Helping your young person choose their next steps for after their GCSE courses doesn’t have to be daunting. With some simple steps, you can help your young person break down their interests and strengths to find a perfect opportunity that will help them reach their goals.
We asked Keith, North Hertfordshire College’s Deputy Principal, for his top tips for helping your young person choose their next steps – check out his advice below!
Explore the subjects, skills, and topics that interest them 🤔
Understanding what your young person enjoys and is interested in is key to finding a course that works for them. They might have a career in mind already, like wanting to become a plumber or to work in HR, or have a particular passion they want to follow and take to the next level, like sports or creating art.
It’s also helpful to consider whether your young person does particularly well in a subject or responds to a different way of teaching, like hands-on practical sessions.
By helping your young person identify what it is they enjoy, you’re more likely to help them find a course that they’re motivated to study and to do well in.
Consider all the pathways available 🗺
There are many options open to students after their GCSEs, from apprenticeships to A Levels, BTECs and the shiny new T Levels. Each study programme offers its own benefits to learners and a unique way of learning, so it’s important to understand what each one involves to help you to find one that matches your young person’s preferences.
At North Hertfordshire College, we offer T Levels and BTECs, as well as apprenticeships through our Hart Learning & Development team.
T Levels – these new qualifications are a more academic version of a BTEC. A key element of T Level programmes is the industry placement, where learners spend a minimum of 45 days on placement with an employer to learn more about their chosen career.
BTECs – available from entry level to Level 3 (equivalent to three A Levels)*, BTECs focus on one industry and cover a range of units to help learners build the skills, knowledge, and behaviours needed for success in their chosen vocation.
Apprenticeships – these programmes combine four days of real work with a day of college study, allowing apprentices to earn while they learn. They are a great option for young people who are keen to get their careers started and are available across a range of industries.
Discover options and support available at an open event 🎟
When you and your young person have an idea of what subject and type of course they want to study, then the next step is to attend an open event. Your young person will be able to talk to current students, meet course tutors, and tour the facilities they could be studying in, helping them confidently decide which programme is right for them.
North Hertfordshire College regularly runs open events throughout the academic year, helping young people find out more about the amazing opportunities open to them after their GCSEs.
If you would like to discuss your options in more detail, our careers advisors are available at each of our campuses for you to drop in to talk to. You can also meet our tutors and careers advisors at our open events, too! For more information, please visit our Open Events page or email careers@nhc.ac.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!
*Subject to course availability. Please check each subject area to confirm which levels are available at NHC.