Options at age 16

Once you reach 16 and finish Year 11 you have a number of choices about what you can do next.

The way that you continue to learn will depend on what you want to do – the choice is yours!

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Discover your options

Explore further information about options available to you at aged 16.

T-levels

T-levels are a government-backed, career focused qualifications for 16 to 19 year olds. They’re equivalent to three A-levels and are also backed by hundreds of British businesses, who helped to design the courses.

T-levels are offered by many schools and colleges across England and offer an ideal first step into a future career. Your can choose to study over 20 different T-levels that cover a wide range of sectors and interests.

More about T-levels

A two year course which includes a 45-day industry placement, providing you with both knowledge and skills.
Focuses on technical skills and is equivalent to three A-levels.
As a T-level student you spend 80% of your time in college, being taught by industry specialists, and 20% of your time placed in industry.

What can T-levels lead to?

Once you have completed your T-level you can choose whether to continue into higher education to complete a higher technical qualification (HTQ) or go into employment. The time that you spent in industry during your course will have prepared you for the reality of the world of work and form the basis of a technical career.

T-levels are available in these areas:

Agriculture, Environment and Animal Care
Business and Administration
Construction
Creative and Design
Digital
Education and Early Years
Engineering and Manufacturing
Health and Science
Legal, Finance and Accounting
Sales, Marketing and Procurement

Find out more about T-levels

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships combine study with training in a paid job. There are apprenticeships in almost any career path you want to do.

More about apprenticeships

Apprentices spend most of their time at work, with 80% of their time in the workplace, and 20% in an education setting.
Apprenticeships are offered at all levels, but most 16-year-olds would enter an apprenticeship at Level 2 (equivalent to GCSEs) or Level 3 (equivalent to A-levels and T-levels).
You will work for a company, be treated as an employee, have a contract and get paid.
You don’t pay for any qualification that’s included as part of your apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships take between one and five years depending on the level of the apprenticeship you are doing.

At the end of your apprenticeship you will have gained a formal qualification, usually at a Level 2 or 3 for school leavers, and have experience in the career path that you want to follow.

What can apprenticeships lead to?

A formal qualification.
Employment in the career you want.
A higher or degree level apprenticeship – equivalent to a foundation, bachelor or masters degree.
Valuable work place experience.

Find out more about apprenticeships

Find an apprenticeship

A-levels

Advanced level qualifications (known as A-levels) are subject-based qualifications that can lead to university, further study, training, or work.

More about A-levels

You can normally study three or more A-levels over two years in a sixth form or college setting.
A-levels are usually assessed by a series of examinations.

Who are they for?

If you’re thinking about going to university, most higher education courses require specific A-levels or combinations of A-levels (or alternative Level 3 qualifications).
If you’re not sure what career or job you want to do, studying a selection of A-levels can be a good way of keeping your options open.

Find out more about A-levels