Transitioning to Higher Education

There are a lot of options for you to continue in education or training when you leave school. You can find out more about them in this section.

Further Education

Further education is the education and training you complete after secondary school. It's what you learn after the age of 16, but usually not at university.

You can leave school at the end of the school year in which you turn 16 (normally the end of year 11). However, all young people must be in some kind of education or training until the age of 18. This can be combined with paid or voluntary work.

You need to submit applications for post 16 education and training in the Autumn term of Year 11. You can check the college or training provider's website for details on how to apply and when to apply by. Transition discussions can take place between your current education setting and your new one before you start. You can also talk to the college/training provider about how they can support your SEND plan.

Visit the National Careers Service website for information on options with an EHC Plan [External Link].

Types of Further Education Settings

Sixth Form (Mainstream or Specialist School)

A Sixth Form is Year 12 and 13 and many are attached to a secondary school. Most people study A Levels at sixth form, but some offer vocational qualifications too. You will continue to receive extra help for your SEND needs if required. You can find information about secondary schools in Sutton by searching the Sutton Information Hub.

Mainstream Further Education (FE) Colleges

Mainstream colleges offer a wide range of courses to suit many levels of learning. For example:

• Academic courses (A Levels, GCSE's).

• Vocational courses (such as BTECs).

• "Stepping stone" courses in Maths and English.

• Courses which combine study with on- the- job training or work experience.

• "Life skills" courses to help young people prepare for adult life. These are entry level courses.

• Supported Internships

• Apprenticeships

• Traineeships

Some colleges ask the school for references, and some ask for an interview. Both of these depend on the setting. Colleges give you offers depending on your grades.

Specialist Further Education (FE) colleges

A specialist further education college provides education for young people with SEND. You will usually need an EHC plan to go to a specialist college. It is possible to name a specialist college in your EHC plan. This can be requested through the local authority following the review of your plan.

Types of qualification and courses

There are 9 levels of qualification. These start at Entry Level and up to Level 8 which is the level of a PhD. Learn about the levels of qualification on the Government website [External Link].

GCSEs

GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. You usually get these qualifications at the end of Year 11, when you are 15 or 16.

GCSEs are the qualifications studied in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland people take Scottish Qualifications Certificates instead. You get to choose some of the subjects you take and you study these over two years. They are assessed by final exams or coursework.

A-levels

A-levels stands for Advanced Levels and are usually studied between the ages of 16 and 18. You can complete these at a sixth form or a college. They are recognised as a good pathway into many careers and are one key method for getting into university.

Vocational Qualifications

Vocational qualifications are practical qualifications. They relate to a specific job or career. and they combine a mix of theory and practical learning. You'll usually do some work experience too. There's a huge range of different courses that you can do, and many types of qualifications you can get, from entry level to advanced. The length of the course depends on what level you study at.

BTEC

BTECs stand for Business and Technology Education Council qualifications. They are designed to give you the skills that businesses look for. You could go straight into work or onto further study with a BTEC. They open up many opportunities including getting into university.

NVQ

NVQ stands for National Vocational Qualifications. They are work-based and focus on the skills and knowledge you need to work in a certain career sector. These skills are known as the national occupational standards.

You can gain these skills by being trained while working so are a good practical option for learning. They are available from level 1 to level 8.

T Levels

T Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. They allow you to gain skills and knowledge for specific industries. This means they prepare you for work, training or further study.

The course lasts for two years and offers a mixture of classroom-based and practical learning. As part of this, you will spend 45 days on a placement in the industry you are studying. You can find out more about T Levels and subjects available on the Department for Education website [External Link].

Higher Education

University

Higher education is usually what you study at university and to a degree level. If you want to continue your studies at university, it is important to note that your EHC plan will end. However, there is still a lot of support you can receive while studying.

UCAS is the service you apply to university through. They can also provide expert advice and support on studying at university with SEND. You can find out more by visiting UCAS' individual needs pages [External Link].

The Supporting Access to University Podcast can help support you too. It addresses common questions you may have about applying to and attending university. You can listen to the podcast here [External Link].

The Graduate employment and skills guide provides support for those near the end of their studies. It has advice on employment which you may find helpful. It may also help you to develop your current skills, as well as identify your next steps as you move into a career. You can read the Graduate employment and skills guide here [External Link].

Bursaries

If you are studying, you could get extra money from your education setting. This can help you with the costs of further and higher education, especially if you are on a low income. You will have to apply for these but the student support services in your setting should be able to help you with this.

You can also talk to your student support services about Learner support. This is something you may be able to receive if you are 19 or older and are struggling financially. You can learn more by visiting the governments learner support page [External Link].

If you are attending university, you may be able to get Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). This helps to cover extra costs that come up when studying because of a disability or health problem. You can receive this in addition to any other student finance. You do not have to repay DSA but how much you receive depends on your needs. You can find out more by Reading about DSA here [External Link].

Scope can provide you with more information about the support you are entitled to. To learn more, visit Scope's College Funding for Disabled Students page [External Link].

Work Experience

You can take work experience while still studying. This is a good way of learning more about an industry and careers available. This will also help you to see if it is something you enjoy and if it will be a good fit for you.

Other courses and life skills

There are many ways to improve your skills outside of traditional settings. There are also some great free online resources available. Here are a few you may find interesting:

• FutureLearn - Provides a wide range of online courses that can help you develop your skills. Many of their courses are available for free, but there are membership options too. You can find out more by visiting the FutureLearn directory page.

• Skills Builder Partnership - A framework that works to build eight key skills that can be used to help build careers. You can learn more by visiting the Skills Builder Partnership [External Link].

• OpenLearn - A platform from the Open University that allows you to study free courses on a wide range of topics. These can help your studying skills and employability. They are also helpful if you just want to learn about something new. To find out more, visit the OpenLearn directory page.