GCSEs - What Next

[celiam]

We have two older children so - by now - we should be used to the panic when GCSEs are over and its only the results to wait for. But this time its worse than ever as we are not sure how good the results are likely to be. Any ideas for where we can get hold of some useful information especially about careers that are IT related - and opportunities for school leavers in this field. He's not a geek but it does seem a strength. He doesn't want to end up sorting out people's computer problems - he does that enough at home.

what about doing a vocational course such as a BTEC in IT? You would find details of courses run by the local college on the web. They would do the course at different levels. Level 1 being roughly equivalent to a d-g gcse level 2 equivalent to A*-C or the level 3 national certificate or diploma depending on the gcse grades. the certificate is equivalent to As level and the diploma to A2 (I think)

What about the local careers service in your area. Most places have one or visiting the local college to see what courses they offer.

Is there any reason he's not going to sixth form? I thought that was the usual lthing?

A lot of young people choose to go to college rather than 6th form now. DD1 stayed nand went to 6th form. DD2 and DD3 went to college. They all wnt to what was best for them.

That's what I meant, really, I just call it sixth form college.

Hope your ds gets something sorted out OP

Thanks everyone - especially Eatyourveg - that's an interesting idea. Anyone know anything about IT apprenticeships - do they exist and do you have to live in specific areas of the country.

Someone came to DD2's sixth form to talk about apprenticeships and they recommended this website - this page is the IT apprenticeships

www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Types-of-Apprenticeships/Information-and-Communication-Technology.aspx

If you go into find out more in each section there is a list of vacancies nationally.