Post-16 Options for your Child when they finish school

There are currently three main options for your child to consider after finishing school.

College – The majority of our students go onto college to continue studying.  The options at college are huge and students can choose from studying A levels, Btec or a variety of vocational courses.  Links to all our local post-16 colleges can be found below.

Apprenticeships - If you have a job sector or career in mind then an apprenticeship can be a great choice, as you will learn about a job area, get paid and you have a good chance of getting a job at the end of your training.  There are different levels of apprenticeship, depending on the level of your GCSE qualifications.  To search for apprenticeships in your local area you can use this link

Traineeship - Traineeships are education and training programmes with work experience, which focus on giving young people the skills and experience they need to help them compete for an apprenticeship or other jobs. Traineeships last a maximum of six months and include core components of work preparation training, English and maths (unless you have already achieved GCSE A* to C standard) and a high quality work experience placement.  To search for traineeships in your local area/or to find out more information you can use these links

Links to Post 16 Colleges

Throughout Year 10 and Year 11 our students will make a number of visits during school time to the colleges in our area.

The two most popular colleges in Taunton for school leavers are:

Finance

Below we have outlined the financial implications of the different post-16 options which will affect you and your child.

If your child does not attend any college course or traineeship then your family will no longer be entitled to the financial support you currently receive for that child.  This will impact your child benefit, working tax credits and housing benefit.

College/Traineeship – If your child studies a full-time course at college or is part of a Traineeship programme you will continue to receive child benefit and child tax credits, as long as you inform the child benefit and tax credit office.  The child benefit office should write to you in your child’s last year of school to ask what they plan to do afterwards.   It is essential you fill in this form to continue receiving benefits.

Apprenticeships –  If your child starts an apprenticeship they will be paid a weekly amount.   If your child leaves full-time education to start an apprenticeship, they are no longer considered your dependent. As such, families of apprentices are currently not entitled to financial support.

This includes any child maintenance you may be receiving through the statutory system, and may also impact your working tax credits, housing benefit and/or council tax reduction.