parents/carers in Year 11 this Academic Year. Details (including dates and timings can be found of schools and colleges websites.
Virtual Work Experience
Virtual Work Experience is a broad term and can include any opportunity which provides young people with an insight into what it’s like to work in an industry or job role while at home. Most virtual work experiences range from half a day to one week, but some may last longer depending on the nature of the work experience and the age of your child.
https://www.theparentsguideto.co.uk/post/virtual-work-experience
Further Information
Some university courses and professions may require students to hold a certain grade in a particular subject at GCSE level/ A Level/ Level 3 in order to be considered for entry. It is useful to check what qualifications and Work Experience your child might need to pursue their career or educational aspirations. For further help in researching GCSE requirements for a specific career click on the link below:
For further information on how to support your child at key transition points please download the parents guide document:
Please provide a hyperlink to the document attached to e-mail entitled :
Alternatively, you may find the following website a useful research tool.
https://www.theparentsguideto.co.uk/
Success at School!
Success at School is the place for young people to explore careers, get the lowdown on top employers, and search for the latest jobs, courses and advice. Get career smart and Register today!
Click below for the latest informational brochure:
