Your Choices at 14, 16 and 18

Learn more about the choices you can make at Parrs Wood High School and Sixth Form, to help develop your career pathway.

Choices at 14 (GCSE)

You will choose your options in Year 9, to start in Year 10.

This is the first step in building your qualifications profile for your future education and training choices and your career. Think about subjects you enjoy and are good at alongside the subjects you may need for future career choices.

The Careerpilot website contains lots of information and videos, which may help you when thinking about your GCSE choices.

Choosing your GCSE options

Choices Booklet

Once you have explored the resources above, take a look at our Year 9 choices booklet:

There are also lots of activities at school, visit our Future Choices Programme to find out more.

Don’t stop here, dip into choices at 16 & 18 too! See what interests you and take a look at the GCSEs they require. There’s no need to choose your pathway or career now but it is worth taking a peek to see what these options are asking for in terms of qualifications and see the influence that may have on your GCSE choices. See the UCAS Guide on choosing your GCSEs and register for UCAS Hub to discover more.

Choices at 16

The Greater Manchester Apprenticeships & Careers Service website is a great place to start, as are the videos below:

Choices at 16

Real stories about choices at 16

Apprenticeships

Digital and technology degree apprenticeship

Click on the links below to get a flavour of the broad range of apprenticeships available:

Browse apprenticeships in your local area. Remember an apprenticeship is a job with training, so vacancies appear throughout the year.

Traineeships

Many young people face leaving school at 16 unsure of what to do next, feeling like they don’t have the right qualifications to get a job, or work experience.

Traineeships are short, flexible education programmes designed for 16-24 year olds, introduced in the UK to help young people develop and learn the essential skills that will help them find a career.

Find a traineeship.

Note: From 1 August 2023, the government will no longer fund a standalone national traineeships programme. Traineeships can continue to be offered by providers locally.

Finance

You may be eligible for the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, which can help with things like books, travel or equipment if you will struggle with education or training costs.