In this section is some of the important learning, information and events during this academic year that will help year 11 students select the best post-16 options available to them.

During Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) lessons students are able to  research and apply for their post-16 options.  Students study in these lessons for qualifications called Preparation for Working Life and NCFE Employability Skills which cover: personal strengths and qualities, careers matching, planning and pathways, personal statements and CVs, post-16 options, letters of application and interview techniques.  We also arrange trips out to visit providers and different workplaces, as well as inviting many employers and workers into the school to share with students their experiences and the expectations of the world of work.

We would also encourage students, parents and carers to attend College Open Evenings and the Skillsfest during the Year. The dates for all Open Days are published on College Websites and the Skillsfest date is announced in the summer. Staff at school will inform students of the date of this important event.

Below is information outlining some of the changes to Post 16 education:

Changes to Post-16 Education

Attendance

Post-16 providers are accountable for attendance and now have strict attendance procedures. Young people could lose their place on their option if their attendance is below 95%

Providers will take year 11 school attendance into account when considering applications.

Competition for Popular Courses

Year 11 students from the entire region are going through this application process.  Popular courses can fill up quickly, so the number of choices can go down as time goes on.

Changes in Entry Requirements

Standards have changed about the level of key skills required, especially literacy and numeracy, for a student to progress onto a higher level course.

For example, most level 1 courses require students to have English and Maths at grade 3 or equivalent and most Level 2 courses expect students to have achieved English and Maths at GCSE Grade 4  or equivalent.

In other words, if students make the most of their learning in year 11 and achieve their potential grades, they will spend less time at college catching up on numeracy and literacy, and will progress faster though their chosen route.

Changes in the School Leaving Age

The law says:

You must stay in some form of education or training until your 18th birthday if you were born on or after 1 September 1997.

Your options are:

• full-time education – eg at a school or college
• an apprenticeship or traineeship
• part-time education or training – as well as being employed, self-employed or volunteering for 20 hours or more a week

This also means that parents/carers of a 16-19 year old who is not accessing one of the above options, could lose all their child-related benefits for that young person.

There is limited financial help available to people in some circumstances.  Please see 16 – 19  Bursory Fund for more information.

Podcasts

The Parent Perspective – A careers podcast

 

Derby Post 16 Skills Workshops in Normanton

As part of the Secondary – Post 16 Transitions support programme we are working with Sporting Communities to host 7 Post-16 Skills Workshops. The workshops are aimed at children and young people who want to live a more independent life, progress in education, or their employment prospects.

The workshops are open to all Year 11 students and are encouraged to take up this opportunity to develop the skills that will support their transition to Post-16 routes or beyond.

The workshops will cover the following areas:

• Employability skills
• CV writing skills and build your own CV
• Interview skills and mock interviews
• Networking with real-life employers
• Social Action Project

The final 2 workshops will be focused on using a variety of the skills learned in the earlier workshops. The planning will take place in one of the workshops and the final date will be going out into the community to put it into action!

The workshops will be taking place at Normanton Park Community Centre, 4 – 6 pm starting on Wednesday 9^th November. In addition to the workshops, the students have the opportunity to stay afterward for an hour of FREE use of a Virtual Reality Headset Experience. Along with this, we will be providing drinks and snacks.

Please find below a link to the booking form to share with the students, reminding them that workshops are FREE to attend and they will be well fed and watered.

If you have any questions surrounding this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.