What Should I Do After GCSEs?

Firstly, well done for thinking ahead! Whether you are in year 11 or year 9, it is never too early to start thinking of your future. You are ahead of many and off to a great start by thinking of what is next. There are lots of options but it is important that you are realistic about your abilities and what is available to you where you live.  

Plan for the best-case scenario, but also be realistic and think about a ‘ Plan B’ in case things don’t go to plan. Get as much advice as you can and do lots of research. 

Also, remember that you can always change your mind, nothing is set in stone!

Get to Know Yourself

Before deciding on what the next step is, you should first reflect on your past experiences and be honest with yourself about where you are at right now. This is not to discourage you, but to ensure the next move is for the right reasons and truly the best thing for you and nobody else. 

As a teenager, you have so much time on your side - so try your best not to make a quick decision based on what others are doing in your friend group or what you see online. Embrace the fact that you are different from others and you may get to the same stage on a different timeline. That is perfectly normal.

First - get a realistic view of where you are academically and what you can realistically achieve. You may know this already from mock exams but go and talk to each of your subject teachers about how they think you will do and what you need to do to get your target grades. Also talk to your teachers about options for after GCSE, after all, they know you and your local areas, and they may suggest options you or I had not considered or knew existed.

Next - Think about what you enjoy, and what are you good at. Think carefully about what it is about the subjects you enjoy, remember it is the subject you are picking, not the teacher or potential classmates! Do you prefer to be practical and creative or logical and scientific? Do you like coursework or prefer to be assessed by a final exam? These sorts of facts are key in choosing where you will go next.

Once you know yourself, here are the main options you can consider. For each one you need to find out if it is available locally and what the entry requirements are. Ask friends and family of their experiences at different schools and colleges. Many colleges and schools will hold open days/evenings. If you have missed this then feel free to contact them directly and ask for a tour, most establishments will be delighted to show you around and talk to you.  

Research Different Post-16 Options

1. A-Levels and AS Levels

These are the traditional academic routes required by Russell Group universities and for courses such as medicine and veterinary science. Usually, people choose 3 or 4 subjects they have enjoyed and done well in at GCSE. 

They are taught over 2 years and usually have time scheduled for independent study. There may be new subjects offered at A-Level too, if you are interested in taking a subject you have not studied at GCSE make sure you fully understand what the topics are and the types of assessments. 

Most institutions have minimum entry requirements to study a subject at A-Level, such as grade 6 or above at GCSE and also a grade 5 or above at GCSE English and Maths. If you are looking at going to a new school, sixth form or college talk to your current teachers about its reputation!  

Some sixth forms offer AS Levels, which are a one-year course, worth half an A-Level. You can continue on and complete an extra year and complete an A-Level in these subjects after the first year, or decide to do a different subject altogether. 

A-Levels are assessed with exams at the end of the year and some subjects will also include coursework which is completed over a longer period. Read more about them on the UCAS website. You can also speak to qualified A-Level online tutors on Sherpa.

2. BTEC

BTEC stands for the Business and Technology Education Council. BTECs are designed for students who know what sector they want to work in but are not sure of exactly what they want to do in it. 

They often have a larger percentage of coursework which suits many students who prefer to take their time on their work and struggle with exams. 

Many larger schools offer BTEC Level 2 or 3 alongside A-Levels. You can also study for a BTEC as a stand-alone subject. BTEC subjects are widely varied, with common subjects offered at sixth forms and colleges including Health & Social Care, Sports and Performing Arts. Read more about them on the UCAS website. You can also speak to qualified BTEC online tutors on Sherpa.

3. T-Levels

These are the newest qualifications and are usually offered only by Further Education colleges. They combine study in college with an industry placement, 80% study and 20% work. 

They are great for people who like to learn by doing. This path means you will be putting the skills you learn into practice soon after you learn them in a classroom.

You can choose from a range of practical subjects, from animal care and management to engineering and manufacturing. A T-Level is the equivalent of 3 A-Levels. Read more about them on the government website.

4. International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme 

The International Baccalaureate Programme (IB) is commonly taught in international schools and is becoming increasingly popular and recognised by all universities around the world as a gold standard qualification. 

It is generally only taught in specific schools and not offered by colleges. Students have to study a choice of 6 subjects and 3 ‘core’ themes - these are the theory of knowledge, community action service and the extended essay. 

The IB can be completed in English but also a range of other modern languages. Read more about them on their official website. You can also speak to qualified IB online tutors on Sherpa.

5. Apprenticeships 

If you know that you do not want to stay at school and want to go to work, apprenticeships offer you experience, skills and payment straight from school. You can be trained in anything from being a mechanic to manufacturing or caring for animals to accounting. The options are often very location-dependent.

Many apprenticeships will offer training on the job or send you to college or university as part of your training for higher-level skills so you won’t be limiting your potential. Read more about them on the UCAS website.

The range of apprenticeships is expanding each year and is updated regularly where there are spaces. To find out what is available locally to you now, check out the designated list on the UCAS website.

Create a Plan to Make it Happen

Step 1: Make a list of what you want to do post-GCSE.  

Consider the positives and negatives of each post-16 option. Take your time and write them down in a list to help yourself think clearly if necessary. Are they realistic and will they help you in the future?  

If you do not know what you want to do make sure you are not shutting any doors - if you are academically strong and unsure of what to do make sure you have qualifications that allow you to attend the best universities, as you may want to do this in the future once you know for sure.  

Research practical options close to you that you can easily travel to every day. You can have a few options as you usually do not have to make a firm decision until results day.

Step 2: Get talking to your parents/carers and teachers.

If you are not on track to achieve the grades for what you want how can you fix this? Ask your school teachers for support and attend any in-school intervention classes to catch up. 

Consider getting an online tutor for subjects you are really struggling with or may want to study post-16. Having a good understanding of the core knowledge at this stage will be essential to succeeding at higher levels.



Step 3: Aim high and believe in yourself! 

To recap - you should absolutely believe you can achieve anything you want to do after GCSEs whatever it is. Investing in yourself, especially your education, will never be a mistake. There may be some bumps, wrong turns or disappointments along the way – but it’s how we move from them that determines our future.

Like most things in life worth doing, moving on to the next chapter will take courage, determination and hard work. If that is something you have previously struggled with, gather support from where you can find it, start small and make gradual improvements until you reach your goals! You’ve got this!