What is Further Education?
Once you have completed your GCSEs, you will then need to decide what your next steps will be. This could be attending college to study further for A Levels or BTECs – colleges and sixth forms offer a wide variety of course options, so you are bound to find something that suits you and your preferred style of learning.
To learn more about what Further Education is then visit the links listed below:
Qualification Options
Colleges and sixth forms offer a wide variety of courses and qualifications to suit your individual needs. These courses usually include BTEC and A Levels in a variety of subjects, as well as courses to gain basic Maths and English qualifications. These institutes may also offer Access courses to provide individuals with the extra boost that is sometimes needed when the grades required to go into Higher Education are not met.
Basic Qualifications
In some instances, you may attend college and need to undertake courses to boost your skills in areas such as Maths and English. These are usually offered to you once you have begun studying, and can include courses or GCSE resits in:
Maths
English
Functional Skills
These additional courses are designed to help you enhance your existing skills, and support students if their GCSEs did not go exactly as planned.
BTECs
BTECs are vocational qualifications which are usually more practical-based and can be studied at both school and college. BTECs are assessed via projects and assessments over the course of your studies, which may suit individuals who prefer not to take end-of-year examinations. There are a range of BTEC levels available equivalent to GCSEs, A levels and even Degrees.
For more information around BTECs you can visit the links below, or visit your local College’s website, to gain a better idea of the courses they offer. You should also begin thinking about attending open evenings to gain an idea of which courses and institutes you might be interested in.
A Levels
A Levels are qualifications which are usually assessed by end-of-year examinations, and sometimes coursework and practical assessments. They can be studied at sixth forms and colleges and in a wide variety of subjects. Students study 3 or 4 A Levels over the two years they attend college, and are usually required to have 5 GCSEs above a grade 5.
For more information around A Levels you can visit the links below, or visit your local Sixth Form or College’s website, to gain a better idea of the A Levels they offer. You should also begin thinking about attending open evenings to gain an idea of which courses and institutes you might be interested in.
Access Courses
In some instances, the University or College course you are interested in may require higher grades than you have obtained. But don’t worry! There are resources and courses available to help you get to where you want to go. Access courses are available to students to provide extra skills and knowledge in order to gain access to Higher Education courses.
Visit the following links to gain a better idea of Access courses available to you:
You should also contact your local college to gain a better idea of the Access courses they can offer.
If you have any questions or want advice you can get in touch.
If you have any questions or want advice you can get in touch.