Study Options

Staying on in education after 16 is a popular choice. Most young people enjoy the opportunity to learn more and build their skills.

There are lots of different options available, so you can find the course and the environment that suits you.

If you know what you want to do already, that's great; but there are also study options that will let you keep your options open and decide later.

Places to Study

CRUCIAL: You can find courses, study options, open days and more on the Oxfordshire Prospectus

Sixth Form

• Offer AS and A levels, GCSE, GCSE retakes, VGCSE, 14-19 Diplomas, BTEC, OCR, AQA and many other qualifications
• Must attend full time
• Provide high level of support

College of Further Education

• Offer AS and A levels, International Baccalaureate, GCSE, GCSE retakes, VGCSE, 14-19 Diplomas, BTEC, NVQ, CGLI (City & Guilds of London Institute), OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations) and AQA (Assessments and Qualifications Alliance) and many other qualifications.
• Can attend full or part time
• Different colleges offer different courses; shop around!
• Some students consider the environment more adult than school

Tutorial College

• Offer GCSE, AS and A level qualifications; revision courses
• Very intensive with good pass rate
• Cost can be high

Distance/Open Learning

• Offers GCSE, A2/AS and a wide range of other qualifications
• Lets you fit study around work and family
• Requires self-discipline to set time aside to study

Adult Basic Skills and Community Education Centres

• Offer GCSE and vocational classes,English, maths, preparation for further study, City and Guilds qualifications
• Free for people on benefits
• Flexible hours
• Usually local with individual help

Experience: what matters to me

I chose to do accounting at Oxford College because maths had always been one of my favourite subjects at school. I also liked the idea of being an accountant and wearing suits to work and earning enough money to do all the things I wanted in life! I think one of the reasons I’ve done so well on the course is that I never lost sight of why I was doing it. It’s important that you have goals and ambitions, and something to aspire to. When I started the course, our tutor told us to make a life map of how we wanted our future to pan out. Mine had things like owning an MG Convertible, having an Alsatian puppy and earning over £1000 a month after tax. These are all things I’m striving to achieve. – Katie Johnson, 19, Witney, finalist in the 2003 EdExcel Achievement in Education Awards

Links

These websites will help you find information advice and guidance around careers and choices online:

• Oxfordshire Prospectus
  Oxfordshire's dedicated website listing course options for young people aged 16+
• Connexions Oxfordshire
  You can get advice for choice and courses from the Connexions Adviser in your school
• UCAS
  Requirements for different Higher Education courses

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