Support offers for people who want to access formal vocational/educational programs in the UK

Vocational Educational programmes are not available in mainstream school. Schools only offer so called ‘Academic’ courses that lead to GCSE, AS, A Levels. Pupils can choose to study academic courses in vocational subjects such as ICT, Woodworking or Metalworking if the school has access to the required facilities.

From the age of 16, pupils can opt to leave their mainstream school and follow an ‘Applied and Technical’ qualification course in a College of Further Education, a Technical College, a Sixth Form College, a Work-based Learning Provider or a Training Organisation.

Institution providing the offer:

• Colleges of Further Education
• Technical Colleges
• Sixth Form Colleges
• Work-based Learning Providers
• Training Organisations funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency

General description of the offer

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/694413/16_to_19_study_programmes_guidance_updated-March_2018.pdf

All ESFA funded education for 16 to 19 year olds must be delivered as a study programme which combines qualifications and other activities, and which is tailored to each student’s prior attainment and career goals.

Every study programme must have a core aim. For the majority of students, this will be either the study of substantial technical, applied or academic qualification(s) or preparation for employment.

Young people who do not hold a GCSE grade 4 (reformed grading) or grade C (legacy grading) in maths and/or English are required to continue these subjects as part of their study programme.

All study programmes should include work experience and non-qualification activities, which complement the other elements of the programme and support the student to progress to further or higher education or to employment.

The study programmes are various levels – Entry Level – Level 8.

Who can access this support offer
All young people aged 16-19

Further information/useful links
Vocational Courses are also available in Higher Education and can lead to a Bachelor Degree, a Master’s Degree etc. These courses are devised and managed by the Institution concerned – regulated via the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and managed by an Examinations Board.

https://www.gov.uk/education/further-and-higher-education-skills-and-vocational-training