My Journey to Higher Education

Life at school and college can be busy. you may feel that you are constantly being told about different things that you need to do and decisions you need to make.

WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER SOME OF THE KEY STAGES YOU WILL GO THROUGH ON YOUR JOURNEY THROUGH SCHOOL AND INTO HIGHER EDUCATION AND BEYOND. this will give you practical tips on things to think about and do in the coming years

Explore

Making your GCSE Choices

GCSEs can help lead you to the career path that you want, so it is a really good idea to think carefully about what you choose. That being said, if you don’t make the ‘right’ choice, it is not the end of the world. Many universities and colleges have access courses that can help you refocus your journey at a later date.

Things to think about:

What do you enjoy doing?
What subjects you are interested in?
What you might want to in the future?

By answering these questions you will be in a stronger place to choose what GCSEs you take. It is also a good idea to talk with your teachers, parents or carers about what you are thinking of doing. They might be able to give you advice and support.

Ultimately though, this is your decision to make. You will be the one doing the course, pick what you are passionate about, and what is best for you.

Doing Work experience

By taking part in work experience you are giving yourself an excellent opportunity to not only develop your skills, but discover what you might want to do in the future (or what you do not want to do!).

Career Pilot has some really useful information on it about different industries and careers. You might have already used this in school.

Future Quest also finds and publishes different work experience opportunities in Bristol and the surrounding areas which you can find here.

You can also read our blog that gives advice on finding the best work experience for you, and how to make the most out of your work experience.

Plan

getting ready for your exams

Getting exam ready can feel daunting, but there is a lot of support out there for you. Mock exams can be a really good opportunity for you to test your knowledge as well as seeing what revision techniques work best for you. We have a blog post about preparing for your mock exams here.

Websites such as BBC Bitesize can also help you with revision, and make the whole experience a bit more interactive and interesting. You can also check out Future Quest’s top revision tips here.

Making your Post 16 Choices

Your Post-16 options will help you as you move onto a higher education course or into your future career. You should think carefully about what you want to do in the future, what you enjoy and what you are passionate about.

It is also worth talking to other that have already been through picking their post-16 options and asking about their experience. This can help give you more of an idea of the subjects and pathways that might be right for you.

You should also think about what you are good at, if you aren’t sure you could ask your teachers, parents or carers who will be able to help!

Career Pilot has some really good information and advice on picking A Levels and vocational courses, it is worth exploring this resource.

Become

making your post 18 choices

Deciding what to do after school or college is a big decision, and one you shouldn’t rush into. Higher education can be a transformative experience, where you will meet people from across the globe, learn new skills, have new opportunities opened to you and get a qualification at the end of it.

Think about the career that you may want to do, and see if a degree is necessary for this. If it is, this may help you make your decision.

Preparing for transition

Wherever you end up after school or college - big changes are coming. It is really important that you start preparing for these.

Things you can do:

Talk with people who have already been through it, ask them about their challenges and highlights
Get your practical skills up to scratch such as cooking and washing your clothes
Make sure you know about the support that is available locally, you don’t want to be doing this research if you are in a crisis

Finally, take some time to reflect on your achievements so far. Finishing school or college is a momentous occasion and you have done it – well done!