How many times where you asked as a child and into your teens, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Most people at age 5 will say the profession of their mother or father and others will guess based on their toy sets as it is very difficult at that age, and sometimes even older, to decide your path ahead. The education system in the UK is divided into four main parts, primary education, secondary education, further education, and higher education. Children in the UK must legally attend primary and secondary education which runs from 5 years old until the student is 16 years old. You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:
- stay in full-time education, for example at a college
- start an apprenticeship or a traineeship
- spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training
As parents, we make decisions for our children’s education based on many factors including location, finances, an early determination of needs and talents through the primary and secondary education stages in what we determine to be the ‘right’ choices up to age 16. We then make the transition from the decision maker to a guidance role. Where our instinctive talents lie for most of us are yet to be discovered by age 16 when it is time to decide which direction we go: college, apprenticeship training, vocational training, other skill development or straight into the workforce. We are fortunate to live in a time where there are many types of training available but let’s take a closer look at these options to see how they can help us make important decisions.
University
A study from Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) states the main reasons to go to university are:
- increase your knowledge – study what you love, you’re interested in and with the top experts in their fields
- get your first true taste of independence and freedom, build self-confidence, experience all aspects of student life, broaden your horizons and meet new people
- gain a qualification that’s internationally recognised – UK higher education qualifications are recognised and respected by employers and academics worldwide
- develop the essential skills you’ll need in your career and working life – communication, organisation, time management, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving
- increase your earning potential – having a degree makes you more attractive to employers, you’ll have a greater choice of jobs and you’ll earn more. The average salary for graduates is 30% higher than for non-graduates aged 25-30. In 2013–14 , 90% of all graduates were in work or further study within six months of leaving university (although this may be in the case today after the pandemic)
- experience student life – yes, you’re expected to work hard but uni is also fun. Whatever your interests, there are a huge range of clubs, societies, and a diverse social life on offer
These are all important to find a job after graduating but attending university is not for everyone; what are our other options.
Apprenticeship Training Colleges
These colleges specifically gear courses to get you into the workforce while you are learning in the course. Do you enjoy working on machinery, are you a problem solver in production? Is going into apprenticeship training your (right) choice?
The benefits are:
- Hands-on training gives you a real chance to put your skills into practice and helps you to gain more confidence in a working environment.
- Experience in the working world and show employers that you can ‹hit the ground running›
- You are getting paid to learn, rather than paying to learn.
- Gain nationally recognised qualifications
- Gain real industry experience
- Start earning straight away
You could also use a level 3 qualification as a route into higher education, such as taking a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND).
Under HNCs and HNDs have a wide range of subject areas, including:
- agriculture
- computing and IT
- construction and civil engineering
- engineering
- health and social care
- business and management
- sport and exercise sciences
- performing arts
- retail and distribution
- hospitality management
Vocational Training (BTECs) and Academies
A vocational school, also called trade school or career school, is a form of education that is designed to teach students the valuable skills they need to perform a particular task or job. These schools usually provide practical training that focuses on a single field.
BTEC qualifications are particular types of work-related qualifications that are available in a wide range of subjects. Many have been designed in collaboration with industry, so they can equip you with the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for. These qualifications offer a mix of theory and practice and can also include an element of work experience. They can take the form of, or be part of, a technical certificate which are also one of the key components of an apprenticeship.
Did you ever feel you were born to be a nurse? There are many people who feel this way and continue a journey without further thought as to why and how. It is another type of postsecondary education that trains students for a specific line of work, often in healthcare or other hands-on-fields.
BTECs and OCR Nationals are available in a wide range of subjects which include:
- art and design
- business
- health and social care
- information technology
- media
- public services
- science
- sport
They are usually studied full-time at a Further Education (FE) College sometimes at school, or in collaboration between a school and college. You can also take them part-time at an FE college. They are mainly taken by learners over 16, although some schools offer them to 14 to 16-year-olds, normally in combination with other qualifications such as GCSEs or Key Skills.
Further Education (FE) Colleges
UK further education (FE) colleges are funded by the Government and offer access courses, higher education-level diplomas and in some cases full Bachelor’s degrees. College qualifications are designed to equip students with job-specific skills that they can transfer into the workplace, boosting their employability.
Below are a list of qualifications you can consider on your journey in life.
- AS and A levels
- Bachelor’s degrees
- BTECs, OCR Nationals and other vocational qualifications
- Entry level qualifications
- Essential Skills
- Foundation degree courses
- Foundation degrees
- GCSEs
- Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas
- Key Skills qualifications
- NVQs
- Postgraduate qualifications
- T levels (technical level qualifications) (proposed qualification by the Gov’t)
Academies
If you feel you are set out to join the police or fire services, become a vicar, do intensive study in IT, or even become a footballer. All these fields have academies where you can apply.
Information for this article was supplied by Universities and Colleges Admission Service, www.gov.uk, pearson.com, HESA (Higher Education Data and Analysis), independenthe.com, indirect.gov.uk.