Post-16 Education – What are the options?

Post 16 education/training is a legal requirement for two years after leaving secondary education.

Full-Time Study – this could be a qualification taken at a sixth form, college or training provider, totalling around 540 hours of learning time per year, or around 18 hours per week.

Apprenticeships – this involves working for an employer while studying for a qualification as part of your training. Usually, work makes up 80% of an apprenticeship and at least 20% (or one day a week) should be dedicated to studying.

Apprenticeships have a much more detailed application process than sixth form or college and will normally require students to find their own placements.

Traineeships – this is an option for students who would like to do an apprenticeship but may not have the experience, skills or qualifications to do so yet. Traineeships can last up to six months and involve work placement, Maths and English qualifications and support with finding an apprenticeship. 

Costs - Education and training in the UK are free for young people until they turn 19. In addition, there is support to help students from low income families pay for things like transport, food and stationery, which can be accessed at any sixth form, college or training provider you attend after Year 11.  Most organisations have their own internal systems for offering financial support, so please check with your selected study centre.

Please see on the right of this page information relevant to the potential study pathways as well as information on where to study and training centres.

The What's Next guide below is also a useful resource for parents & carers for further information regarding Post 16 options.

Applications - Students will normally begin applying for their post-16 options in their Year 11 Autumn Term prior to their commencement the following Autumn Term at their selected Further Education Centre. The application process for sixth form, college and apprenticeships takes place throughout the course of the academic year. Please be mindful that each centre will have its own individual application deadline and procedures that are strictly adhered to.

All applications are normally made online and are a relatively straightforward process requiring personal data and students will have to complete them in full and submit their most up-to-date Predicted Grades. For each college, students will need to set up a username and password as well as ensuring they use their own personal email and not their school one, which once they have left WHS, they will not have access to.

Students are able to and advised to apply to as many colleges as they wish in order to keep their options open as well as accepting all offers before making their final decision as to which college they wish to attend in September after they have left WHS. Please note that the only exception to this currently is that students are unable to apply to both Varndean & BHASVIC, or they will be declined by both.

Should students require any support or assistance in completing an application, please speak to Mr Fisher in Careers, and he will be only too happy to help.

All students throughout their time in Year 11 will receive a 1:1 meeting with Mr Fisher and this will either be selected or students are encouraged to ask for one. Students can have more than one meeting and, with the 'Open Door' policy, can ask for any Post 16 support in person either during break or lunch as well as before or after school.