Starting college or other post 16 options
All young people should participate in some form of education or training until they are 18 years old. When year 11 ends, you will then enter post 16 education.
Here is an overview of the options and opportunities available in our local area, to help you decide which form of post 16 education you would prefer to progress into:
Going in to post 16 education can be very exciting, but it can also be a big change from life at school. It is normal to feel a mixture of emotions; from worries to excitement, feeling concerned about certain expectations and workload and feeling happy about more choices and independence.
Knowing what to expect and where to find support can help make this journey a little easier and a lot less daunting.
Top 5 tips to getting ready for Post 16 Education
1. Start planning early
Your school will have a careers adviser. Arrange to meet with them to discuss your ideas for the future. This can start as early as year 9. And if you’re a little unsure of your options, then you can start some research online. Visit the national careers website for more information.
Look on the local colleges websites and find out when they have open days/ evenings and go and have a look around and see what is on offer. The colleges may also offer virtual tours.
If you have an EHCP , transition planning will be discussed during your annual review in year 9, when future options start being considered. There will be a focus on preparing for adulthood.
2. Good communication
If you have additional needs or a disability, write down who you are and what support you need, this will help the college or new setting get to know you. You can use the one page profile (PDF, 1.5MB) template.
Your school will also have a responsibility to inform the next setting of your support needs. If you or your parents/ carers have any worries about starting college, then contact your school’s SENDco and ask what information is going to be shared. You can even follow this up with your next setting.
3. Apply for your place
College place applications open in September of year 11. Once you’ve visited the college and chosen your course, you can complete an online application via their website.
If you have an EHCP then you will also need to let your SEND keyworker know your post 16 preference. They will send you a letter asking for your preference at the beginning of year 11. They will then consult for your place at a post 16 setting, and you should be informed by 31st March in year 11. If you have an EHCP and want to attend a mainstream college, you will still need to complete an application form via their website.
If a Further Education College is not appropriate and not able to meet your needs, then you could explore different types of schools and settings. The Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA), outline different types of schools and settings on their website.
4. Attend an interview and taster days
The college or education provider will invite you in for an interview. This is an opportunity to share your interests and ask questions about the college. You could make a list of questions and take them with you.
Most local schools are invited into the mainstream colleges at the end of year 10 and 11 to complete taster days. This will help you prepare for college and the course. If you would like the opportunity to do some extra taster days, either let your school know or contact the college and ask if they can support these.
If you have an EHCP you should be offered an enhanced transition during the Spring/Summer term of year 11, therefore allowing extra days for you to get used to the new environment and people.
5. Complete a checklist
You can use the Young Person checklist (PDF, 116KB) help create a checklist.
Information for Parents and Carers
Secondary to post 16 timeline for parents, can be used to help you understand the expectations and timeframes within the academic year for planning for the transition.
If your young person requires an enhanced transition plan from secondary to post 16 education, you can use the Year 11 Transition Form (PDF, 154KB) to help them record and share their information between the settings.
Young Minds provide tips and advice on helping your child during a time of change.
Transitioning to employment - Post 18
- A Vocational Profile is a way of gathering information. It is a discovery document, that is specifically related to work and supporting someone to find a job.
Feedback
The Transition team are always looking for feedback on how to improve what we can improve on. Submit your feedback using our give feedback on the post 16 information online form. The form takes 2 minutes to complete.
Page last reviewed: 25 October 2024
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