Your Choices at 16+

Don't quit now! You're 16. Life has never been quite this exciting. But it's scary too. You've got so many options to choose from - so many possibilities.

Get a job with training? Stay on at school? Go to college? How do you decide what's for you?  The good news is that there have never been so many great options to choose from.

This page will help you find useful information and advice on what you can do after leaving school.  Also, we outline the services and facilities available in the Sunderland area.

So you can mix and match and get something that suits you exactly.Here's how...  

There are opportunities at our three local schools with sixth forms ( 55kb) and the City of Sunderland College as well as all the other colleges in the region. 

Information, guidance and advice - Connexions ( 27kb)

14-19 Diplomas ( 25kb)

16-19 Opportunities at Special Schools in Sunderland ( 69kb)

Apprenticeship and Entry to Employment ( 88kb)

Sixth Form Centres at Catholic Schools in Sunderland ( 55kb)

City of Sunderland College ( 122kb)

	Sunderland's Area Prospectus ... opportunities for 14-19 year olds Learning at 14+, 16+ and 18+
Student Finance:
	As you may know, from September 2006, course costs and financial support arrangements for university and higher education students are changing.  Student loans are being extended to cover increased tuition fees, while universities and colleges are making million of pounds available in bursaries and scholarships.
The Directgov student finance portal has been built to help student find out exactly how much financial help they are entitled to - from both the government and from universities and colleges - and how to get hold of it.

Further Education Student Support ( 29kb)
Advice and contact information, including discretionary travel, access funding and Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Transport Pilot Scheme.

Higher Education Student Support ( 20kb)
Advice, contact information and links to online application forms  

Other useful information can be found on the following sites:

Connexions Tyne and Wear
The City of Sunderland Careers Service is now part of Connexions Tyne and Wear.

Family Fund   
This website is for teenagers and young people in the UK who have an impairment or disability and are wondering what opportunities and services there should be when they leave school.

NECC
If you're thinking about what you want to do when you leave school or college, and the idea of more studying in the classroom isn't really for you, we can help! NECC Training gets you a foot on the career ladder, leads to a nationally recognised qualification and means you'll be earning money from day one.  So you'll learn while you learn!

UCAS   
(Universities & Colleges Admissions Service for the UK).  The UK central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to full-time undergraduate courses, HNDs and university diplomas. 

University of Sunderland  

UK Course Finder  
Your guide to Higher Education in the UK

Lifelong Learning   
A web site for the encouragement, promotion and development of lifelong learning. Lifelong Learning supported by the Access to Learning for Adults Division of the Department for Children, Schools and Families

A-levels   
Information from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)

AS Level    
Link to ASGuru on the BBC Website.

BBC 'The Surgery' schools and studying

Youthinformation.com  
Includes over 1000 information topics and holds contact details for more than 1200 national organisations, including hundreds of built-in web links.   

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme

Duke of Edinburgh's Application Form ( 33kb)

My Sunderland Jobs
A local Jobsite that offers 1000’s of vacancies, many suitable for school leavers just for Sunderland and throughout the local region.

For further details or application enquiries you can e-mail us or telephone 0191 520 5555.

The documents above are in PDF () format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

The government offers the following advice and information on aspects of Your Choices at 16+:

• Schools, colleges, and universities
  - Guide to qualifications
  - Applying to a university
  - Choosing the right course
  - Money to learn
   -Vocational training
  - Learn Direct - Key skills
  - GNVQs
  - Apprenticeships
  - North East Chamber of Commerce
• Starting a career
  - Careers advice
  - Help with finding work
  - National Minimum Wage
  - Job applications, letters and interviews
• Voluntary work and other choices
  - Travelling abroad
  - Working abroad
  - Business Link - starting your own business
  - Voluntary work placements

If there are any other aspects of your choices at 16+ that you would like to see you can email: childrens.services.info@sunderland.gov.uk or telephone us on 0191 520 5555.