Careers

Careers Calendar for Year 11.

Year 11 is one of the most important years at school. Not only is it the year in during which you will be taking your GCSE exams, but also the time when you need to make decisions about your next steps.

What are my options after Year 11?

  • To stay on into the Sixth form.
  • To go to a Further Education College
  • To get a job with training such as an apprenticeship
  • To join a training course to help prepare you for work, training or further education.

About you.

It is important to choose the right course and learning pathway so a good place to start is to think about what sort of person you are:

  • What are you good at?
  • What do you enjoy?
  • How would you describe yourself?
  • What subjects do you find interesting?
  • Are there new subjects or courses that you find interesting?
  • Have you thought about jobs or careers that you might like to pursue in the future?
  • What GCSE grades will you achieve?

Next Steps.

  • Use the school’s careers library in the main library to research the different options after Year 11. There will be websites and software you can use as well as books, leaflets and general information.
  • Think through the career ideas you already have and start to consider which options would suit you best.
  • Talk to your Parents, Teachers and if needed arrange to see the Connexions Personal Advisers in school for more in depth help.
  • Check out www.xplore.uk.com for all post 16 opportunities in the County. You can look up and search for courses at school, colleges and work based training opportunities and school will issue you with a username and password to enable you to make applications through the Common Application Process.
  • Find out the dates of the open evenings for Sixth Form and for College.
  • Make sure you have a back-up plan in case your GCSEs are not as good as or better than expected.  
  • Apply for Sixth Form and / or College by end of January.
  • Ask for advice if you are still unsure what to do after Year 11.Please see Mrs Woods in school.

Websites to help your research.

http://www.bishopstopford.com/page_viewer.asp?page=Sixth+Form+Courses&pid=30 - information on all sixth form courses

www.tresham.ac.uk- information on courses at Tresham College

www.moulton.ac.uk- information on courses at Moulton College

www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk- information on courses at Northampton College.

www.xplore.uk.com- database on all post 16 opportunities in Northamptonshire.

www.4you2.org.uk- Connexions Northamptonshire

www.connexions-direct.com- careers database.

www.ucas.com- details of all higher education courses in the U.K