Post 16 activities

Once you finish school, after you are 16, you'll have different options available to you. You can:

  • stay in full-time education, for example at a college
  • start an apprenticeship or traineeship
  • spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

You need to do one of the above until you're 18.

Your guide to Post 16 education, employment and training:

You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays. There are lots of things you do before and after you leave to help you work out what to do next:

  • Research career ideas and entry requirements on the National Careers Service website. Look at the skills health check.
  • You can apply for more than one setting, course or training/apprenticeship.
  • Attend skills fairs, open days and visit websites for colleges, 6th forms and training providers.
  • Aim to apply by the January before you are due to go into year 12.
  • Once you have applied to a college or other setting, there is usually some flexibility, if you want to change the course you have applied for. Just contact the setting as soon as possible.
  • If you don’t meet the entry requirements when you get your results, speak to the college as they may be able to help you find the appropriate level course.
  • If you are still at school, you should have access to careers advice and guidance.
  • If you are not living in Nottinghamshire, you can access your area’s local offer through the local authority's website.

If you are considering university, look at their open days and events online which often start from years 9 and 10. Funding support available can be found on the local offer.

A Levels

  • Can be accessed at school 6th forms and colleges
  • Research the different courses available at 6th forms and colleges, and consider your post-18 options, and how your courses will support them. The National Careers Service website will help to identify different routes to your chosen career e.g. nursing, teaching, engineering.

Colleges

Smaller college settings and training providers (including those supporting apprenticeships) 

The list below is not exhaustive, and links are correct as of October 2020. Funding changes regularly.

 

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Bursaries are available for young people who are looked after or care leavers. You can apply through your college, school, or training setting. Please be aware colleges can link bursary payments to attendance and engagement with the setting, and decide payment intervals. This bursary totals approximately £1,200 a year and is to fund transport, equipment, meal vouchers. Find out more: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Equipment funding: The Prince's Trust

If you are enrolling on a course which requires subject specific equipment e.g. hairdressing/construction trades, you can apply for equipment funding through the Prince's Trust prior to starting. Speak to your social worker well in advance of starting your course if you are concerned about the equipment requirements of the course.

Part-time jobs are a good way to gain experience and can support applications for your future plans in the world of work or further education, as well as providing you with an income.

You will need to comply with legislation governing employment for 13-16 year olds if you are looking for a part-time job while you are still at school.

Getting a National Insurance Number

If you are looking for a part-time job beyond the age of 16, you will need to ensure you have a National Insurance number.

  • Some colleges and training providers have their own buses and transport links. Visit their websites, or ask at your interview.
  • Applications for bus passes: speak to your college/setting or social worker for support with this.
  • Subsidised transport for 16-19 year olds in education
  • If you have an apprenticeship or job offer, you can apply for an electric bike, bike or moped hire before starting: Wheels to work

If you are looking to volunteer, or gain some work-place experience, the websites below could help:

Going to university is an exciting prospect. University can give you:

  • the opportunity to explore different places and parts of the country
  • make new friends and meet new people
  • learn more about a subject that interests you
  • prepare you for a career of your choice
  • live more independently

and much more. There are lots of things to think about when considering going to university so here are a few tips about where to look first and what help is out there for you.

Year 10 onwards

You might want to start exploring the idea of going to university from key stage 4. Lots of universities offer tours, visits, advice and videos for students who are pre-16 and post-16. Many will also offer a bespoke visit or introduction for you and will have a key person at the university that you can contact, ask your social worker, school, Virtual School or achievement adviser, about this.

Support available from searching, to applying, to going to university

There are lots of people and resources who can help you to make the right decision and help you when applying. Each university will have slightly different support they can offer so it is important that you ask about what is available. The support available to you applies to universities local to you and universities further away. The links below should give you more information about financial support, accommodation for 365 days a year and much more.

Useful information from universities

Most universities now have virtual tours and video clips on their websites which include information about accommodation, how to apply, university life, specific course details etc. Here are links for two local universities:

University Events and Visits

West Notts College Open Events, Tours and Tasters

College Open Event

Saturday 11 November 2023,10am to 1pm
Derby Road, NG18 5BH

Campus Tour - Mansfield and Ashfield Sixth Form College

Tuesday 14 November 4.30pm until Tuesday 21 November 2023, 5pm
Mansfield and Ashfield Sixth Form College, NG19 7BB

Campus Tour - Construction Centre

Wednesday 15 November 2023, 4.30pm to 5pm
Construction Centre, Station Park, NG17 7RB

Campus Tour - Engineering Innovation Centre

Thursday 16 November 2023, 4.30pm to 5pm
Engineering Innovation Centre (Oddicroft Lane, NG17 5FA

A Level Open Event

Tuesday 21 November 2023, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Mansfield and Ashfield Sixth Form College, NG19 7BB

Campus Tour - Derby Road Campus

Wednesday 22 November 2023, 4.30pm to 5pm
Derby Road, NG18 5BH

Engineering, Fabrication and Welding, and Motor Vehicle Open Event

Thursday 7 December 2023, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Engineering Innovation Centre, Oddicroft Lane, NG17 5FA

Construction and Building Services Open Event

Thursday 7 December 2023, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Construction Centre, Station Park, NG17 7RB

A Level Open Event

Wednesday 24 January 2024, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Mansfield and Ashfield Sixth Form College, NG19 7BB

Apprenticeship Information Event

Thursday 1 February 2024, 5.30pm - 7.30pm
Derby Road, NG18 5BH

Preparing for FE: Transition and support services information event

Wednesday 7 February 2024, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Derby Road, NG18 5BH

Mansfield and Ashfield Sixth Form College, Campus Tour

Wednesday 21 February 2024, 4.30pm to 5.00pm
Mansfield and Ashfield Sixth Form College, NG19 7BB

College Open Event

Thursday 22 February 2024, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Derby Road, NG18 5BH

Campus Tour - Construction Centre

Tuesday 27 February 2024, 4.30pm to 5pm
Construction Centre, Station Park, NG17 7RB)

Campus Tour - Engineering Innovation Centre

Wednesday 28 February 2024, 4.30pm to 5pm
Engineering Innovation Centre, Oddicroft Lane, NG17 5FA

Campus Tour - Derby Road Campus

Tuesday 5 March 2024, 4.30pm to 5pm
Derby Road, NG18 5BH

Apprenticeship Vacancies Event

Thursday 13 June 2024, 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Derby Road, NG18 5BH

College Open Event

Saturday 15 June 2024, 10am to 1pm
Derby Road, NG18 5BH

Campus Tour - Mansfield and Ashfield Sixth Form College

Monday 17 June 2024, 4.30pm to 5pm
Mansfield and Ashfield Sixth Form College, NG19 7BB

Campus Tour - Engineering Innovation Centre

Tuesday 18 June 2024, 4.30pm to 5pm
Engineering Innovation Centre, Oddicroft Lane, NG17 5FA

Campus Tour - Derby Road Campus

Wednesday 19 June, 4.30pm to Sunday 16 June 2024, 5pm
Derby Road, NG18 5BH

Campus Tour - Construction Centre

Thursday 20 June 2024, 4.30pm to 5pm
Construction Centre, Station Park, NG17 7RB

North Notts College Open Events 

Retford Campus Open Event 

Thursday 23 November 2023

North Notts College Open Event

Saturday 25 November 2023
Saturday 3 February 2024

Nottingham College Open Evenings

High Pavement Sixth Form

Wednesday 15 November 2023, 5pm to 7pm
Thursday 18 January 2024, 5pm to 7pm

Location: High Pavement Sixth Form

Subjects at this event

  • A Levels

City Hub

Tuesday 14 November 2023, 5pm to 7pm
Tuesday 16 January 2024, 5pm to 7pm

Location: City Hub

Subjects at this event:

  • Business & Accounts
  • Catering and Hospitality
  • Computing
  • Early Years and Education
  • Health and Social Care
  • Media, Digital and Photography
  • Performing Arts
  • Prince’s Trust
  • Science
  • Travel, Tourism and Aviation

Highfields

Thursday 16 November 2023, 5pm to 7pm
Wednesday 17 January 2024, 5pm to 7pm

Location: Highfields

Subjects at this event

  • Electrical
  • Engineering
  • Prince’s Trust

Basford

Tuesday 21 November 2023, 5pm to 7pm
Tuesday 23 January 2024, 5pm to 7pm

Location: Basford

Subjects at this event:

  • Animal Science
  • Construction
  • Foundation Learning
  • Health sciences
  • Prince’s Trust
  • Public Services
  • Sport
  • Supported Learning

Adams Building

Wednesday 22 November 2023, 5pm to 7pm
Wednesday 24 January 2024, 5pm to 7pm

Location: Adams Building

Subjects at this event:

Art and Design
Fashion and Textiles
Hair and Beauty
Prince’s Trust

London Road

Thursday 23 November 2023, 5pm to 7pm
Thursday 25 January 2024, 5pm to 7pm

Location: London Road

Subjects at this event

  • Motor Vehicle
  • Prince’s Trust

Useful links and resources

Visit the links below for more information on higher education and the routes available. 

  • Routes to Higher Education: find out more about higher education and how you can get there, including info on how to apply and student finance. Whether you are thinking about university, college, or perhaps a higher or degree apprenticeship, this Future Focus digital booklet [PDF] could help.
  • Inspire Learning Study Programmes: for young people aged 16-24 in Nottinghamshire, Inspire have bases in Hucknall, Mansfield, Sutton, Arnold, Newark, Stapleford, Eastwood, Worksop and Retford. They could help you gain new qualifications, including those listed below. You can find out more by watching these short videos.
    • Catering
    • Construction
    • Hospitality
    • Health and social care
    • IT
    • Carpentry and joinery
    • Painting and decorating

NCC Employability briefings - Autumn 2023

Don’t forget to send the details of the young people and support workers wishing to attend the briefings to: achievement@nottscc.gov.uk or via our online employability briefing booking form.

As a careers advice and guidance window, they are proving to be an invaluable resource.

Employability briefings are for all of our young people, whether at college or in training, in a higher education setting or not currently engaged in employment, training or education.

Businesses are opening their doors to introduce employment opportunities for care experienced young people.

 

A focus on employment with the Nottinghamshire Police Force 

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds who can demonstrate how they inspire and influence those around them, are courageous and show compassion to other.

Date: Wednesday 8 November 2023, 10am until 12pm
16+
Maximum Number: 20 (inclusive of support workers)
Venue: Headquarters, Sherwood Lodge, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, NG5 8PP

More to Follow

We have been overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity, encouragement and inspiration from local, regional and national businesses.

These employability briefings are designed to provide looked after children and care leavers (aged 16-25) with an insight into the world of employment - a starting point for further career aspiration and development.

The world of business really is making a difference.

 National government information

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