Help in Year 10 and 11

We can continue to provide support for parents of young people in years 10 and 11, as they look towards their future at the end of year 11. We can:

• update you on the world of work and the role that work experience plays in preparing your son or daughter for the future;
and
• tell you about the options that will be available to them.

Work experience

At some point your son or daughter is likely to be involved in work experience. You may already have information from his or her school about this. Work experience is a chance for young people to explore types of work that might interest them. Work experience can be a really valuable source of learning and some lead to a job and/or part-time employment.

For some young people, work experience might not be appropriate, but the school will organise other activities for them to go out into the community as part of their preparation for adult life.

For more information on work experience look at our Frequently Asked Questions.

Choices

Your son or daughter has a number of choices at the end of their year 11. Whatever their choice is, they have an entitlement to continue their learning, through recognised training as they work, or though full-time education. We encourage all young people to continue learning, in order that they develop the knowledge, skills and flexibility to be able to adapt to the world of the future.

They can:

• start a full-time course at school or college of further education
• start work/training, or one of the many activities that will prepare them for work
• do voluntary work
• start their own business, or work or study abroad – but these options might be more difficult.

The choice depends on many factors:

• what they want to do in the long term
• what qualifications they might need
• whether they feel ready to go into the labour market at 16, and
• their feelings about continuing to study.

Information on courses, schools, colleges and training providers

There are now a large number of courses and training available across Cornwall and Devon for young people aged between 14 and 19. The easiest way of finding out about them all is to look at an on-line prospectus, which gives all the local course and training information. The prospectuses do not contain information about university level courses, but everything else from year 10 onwards is included.

For courses in:

• Cornwall & the Isle of Scilly: http://www.cornwall.futures4me.co.uk
• Devon & Torbay: http://www.options4me.co.uk
• Plymouth: http://www.findacourse4me.co.uk

Qualifications

If you want to understand how all the qualifications relate to each other, and how they compare with others, take a look at our qualifications section.

Extra support

Some young people are not ready for either further education or jobs because they lack the right mix of skills, qualifications or attitudes, or have other challenges. They may have had negative experiences of education and been put off by traditional learning. Ask your son or daughter’s Connexions Personal Adviser about the extra help and support on offer. If your son or daughter has a disability or Special Educational Needs, look at our section on this here.

Finance

Because the government is keen for young people to continue in learning, they may be able to get financial support for this. The Education Maintenance Allowance is a means-tested allowance, paid to the student, to support those going on to sixth form or college courses. If he or she continues to learn and develop their skills, they could receive up to £30 a week to help out with things like books, travel and equipment.

Your son or daughter’s school should have application forms, or they can register online at http://ema.direct.gov.uk/. To find out more, contact the helpline on 0800 121 8989 or look at the website.

For information about other financial support that might be available, such as benefits, grants and loans, look at the Money section on our young people’s website.

Guarantee

Currently Connexions and the local Learning and Skills Council are guaranteeing that anyone leaving year 11 will be offered a learning opportunity by the end of September this year. For more information, ask your son or daughter’s Personal Adviser. They can be contacted through your son or daughter’s school or your nearest Connexions Centre.

Further information

For further information about the choices your son or daughter will need to make in year 10 and 11, and the factors they need to consider, please see the two booklets attached, or ask for a copy from your local Connexions Centre:

A national booklet called It’s your choice
A local booklet from Connexions called Choices at 16