In this section...
How do courses link together?
You need to know when you start a course what it will lead to. Is there a more advanced course you can move on to? Will you be able to go in to work or further education when you finish the course? Brighton and Hove Learning Partnership have produced a series of leaflets for different subject areas which explain how courses link together and what they can lead to. These are still useful if you live elsewhere in Sussex.
Is my course at Level 1, 2 or 3 and why does it matter?
When you search for courses on the area wide prospectus or look at a school or college's own paper prospectus you will find that each course is at a particular level. This is helpful when you are choosing post 16 options because you will usually aim to move on to the next level
So, for example if you have 5 GCSEs grades A* - C you are at Level 2 and would usually need to take a Level 3 course next before you can apply to University which usually offer Level 4 and 5 courses (schools, colleges and training providers will vary in the qualifications they ask students to have in order to take a Level 3 course).
Another example would be, if you get mainly D-G grades in your GCSEs you will be at Level 1 and so a Level 2 course is likely to be most suited to you at this stage. You could, of course, then move on to Level 3 once you have achieved that.
Follow the link to Connexions Direct to find out more about the levels you are likely to find in further education and examples of qualifications at each level:
Click on the links for a guide to making choices after Year 9 and after Year 11
Are you in Year 9 and deciding what to study in Year10?
Chances are you have already thought about GCSEs in your favourite subjects but there are other options you could look at as well. These could be alongside or occasionally instead of GCSEs. Your school will be able to tell you what is on offer either just where you are now or perhaps in partnership with other schools or colleges locally.
Find out more: Entry level qualifications
Find out more: Young apprenticeship
Find out more : International Baccalaureate
Find out more: BTECs and other vocational qualifications
Coming to the end of Year 10 or in Year 11?
Deciding what to do next? The choices boil down to whether to stay in full time education, possibly your own school sixth form if there is one or a new start at college, or whether to go into work based training such as an apprenticeship. Your Connexions Personal Adviser has info about the local employment situation and courses available to help you decide. You can also click on the links on this page and use the Area prospectus to research your ideas.
For more information about these choices click on the link above.
Find out more: New Diplomas
Find out more: A levels and A/S Levels
Find out more:NVQs
Find out more: BTEC
Find out more: International Baccalaureate