Planning for the Future: Supporting Your Young Person’s Next Steps
It may feel like your young person has only just settled into college, but when it comes to planning for their future, it’s never too early to start exploring the opportunities available. Whether they’re considering university, employment or further training, understanding the options now can help them make informed decisions and feel confident about the path ahead.
One option that continues to grow in popularity is an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships allow individuals to earn a salary, gain recognised qualifications, and develop valuable skills while working. To undertake an apprenticeship, learners must be employed in a suitable job role that supports the apprenticeship standard. We work with a wide range of employers and can support students through the process of finding employment, exploring apprenticeship opportunities, and taking the steps needed to become apprenticeship ready. Apprenticeships are available at all levels and are open to both young people and adults.
The qualifications landscape is also evolving. From next year, we will be introducing new V Levels, providing a high-quality vocational pathway alongside the existing Level 3 options of A Levels and T Levels. Each V Level will be equivalent to one A Level in size and study time. For students who are not yet ready for Level 3 study, new qualifications at Level 2 will offer clear progression routes: one-year Foundation Certificates will provide a stepping stone to further study, while two-year Occupational Certificates will support progression into employment. These new qualifications will give learners even greater flexibility to choose a pathway that matches their interests, strengths and future ambitions.
For students considering higher education, now is also the time to be thinking about university applications. While the UCAS application deadline is Wednesday 13 January 2027, students should focus on the college’s internal deadline of Friday 13 November 2026. This earlier deadline ensures there is enough time for staff to prepare references, attach predicted grades and carefully review applications. It also gives students the opportunity to make any final improvements to their personal statements before submission, helping them present the strongest possible application.
We offer a range of University Level courses in areas including Engineering, Construction, Digital Technologies, Early Childhood Studies and Sport. Studying locally can provide all the benefits of higher-level education while allowing students to remain connected to their support networks and potentially reduce living costs.
Whatever your young person’s goals, starting conversations about their future now can help them explore their options, understand what’s available and take the next step with confidence.