16-18 Education (Key Stage 5 and Other Options)

Since 2015 it is now the law for 16 year olds leaving school to participate in further education or training until they are 18.

There are three main options for 16 year olds:

• to study full-time at a school, college or with a training provider
• start and apprenticeship or traineeship
• to get into full-time employment or volunteering (more than 20 hours a week) but this must be combined with part-time study or training

As Bishop Perowne CE College provides education to only 11 to 16 year olds (Key Stages 3 and 4), students will need to transfer to other schools and colleges who can support 16 to 18 year olds (Key Stage 5) to get the necessary qualifications for moving on to University or training providers to support entering employment.

We have a unique partnership with Kings School, Worcester, an independent 11 to 18 year olds Church of England provider in Worcester through which we are developing sporting and curriculum links and Sixth Form Bursaries for our Year 11 leavers.

Key Stage 5 Providers

Key Stage 5 (Sixth Form) is also the stage of education where students go through more intense and challenging courses in very specific subjects like mathematics and physics. This stage is the last stage of secondary education for students of sixth form age.

Other Academic and Vocational Course Providers

Worcestershire has three further education colleges who offer a range of academic and vocational courses to suit a range of needs:

• Heart of Worcestershire (HOW) College
• Kidderminster College
• Warwickshire College Group

However going to college may not be for everyone and for this reason there are many other training providers in Worcestershire that can offer education for over 16s. Worcestershire County Council's 16 to 24 training team offers two different programmes:

• vocational training and qualifications
• relevant skills and confidence building to get in to education, employment or training

Apprenticeships

Another option for young people looking to earn while they learn is an apprenticeship. There are apprenticeship positions available with many different employers in the county and you will be given the necessary hands-on and theoretical training to gain different levels of qualifications. Worcestershire Apprenticeships, supported by Worcestershire County Council can help. See the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website for impartial advice and guidance about apprenticeships as well as current vacancies.