Students leaving secondary education are, by law, expected to continue in education or training until they are at least 18 years of age. 

The following Post 16 options are available: 

• Full time study in a Sixth Form or college

• An apprenticeship 

During the autumn term, students will be invited for a confidential Next Steps Guidance meeting with our Careers Adviser, Mrs Godfrey.  They will discuss their plans in detail, and explore the Post 16 options available to them. It is strongly advisable that students attend, whether they feel confident with their plans or are unsure about what they want to do in the future.  Ongoing support is available throughout the rest of the academic year. 

Appointments for parents and carers are available after school for those wanting to speak to Mrs Godfrey. 

College open days

Please check individual college websites for more information, as you may need to register in order to attend. We recommend that students attend college open days so they can look around the facilities and talk with students that go there.

Applying to colleges and for apprenticeships

We will be supporting students to complete college application forms after the October half-term break.  Our deadline is Friday 4th December 2026.  We can't ensure that students who apply to the more competitive Sixth Form colleges after this date will be offered an interview.  

The majority of applications are made online. We encourage all students to have a valid email address (they must not use their school email address) as this will be a form of communication with students once they leave school. Students should regularly check college portals for interview invitations and college place offers. 

Applications for apprenticeships can be made throughout the academic year, although vacancies for school-leavers are advertised around Easter time. Support will be available to students applying for apprenticeships.  We also recommend applying to college as a backup to apprenticeships, as there is no guarantee of a job.  

If you have any questions, or would like to book an appointment with Mrs Godfrey, please get in touch: manc-careersteam@coopacademies.co.uk