Careers – Information for parents

A vocational course provides opportunity to apply learning for a specific job role or area, prioritising practical, hands-on experience. There are over 80 options available.

There are different levels of course. Level 2 is equivalent to GCSE level. For some courses such as bricklaying, this is required ahead of completing the Level 3 qualification, unless you apply for the Level 3 apprenticeship in bricklaying.

For most courses, students can enter at Level 3, provided they achieve the entry requirements. These vary dependent on course, but usually require at least a Grade 4 in English and Maths at GCSE Level, and Grade 4s in other subjects. 

A vocational qualification might be a BTEC, an NVQ, or a T-Level. T-Levels were new in 2021, and incorporate work placements with learning. 

York College has 79 options available for vocational learning, ranging from Applied Science to Uniformed Protective Services. 

Sixth Form providers offer a more limited range of vocational courses, often in conjunction with A Levels. More information can be found on their webpages.

• All Saints Sixth Form College
• Joseph Rowntree Sixth Form College
• Huntington School Sixth Form
• Archbishop Holgate’s Sixth Form
• Fulford Sixth Form College

An apprenticeship combines employment with learning, often at York College. Apprentices have a ‘day release’ from their employment throughout the course of the apprenticeship to attend college, and are paid an apprenticeship wage. This varies dependent on the employer. 

You can find apprenticeships on the Government website, linked here. Please be aware that apprenticeships can be completed at different levels – for a post-16 apprenticeship, your child would only be able to complete Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) or Level 3 (A Level equivalent). 

York College also share apprenticeship vacancies. 

Students need to find their own employer to support their apprenticeship. It is recommended that students apply for the full-time course, often at York College, if they are struggling to find an employer to support their apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships are released throughout the year, so it is best to keep checking the apprenticeship website. We will also share updates from York College. 

A key transition point in Year 9 is the decision around GCSE Options. The specific number of options your child will take depends on their pathway.

However, it is a good idea to encourage your child to think about the subjects that they enjoy and are willing to work hard in, e.g completing homework, doing revision. It’s important to not pick based on friendship choices or on the teachers who might be teaching the subject.

When picking options, i might be an idea to think about the areas of interest your child has. Can they see themselves working in any specific industry? Many young people won’t know exactly what they want to do at this age, but it can be valuable to consider their interests and potential sectors. For example, do they want to do a job which involves manual work, or can they see themselves working with others? 

In school, your child will be learning about a wider range of workplaces and roles which exist, which might help them to challenge assumptions about what a workplace is like. MyPath have short videos which show a huge range of jobs, including different workplaces. 

It can be an idea to start to consider post-16 options, when considering GCSE options. Most Post-16 options only require a number of GCSEs at grade 4/5 or above, rather than specific ones, but this can vary depending on the specificity of the course. If your child has a very clear idea of what they wish to do in the future, it may be wise for them to look at entry requirements or their Post-16 provider. More information can be found in the drop down menus above. 

Again, a consideration of the skills your child has can be very useful, linking back to the RAS skills we aim to develop in school. 

Your child will have a Personal Guidance Meeting within Year 10, likely in the Spring or Summer term. The action plan from this meeting will be shared with you, in order to provide specific guidance and support for your child.

Many providers, particularly York College, have open evenings across the year, with the June date specifically intended for Year 10 pupils. These can be booked onto via the college, and are an excellent way to start the Post-16 transition process in a supportive way for your child.

If your child is considering an apprenticeship, it may be an idea to start to look at the Government website for apprenticeships, located in the drop down menu above. Whilst it is still a little early to apply, it will give you an indication of the employers who may be advertising in the next academic year. 

Your child may also be considering a part-time job. Discussion of employability skills, particularly linked to our RAS traits, could be a useful opportunity to support your child with writing their CV.

Your child’s Personal Guidance Meeting action plan will once again be shared with you, to support your conversations with your child. 

Dates of taster days will be shared early in the Autumn Term and it would be helpful to talk with your child before they apply, to discuss the courses they are interested in. Where possible, students should be looking at a Level 3 course, as a progression from their Level 2 GCSEs, but in some cases they will need to start on a Level 2. 

Once your child has been to their Taster Days, usually in the 2nd week of January, it could be useful to talk to them about how they found the taster. Did they enjoy the atmosphere of the place they went to, could they see themselves asking for help if required? Is the structure of the day conducive to them completing their independent work, which is a requirement of all courses?

The week after Taster Days, your child will complete their college application as part of the school day. We will confirm the course your child has applied for with you. If your child requires further support following this, our Careers Adviser will be happy to meet with them again.