College
Colleges offer a range of academic, vocational, technical and professional courses.
Further education colleges are attended by people of all ages from 16, although most students are between 16 and 18 years old.
Some colleges are very large, with several sites or campuses and some are specialist, such as those offering agricultural or marine courses.
Further education colleges offer courses at every level from entry level courses that do not require GCSE grades at entry through to higher level qualifications and degree courses.
Sixth form
Sixth form refers to school years 12 and 13.
Many schools offer a sixth form but there are also sixth form colleges. These offer courses which are designed to follow on from your GCSEs (Studential website).
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a job, with hands-on experience, a salary and the chance to train while you work.
Some of your time is spent off the job, training at a college or with a training provider.
See: GOV.UK - How apprenticeships work
Traineeships
A traineeship is an education and training programme which incorporates work experience, preparing young people for their future careers by helping them to become ‘work ready’.
A traineeship has three core elements:
- work experience placement with an employer
- work preparation training, provided by the training organisation
- English and maths support, if required, provided by the training organisation
Traineeships last anything up to a maximum of six months. The content is tailored to the needs of the business and the individual.
Employers are not required to pay trainees for the work placement and traineeships are exempt from the minimum wage. Young people taking part in traineeships will be undertaking education and training and some may qualify for financial support, including the 16-19 Bursary Fund.
See: GOV.UK - Apprenticeships, 14 to 19 education and training for work
Supported internships
Supported internships are structured study programmes based mainly at an employer.
They are for young people aged 16 to 24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan. They help those people achieve sustainable paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace.
Supported internships are unpaid, and last for a minimum of six months.
Wherever possible, they support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme. Alongside their time at the employer, young people complete a personalised study programme which includes the chance to study for relevant substantial qualifications, if appropriate, and English and maths.
See: UCAS website - Supported Internships for 16-24 year olds
Further information:
Other websites provide more information about the higher education and career options: