Finding the right path after results day

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) has worked with schools and colleges to provide guidance for students and their parents, as they navigate the range of post-16 and post-18 options available to them.

As thousands of students receive their exam results, Matt Joyce from the North East LEP explains what support is available.

The North East LEP has always worked really closely with schools and colleges to help make sure that each and every young person in our region has the opportunity to be successful in whatever career they choose. And an important part of this is helping people to understand all the options that are open to them when they move on from school or college.

As we’re heading towards exam results days, we know that lots of young people and their parents will be feeling the pressure to make the right decision about what they do next. So we wanted to provide a simple guide to all the pathways which young people can take, from A levels to apprenticeships and from T Levels to traineeships.

On our North East Ambition website (www.NorthEastAmbition.co.uk), people can watch a short film which tells young people about their options. So anyone who’s unsure about their next steps can watch the video and get a simple comparison of the different pathways – including apprenticeships, traineeships, a range of vocational and technical qualifications, and, depending on their age and previous qualifications, higher education.

We know that parents often have a huge influence on their children’s future plans and that there’s been significant change in the education landscape in recent years, so these resources have been designed to update and help inform decision-making at what can be a stressful time.

There is information on A levels and T levels, as well as other vocational and technical options, and apprenticeships, which can now be taken up to degree level. 

North East Ambition doesn’t replace the advice young people get at school or college, but it complements it, giving easy-to-digest information that families can look at together.

We also have a film created specifically for SEND students and their parents – again, this can be found on the North East Ambition site – and both videos provide links to the National Careers Service, where people can go for more in-depth information and support once they have an idea of the range of options there are.

Most importantly, I want people to know there is support out there.

If you don’t know what path to take, or if things haven’t worked out as you’d hoped, don’t panic. Make sure you ask for advice and speak to someone to talk through your options, whether that’s someone at your school or college, someone within your local authority, or the National Careers Service.

Young people have come through such a difficult time over the past two years and the world looks very different after the pandemic. That’s why we’re doubling down on our work to support schools and colleges, and help each and every young person gain the skills they need for their next steps in life.

Visit NorthEastAmbition.co.uk/options to see information on post-16 and post-18 pathways.