Continuing in Full Time Education

The education section of this website will take you through the full-time education options that your son/daughter has after Year 11.

Things to think about

Try talking over the available options with your son/daughter, considering these points:

Which subjects does your son/daughter want to study, and where are they available?

If your son/daughter is considering college or another school sixth form, consider the changes this will mean, such as meeting a new set of people (teachers and friends), travel time and costs

What has happened to previous students? Colleges and sixth forms produce reports about the destinations of previous students. These are available in school and college libraries and give you an idea of what young people have gone onto after doing a particular course.

Look at the money facts for education section, to give you an idea of the financial support available if your son/daughter continues in education

If you still have questions, go along to a school or college open day. This will give you and your son/daughter the chance to meet the staff, ask questions and have a look at the facilities on offer. (You can find out about school/college Open Days by calling or viewing their website.)

Finding out more - what courses are available?

Detailed information about further education courses and work-based learning opportunities in the Black Country can be found in 2 places:

• The Education and Training Opportunities Directory, available in all school Connexions resource centres and Connexions centres.
• Your local Area Prospectus

Qualifications explained

See qualifications explained

Future Choices - Higher Education

Whilst choices after Year 11 will be your immediate concern, you may also find it useful to know a little bit about the choices available to your son/daughter further in the future. Feedback from parents/carers suggest that information on higher education (HE) and going to university in particular would be useful at this stage in your son/daughter's education.

More information on education at 18+

More information on gap years

More information on volunteering

tHE Guide has lots of information on higher education, including planning and course applications, to student life, taking a year out and life after HE.