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Your choices at 16

Places to study at 16

Students have to stay in education or training until they are 18. The good news is, there is more choice than ever about where you do your study or training.

At 16, you could go onto a school sixth form or to a sixth-form college, but there are also lots of other places you could choose to study.

If you are interested, then explore a provider's website to see what they offer and how to apply. You could also get advice and support from your school, family and friends to make sure this is the right choice for you.

At 16 you can study at these places:

The range of places you can study other than in a sixth form or sixth-form college are:

  • Further Education Colleges offer a huge range of courses that can help at every stage of life from Level 1 courses through to degrees and professional qualifications. Colleges also offer short and part-time courses.
  • Apprenticeships offer a way to learn on the job while working for an employer, building up knowledge and skills, gaining qualifications and earning money at the same time.
  • Work or voluntary work with training towards a qualification (ask your teacher for more information).
  • University Technical Colleges are government-funded schools that offer 14–18 year olds both academic and technical education related to specific job sectors.
  • Studio Schools teach through enterprise projects and real work. This approach ensures students' learning is connected to the real world and helps them develop the skills they need for life and work.
  • Free Schools are like academies but are set up to meet the demand of a local community

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