Pupils Next Steps

PUPILS ‘Next Steps’

From September 2015  all young people will be expected to stay in some form of learning until at least his/her 18th birthday, or achieve a Level 3 qualification such as 2 A-levels or similar. This is referred to as ‘Raising the Participation Age’ or RPA.

What does this mean for your son or daughter? They may decide to stay on in Full-time education e.g., school sixth form, further education college, sixth form college, training provider, special school (including independent specialist provision for those with significant disabilities and learning difficulties), or home education*. Those who have been absent from learning for some reason before they were 16 may also return into full-time education.

If they do not want to stay on at school there are a range of other options. These are:

• An Apprenticeship
• Full or part-time employment, or self-employment with the equivalent of a day per week for training (either as part of the employment or outside the job)
• Volunteering (including caring) or an internship for 20 hours or more a week, undertaken for more than 8 weeks combined with the equivalent of a day off per week for training.

Your child will have better job prospects and the potential for higher earnings over their lifetime. For example, getting a Level 3 Apprenticeship increases earnings by an estimated £105,000 and a Level 2 Apprenticeship by £73,000. Continuing and achieving in further learning will prepare your child with the skills needed for the world of work, helping them to compete where unskilled work opportunities are decreasing.

Foundry College is committed to providing Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) to all pupils through the curriculum and organised activities. Careers Guidance will focus on the specific needs of the individual pupil to promote self- awareness and personal development. It will aim to provide current and relevant information to enable each pupil to make informed decisions about their future. It will be presented in an impartial manner, be confidential and differentiated to suit the requirements of each individual pupil.

Adviza is an independent careers advice service, for further information click here.