Staying in full time education
You can choose whether to go to a further education college or stay on at your school’s sixth form if it has one.
Colleges and sixth forms offer a wide range of study options including:
- academic courses, for example, A levels, the International Baccalaureate (IB) or GCSEs
- vocational courses, which combine study with work experience. For example, BTECs or T levels
- entry level qualifications to enhance your maths and English
- Life Skills courses to help you prepare for post-education life, work, and participating in the community
Some colleges in Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas provide specialist courses, such as motorsports, farming and sports.
The difference between colleges and sixth forms
A college is an adult environment, where you take more responsibility for yourself and your learning. There is support and guidance available, but it’s also a chance for you to prepare for work and life after education.
If your school has a sixth form, you could stay on. The benefits of this might be that you already know the school, the teachers and other students who may stay on too.
You can also apply to move to a different school sixth form. They may have other courses or facilities on offer.
Sixth form colleges can be more informal than school sixth forms. They’re usually bigger, and they can often offer you more study options.
When you are choosing where you will go, you should consider:
- the courses available
- the grades you need to meet their entry requirements
- whether the college or sixth form specialises in the area you are interested in
- the links they have with employers, companies or other education providers
- student reviews
- the location and how you will get there
The types of courses and the subject choices vary between different colleges and sixth forms. For some career paths you need to study specific courses or subjects. You can find out more about what you need to do different kinds of jobs. Both colleges and sixth forms offer a range of sports, arts and leisure activities.
From the October half-term, college and sixth forms publish details of the courses they plan to run the following academic year.
It’s a good idea to start researching as soon as you can. Many hold open days, so you can look around, meet teachers and find out more about the courses they offer. You can follow colleges and sixth forms on social media to find out when open days and other events are coming up.
If you’re having trouble finding a college or sixth form that’s right for you, speak to a teacher or an advisor at school.
At the end of your course, your college or sixth form will provide information and advice to help you decide what to do next. If you want to go to university, they will help you with the UCAS application process. They can also help signpost you to information about employment opportunities and apprenticeships.