About

The Choice is Yours

From age 14 you have big decisions to make about the subjects and qualifications you study. This might sound challenging but it is also exciting because for the first time you have the freedom to choose how you spend your time in school or college and this prospectus is designed to help you.  

Education for 14-19 year olds is gradually changing 

Over the next few years the education and training choices available for 14-19 year olds will gradually be increasing so that there will be a wider range of subjects and types of qualification to choose from. Groups of Schools, Colleges and Training Providers will work more closely with each other to enable this to happen.   

14-19 Choices in Gloucestershire 

The process of change is starting now and this prospectus is designed to help you find out which courses are available in your local area.   
In this prospectus you can use the search map under the Home page menu to look for courses 

• By subject
• By school/College/Training Provider
• By group of School/College/Training Provider

• The Pathways menu shows how to search for courses by using a sector (job “family”) group

The Open Days menu shows when you can visit the different course providers to find out more and there is also information on how to travel around the county to your chosen provider plus details of sources of funding which may be available to support your studies. 

The whole picture 

Finding out about the choices available is only a part of the decision making process and you will also need to  

• Find out more about yourself
• Match your interests, abilities and learning style with subjects you can study
• Discover how to find out more information from books websites and

Don’t forget there are lots of people you can talk to, everyone needs help at some time and there are a variety of people around you who can give you advice support and information; 

family and friends, teachers, your personal tutor, your school/college careers coordinator, your learning mentor, your Connexions Personal Adviser   

To guide you through the decision making process you can visit 

www.connexions-direct.com/whichwaynow  - if you are in Year 9 

www.connexions-direct.com/itsyourchoice - if you are in year 10 or 11  

There is also advice for parents and carers on www.connexions-direct.com/parentcarer so that they can find out about the choices and decisions you face and help you plan for your future studies.  

Need additional help? 

Having special educational needs or other additional support needs should not stop you learning.  Schools and Colleges will offer you additional help and support and your Connexions Personal Adviser will work with you to help you make your plans for the future.   

See www.skill.org.uk  and www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople for more information.