Starting college or other post 16 options

When Year 11 ends, you will then enter post 16 provision and have a choice about how you continue in education or training. All young people must participate in some form of education or training until they are 18 years old.

Here is an overview of the options and opportunities available in our local area, to help you decide which form of post 16 education you would prefer to progress into:

• Staying in education - Further Education College, Sixth Form and Training Provider. 
• Work based learning - Apprenticeship and Supported Internship. 

Going in to post 16 education can be very exciting, but it can also be a big change from life at school. It is normal to feel a mixture of emotions; from worries to excitement, feeling concerned about certain expectations and workload and feeling happy about more choices and independence. 

Knowing what to expect and where to find support can help make this journey a little easier and a lot less daunting.

Top tips for getting ready for Post 16 Education

Start planning early

Your school will have a careers adviser, arrange to meet with them to discuss your ideas for the future. The earlier you can start thinking about Preparing for Adulthood, the better. And if you’re a little unsure of your options, then you can start some research online. Visit the national careers website for more information.

Look on your local college and sixth form websites and find out when they have open days/evenings to go and have a look around and see what is on offer. They may also offer online virtual tours/videos to help you become more familiar with their facilities before you visit. The Independent Provider of Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA), outline different types of schools and settings on their website.

It might be helpful to use a Young Person checklist (PDF, 116KB) to help you plan and keep track.

Good communication

It can be difficult to let new people know how best to support you, especially if you have additional needs/disabilities. It can help to write down who you are and what support you need, this will help the college or new setting get to know you. You could use a one page profile template.

Your current school will also have a responsibility to inform the next setting of any additional support needs. If you or your parents/carers have any worries about the transition, then contact your school’s Special Education Needs/Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENCO) and ask what information is going to be shared. 

Apply for your place

College and sixth form place applications open in September of Year 11. Once you’ve visited the setting and chosen your course/subjects, you can complete an online application via their website. The application form lets the setting know which course you would like to study and a little bit of background information about yourself. 

If you have an EHCP then in addition to applying to the school/college directly, you will also need to let your  SEND  Caseworker know your post 16 preference. They will send you a letter asking for your preference. Once we know your preferences, the  SEND team will consult for your place at a post 16 setting to ensure they can meet your support needs. You will be informed which post 16 setting can meet need by  by 31st March in Year 11. You can find more information on children with EHCP's moving to a new phase of education. 

Attend an interview and taster days

After you have applied for your chosen course, the college or education provider will invite you in for an interview, this is an informal meeting and nothing to worry about. This is an opportunity to share your interests and ask questions about your potential new setting. You could make a list of questions and take them with you. 

Most local schools are invited into the mainstream colleges at the end of year 10 to complete taster days. This will help you prepare for college and learn about the courses they offer. If you would like the opportunity to do some extra taster days, either let your school know or contact the college and ask if they can support these.

Think about transport

Where you go after secondary school might not be as close to home or easy to get to. Most settings do have various bus and public transport options, you will need to check details and eligibility criteria on the setting website. You might also want to check Cheshire East's post 16 transport policy.  

Information for parents/carers

The move from secondary to post-16 can bring a lot of questions for parents/carers and how to best support your young person through this transition.

Young Minds provide tips and advice for parents/carers to help your child/young person cope with change.

If your child/young person requires an enhanced transition plan from secondary to post 16 education, there are various tools to help. It is important that their support needs are communicated with the next setting before they start. Together you could use resources such as the Year 11 Transition Form (PDF, 154KB) or the What Matters Island to help them think about their support needs, if your young person agrees then this can be sent to the next setting. 

Transitioning to employment 

• Visit the Autism Education Trust website to see their Transition to Employment Toolkit.
• Preparing for Adulthood is important for all young people as they develop their independence. Using a life skills checklist can help track development. 

• A Vocational Profile is a person-centred way of gathering information to discover interests and aspirations.

• A Supported Internship is a programme aimed at helping young people with an  EHCP transition from education into employment. 
• Youth Support Services are available for young people aged 16-18 (up to 25 with an EHCP ) to support their journey to employment.