Minerva Learning Trust

POST-16 ADVICE AND GUIDANCE

Students

Reaching Year 11 at Handsworth Grange does not have to mean you have reached the end of your educational journey. There are many fantastic directions that you can choose to go in in order to reach your full potential and achieve an amazing career! There are some options below about where you could go.

FE college

  • Look at college websites and the college provider pages in the Sheffield Progress Search.
  • Go to college open days – they’re great opportunities to talk to students and tutors.
  • College is an adult environment where you take more responsibility for yourself and your learning – there's support and guidance available, but it‘s also a chance for you to prepare for work and life post-education.
  • There's usually a range of sport and leisure opportunities – employers and universities look for evidence of your wider interests and achievements, so check out college clubs and activities!
  • Sheffield College
  • Thomas Rotherham College
  • Barnsley College

School sixth form

  • Look at a variety of schools – sixth forms vary in size, course offering, and subjects, as well as extra activities and opportunities you might like.
  • Check whether they offer the courses you want – wherever you choose to go, make sure you'll be studying subjects that interest you.
  • Every school will have a sixth form open evening and will welcome you to have a look around.

Sixth form college

  • Sixth form colleges can be more informal than school sixth forms.
  • They’re usually bigger, and they can often offer you more study options.
  • You'll get to make new friends from different schools

Training providers

  • There are lots of training providers offering a wide range of work-related training and qualifications, including NVQs and apprenticeships.
  • Some are specialists focusing on particular sectors and job roles – such as construction, business administration, childcare, or hair and beauty.
  • Training providers work closely with employers who offer work-based training as part of placements or employment.

Which qualification is right?

  • There are a lot of options to gain the right qualifications, but they fall into four main types:
  • Academic – studied at school/college and can lead to university, an apprenticeship, or a job
  • Applied General – studied at college/school and can lead to university, an apprenticeship, or a job
  • Tech levels – studied at college or an apprenticeship and can make you job-ready or lead to university
  • Occupational – taken in apprenticeships or work and can be described as on the job training
  • A Level Explorer- see where your A level choices will take you
  • Apply for apprenticeships locally and nationally
  • A Guide to Apprenticeships
  • National Apprenticeship Service- search for apprenticeship vacancies or register for alerts and to apply
  • What are T levels?

Parents/ Carers

Parents and carers are the most influential factor in students’ decisions about the future. Your support and encouragement influences their choices, and the guidance you provide will be invaluable to their eventual achievements and career pathways.

There are some very simple and practical steps you can take to support your child.

  • Talk to them about their current educational attainment and estimated grades and encourage them to aim high (the skills shortages of the future will be in higher-level jobs)
  • Discuss where they want to be and research how to get there (there are links below to some great resources)
  • Encourage them to get the advice and experiences they need to help them achieve their goals

Employers

If you can help support HGCSC in any way, we would love to hear from you. You could support the school in a variety of ways by assisting with:

  • student mentoring
  • mock job interviews
  • careers talks to a group of students
  • motivational and inspiring assemblies
  • career and/ or personal finance workshops
  • social, moral, spiritual or cultural activities

Premises and facilities

The school will make the sports hall, seminar room and classrooms or private meeting rooms available for discussions between the provider and students, as appropriate to the activity. The school will also make available projectors and other specialist equipment to support provider presentations. This will all be discussed and agreed in advance of the visit with the Careers Leader.

Providers are welcome to leave a copy of their prospectus or other relevant course literature at the Reception.

Links

Student finance

• 16-19 bursary fund guide

Contact

The named Careers Leader is Miss K Grapes and you can contact her on: kgrapes@handsworth-mlt.co.uk or 0114 2694801 ext 2210

Students

Read our Prospectus