Your Child’s Choices

As a parent or carer, it is important to recognise the choices available for young people when they leave school or college.  When a young person is making career decisions they often seek advice from people closest to them.  Below is a list of all the available pathways your child could take.

Further Education (FE)

Further Education is where your child continues with their studies at either College or Sixth Form.  Barnsley and Dearne Valley Colleges are major further education providers in the area with lots of courses to choose from,  ranging from Health and Social care to Music Technology.

Penistone Grammar School offers Sixth Form oppurtunities in a choice of subject areas.  Some schools are now offering a post 16 course in collaboration with a local FE College

For further information go to the Courses and Training Section

Higher Education (HE)

Higher Education is aimed at young people who have completed a college or sixth form course and wish to progress onto university studies.  Within South Yorkshire there are plenty of universities nearby which include Huddersfield, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds and Hull.  Barnsley now has its own University Centre which offers courses at HE level as part of the University of Huddersfield.

Work Based Learning

Your child can choose to continue to learn through the work based learning route.  This consists of working for a company developing specific skills and completing a qualification at the same time.  The most common route is through Apprenticeships.  There are two levels of Apprenticeship, the Level 2 Apprenticeship and an Advanced Apprenticeship at Level 3.  Entry onto them depends upon previous qualifications.  There is also a programme called Entry to Employment (e2e) which is aimed at providing young people experience in the working world so they can gain confidence and move onto Further Education or employment.

Employment

This could be full-time or part-time in anything they choose depending on qualifications.  Employment could give your child the experience needed to lead onto training and further qualifications.  It is important that your child has the opportunity to continue with training and further qualifications to ensure that they develop the skills needed for changes in the employment market.

Voluntary Work

Voluntary Work is where a young person gives up their own time to help other people.  This could be useful in developing confidence and showing future employers a willingness to learn.  Local schemes include Millennium Volunteers and Aimhigher Ambassadors.

For further information on volunteering check out the Getting Involved section

This page was last updated on the 4th of September 2007 and is scheduled for review on or before the 4th of September 2008