Post 16 Applications in Kent and Medway – Part 1

As you are now in Year 11, you will soon be making your Post 16 applications and some decisions!

• The deadline for most 6^th Forms in Kent & Medway is December 2024.
• Most colleges keep applications open until the summer holidays but, will start interviewing current Year 11 students for places on their courses, from January 2025.
• Applying before January is strongly advised as most colleges offer places on their courses on a first come, first serve basis.

Knowing what you need to do now is important, this guide will help you, as you take your next steps.

Options

You have several choices open to you after Year 11, with the main options being:

• Stay on in full time education, at a school, college or with a training provider on a study programme.
• Take an apprenticeship.
• Work or volunteer and study part-time alongside

Applications

You will be applying for courses in schools and colleges after October half term across Kent and Medway.

• In Kent applications for most schools, colleges and study programme providers are via the application portal for Year 11 students called Kentchoices which lists all of the available courses and places you can study at.
• You will have received login details for Kentchoices site via your school.
• For Medway (and some schools in Kent), applications are via a direct application to the school, college, or study programme provider of your choice.
• A few schools have internal application processes which allow students to apply to their current school on a paper application form.

EHC Plans

If you have an EHC plan, you will need to follow the application guidelines, issued by your local authority for “consultation” which is the process each Local Authority has in place to support your next steps. The processes for Kent and Medway Local Authorities are detailed below. For additional information please contact your Local Authority SEND team and/or your SENCO in school or college.

How many places can I apply to?

• You can apply to as many places as you like, so you have a back-up if you don’t get the grades, a place is full or you are unsure what you wish to study.
• You can verbally accept places at multiple schools, colleges and study programmes to keep your options open.
• You make your final decision regards where you wish to study after Year 11, when you receive your GCSE results in August.

NOTE: Apprenticeship applications are slightly different, which we will cover in Part 2 of our application guide.

Applications outside of Kent and Medway

If you wish to apply for a school, college or study programme outside of Kent and Medway, you will need to apply via a direct application or use the county or borough’s online application portal for where you wish to apply (if available).

Often course and career information regards options outside of Kent can be found on Local Authority and partner websites, such as this one for London: Careers Clusters | London City Hall.

Deadlines

In most schools, Year 11 students will have made their initial applications for schools and/or colleges by December at the latest.

Most deadlines outside of Kent and Medway are the same across the country.

Each school and college do however, have their own individual deadlines for applications, so be sure to find out when these are, by speaking to each school and college you are interested in applying to at open days, or by contacting them via email or phone.

Open Days

From the start of October, many schools and colleges usually hold open days and taster events aimed at Year 11 students, to show what courses they have available and to allow students and parents/carers a chance to look around.

Some of these you will need to register in advance to attend.

• As an example, here is Plumpton’s event page: Plumpton College Events
• Following Covid most open days are now face-to-face and provide a chance to speak with tutors and staff, as well as explore the facilities on offer.
• Open day details can be found on the websites of schools and colleges as well as at: Kent Prospectus Events for Kent.

Careers Research

If you are unsure what you wish to do after Year 11, make sure you book an appointment with your Careers Adviser at school, college or contact the National Careers Service young person’s careers helpline:

The National Careers Service provides free, up to date, impartial information, advice and guidance on careers, skills and the labour market in England to anyone aged 13 and upwards. To speak to a National Careers Service adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use the webchat (8am to 10pm, 7 days a week)

We also have lots of resources to help you with your careers research at our CXK Research Hub:

• Whilst researching options, explore the social media content of schools and colleges on popular platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see what additional information schools and colleges are providing, as well as reviews by former students.Make sure you check school and college performance at: School and College Performance. Some schools and colleges also have virtual tours available on YouTube, with 360-degree visuals on their websites and embedded in their course pages (here are some examples below):
  • East Kent College: EKC Group – YouTube
  • Mid Kent College: MidKentCollege – YouTube
  • North Kent College: 360 Tours of North Kent College
  • The Duke of York’s Royal Military School: The Duke of York’s Royal Military School – YouTube

  If you are looking at residential or boarding opportunities these may carry additional costs. However, these costs can sometime be covered by scholarship and/or financial packages of support (contact each school or college for details).

  Questions to ask…

  You need to ask these important questions at open days:

  • What facilities do you have?
  • What equipment will I need for the course and can you (the college or school) help with the costs?
  • What is the progression rate? E.g., “If studying carpentry how many students go on to become carpenters afterwards?”
  • How many students leave once they have started their studies?
  • What support is available?
  • How can I travel to the school or college?
  • What are the policies on dress code, attendance, and behaviour?
  • What assessments or exams will I need to take?
  • What is their deadline for applications?
  • Will I need to build a portfolio (if taking art or media) or prepare an audition piece (if taking music or drama)?
  • Am I allowed to have a part-time job during the week whilst at the school or college?

  Lastly, listen to your heart, and gut instincts, as they may be telling you something that your head has missed!

  Interviews

  Schools and colleges start interviewing students from January onwards, with most running a first-come, first-served process. When they are full, some places start a ‘waiting list’. It is for this reason that an early application in October or November is vital once you know what you wish to study.

  • Note: there are not always enough places on every course for every student to always have their first choice. An early application reduces the chance of disappointment!

  Some courses (such as Animal Care, Plumbing, Electrical Installation and Engineering) are more popular than others, so getting in early can be vital!

  This guide will help with: interview advice.

  Courses

  The level of course you can apply for will vary depending on the grades you are predicted.

  • Courses at Post 16 vary significantly in depth and breadth, with options available for students with SEND, as well as for students with no qualifications (or very few) and for students who are predicted to gain grades 4 or higher at GCSE.
  • Some courses are very practical and others more exam based; there really is something for everyone!
  • Make sure you take a pathway which suits your needs and how you like to learn, whether exams, coursework, vocational or creative. As well as one whose entry criteria you are likely to meet.

  This video will explain what is available: https://youtu.be/mbY1AtmHxWY

• Local AuthoritiesLocal Authorities have a statutory duty to track the destinations of all young people at ages 16 and 17 during the two academic years of Year 12 and Year 13. This data is used to target resources and provide additional coordinated support to the most vulnerable young people, through the Early Help and Preventative Services, Virtual Schools and the Care Leavers Services.You may have heard of this referred to as the September Guarantee. For this reason, you may receive literature or be contacted during the school year regarding this.

  Part of this is to make sure you will be in education, employment, or training (as part of the Raising Participation Age (RPA) and to make sure you are OK next year).

  SEND

  If you have SEND (with or without an EHC plan) it is advisable to discuss supported transitions with whoever supports you in school, and the school or college you are applying to. Some have the capacity to offer additional support and will help you with your next steps.

  • Speak to your school about the support you can access this Autumn, as getting support in place can take longer than expected in some cases for students with SEND.

  In addition, you can access support from the SEND team via your local authorities and their Local Offers: CXK Blog: SEND Provision Map Supports Kent & Medway Local Offers

NOTE: There are Supported Apprenticeships and other work-based options available for students with SEND which, we explore in Part 2 of this guide.

Summary

All of this may feel a little daunting, but Careers Advisers in schools, as well as at the National Careers Service helpline for teenagers, are here to support you if you have any questions or queries.

In Part 2 of this guide, we will explore Apprenticeships and financial support available for study.

Good luck with your next steps and applications!

Written by Chris Targett RCDP, Careers Adviser