Your options after GCSE
Tuesday 19 August 2008
You've got the envelope with your GCSE results in. But did you get the results you wanted?
Whether you did or you didn't, our guide tells you what you can do next.
Diplomas
If you’re not sure where you want to go next in your education or career choices, Diplomas offer a great option that combine learning with work and real experience. Find out more about Diplomas.
I got four to five GCSEs at grade C or above
If you've got these, you can go on to do AS/A2levels or AVCEs (otherwise known as vocational A-levels). You can do these in school at sixth form or sixth form college.
If you decide to go to a college of further education, you can also do AS/A2 levels, AVCEs, Edexcel (BTEC) National Diplomas or an NVQ at Level 3.
If money is a problem, then Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) might be just the thing you need.
EMA is really handy because you could get up to £30 a week from the government to carry on studying - no matter what your grades and no matter what benefits you or your parents already get. If you progress well over your course, you could even get up to £500 in bonuses.
To qualify for an EMA you'll need to be at least 16 years old in Sept 2005 and staying on at a school or college in England after your GCSEs. You'll also need your own bank or building society account and be living in a place where the total amount of money coming into the house is no more than £30,000.
For more information visit: www.direct.gov.uk/ema
Finally, with these results, you could also do an Apprenticeship at NVQ level 2/3. For more information, go to www.apprenticeships.org.uk
I got Ds and Es in my GCSEs
With these grades, you could go to school sixth form or sixth form college to do a GNVQ Intermediate (some may also offer NVQs at level 2) - and get help with money from EMA as explained above.
You could also do a GNVQ Intermediate at a college of further education, but if you did decide to go to college, you could do an Edexcel (BTEC) First Diploma, a City and Guilds Level 2 or NVQ level 2.
You could also do an Apprenticeship at NVQ level 2. For more information, go to www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
I got Fs and Gs in my GCSEs
Don't worry - did you know you could still go to a college of further education and do foundation courses or e2e (otherwise known as Entry to Employment) at NVQ Level 1.
I want to retake my GCSEs
A lot of people think about doing retakes but this isn't always as straightforward as it seems.
Students usually only re-sit English and Maths and they tend to do this in the autumn term alongside other courses of study.
It is possible to take a course of GCSEs at a college of further education but this would be a full years course (September to June the following year) with coursework and exams.
Retaking GCSEs could also involve a cost. But don't let that put you off - after all, you could be eligible for EMA, as detailed above.
If you're thinking about doing retakes, it would be a good idea to speak direct to your school or the college you're thinking about studying at to check availability.
I want to get a job
If none of the above appeal to you, you could of course try to go straight into employment.
If this is something that appeals to you, then try finding your nearest Connexions centre. They're a great place to look for a job as they have lots of vacancy boards. They can also help out with getting local newspapers, so you can look at the job section for employment opportunities or even Apprenticeships. They can also offer one to one careers advice, access to the internet and the use of a Connexions library.
On the whole, Connexions advise people to look at jobs with good quality training attached to it. They will also give you information on Right to Time Off to Study and Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). You could also talk to a Personal Adviser at Connexions Direct for free on 080 800 13219.
