Well Done – you Well Done – you have now chosen have now chosen

your perfect your perfect phone!!phone!!

HOW DO I MAKE GOOD DECISIONS NOW AND

IN FUTURE?

…THEY’RE BIG DECISIONS THEY’RE BIG DECISIONS BUT…BUT…

DO -DO - DON’T - DON’T -

… don’t Panic!!!

REMEMBER……

• SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT

• THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT

• THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

• CHOOSE SUBJECTS THAT ARE USEFUL FOR YOUR FUTURE CAREER

• CHOOSE SUBJECTS BECAUSE YOUR FRIENDS HAVE

• CHOOSE SUBJECTS JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK IT WILL BE EASY

•CHOOSE A SUBJECT THAT YOU KNOW YOU WILL STRUGGLE IN

• CHOOSE SUBJECTS BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE TELL YOU TO

DO –DO – Think about what you’re Think about what you’re good at… good at…

► What subjects are you doing What subjects are you doing well in? well in?

► Which subjects do you have a Which subjects do you have a flare for…….SPORT? ART? flare for…….SPORT? ART? SCIENCE? SCIENCE?

► Are you good at research and Are you good at research and reading?reading?

► Are you imaginative?Are you imaginative?► Are you sporty?Are you sporty?► Do you like logic? Do you like logic?

DO –DO – Think about what subjects Think about what subjects you enjoyyou enjoy

How do you How do you learn best? learn best?

- By doing lots of By doing lots of writing? E.G. writing? E.G. EnglishEnglish

- By doing it By doing it yourself -yourself -practical practical learning?learning?

- Being creative? Being creative? E.G. Media, ArtE.G. Media, Art

DO –DO – Think about what subjects Think about what subjects you need for your ideal careeryou need for your ideal career

For Example –For Example – ► You will need Triple You will need Triple

Science for careers Science for careers in Medicinein Medicine

► You will need to be You will need to be good at Art or Music good at Art or Music if you plan to do this if you plan to do this for a careerfor a career

DON’T –DON’T – Choose a subject Choose a subject because your friends are or because your friends are or because someone tells you because someone tells you

to………Why? ?to………Why? ?► Because you might not even Because you might not even

be put in the same classbe put in the same class

► You might choose a subject You might choose a subject that you don’t like or that you that you don’t like or that you are not strong inare not strong in

DON’T –DON’T – Choose a subject just Choose a subject just because you think will be because you think will be

easy……..WHY? ?easy……..WHY? ?

► Because if you don’t have a Because if you don’t have a genuine interest in the genuine interest in the subject, you are less likely to subject, you are less likely to try hard at it!try hard at it!

► It might not be as easy as It might not be as easy as you think……….you think……….

ALWAYS THINK ABOUT WHAT ALWAYS THINK ABOUT WHAT THE SUBJECT INVOLVES – THE SUBJECT INVOLVES –

ASK TEACHERS!!!! ASK TEACHERS!!!!

DON’T –DON’T – Choose a subject that Choose a subject that you know you will struggle you know you will struggle

in……Why? ? in……Why? ?

► If you are not getting very good If you are not getting very good grades in a particular subject, grades in a particular subject, will you be able to cope with will you be able to cope with the work at a higher level? the work at a higher level?

► If you struggle in a subject you If you struggle in a subject you are less likely to get a good are less likely to get a good overall grade in it.overall grade in it.

REMEMBER TO READ UP ABOUT EACH REMEMBER TO READ UP ABOUT EACH SUBJECT – SUBJECT – BE REALISTIC WITH BE REALISTIC WITH YOURSELF!!!!YOURSELF!!!!

What are your optionsWhat are your options

► Full time education which can Full time education which can be at college or 6be at college or 6thth form college form college

► ApprenticeshipsApprenticeships► part-time education or training, part-time education or training,

if they are employed, self-if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours a weekmore than 20 hours a week

REMEMBER due to RPA you need to be REMEMBER due to RPA you need to be inin

full time education for the next 2 years!full time education for the next 2 years!

A level RouteA level Route► A Levels: Can be suitable if:A Levels: Can be suitable if:► You have 5 A-C GCSE grades, including Maths and You have 5 A-C GCSE grades, including Maths and

English. English. ► Some subjects at A level may require a grade (B) Some subjects at A level may require a grade (B)

e.g if you want to study science at A level you will e.g if you want to study science at A level you will need GCSE science at B.need GCSE science at B.

► Can help if you want to keep your options open or Can help if you want to keep your options open or you can’t decide on what career you want to you can’t decide on what career you want to pursue.pursue.

► Want to study specific subjectsWant to study specific subjects► Like learning about theories and principlesLike learning about theories and principles► Like reading, writing and class based workLike reading, writing and class based work► Can organise your own time and individual study Can organise your own time and individual study

programmeprogramme► Can cope with big exams as a large % of final Can cope with big exams as a large % of final

mark is based on an exammark is based on an exam

Btec RouteBtec Route► Btec courses are available at different levelsBtec courses are available at different levels

► Level 3 Btec-Level 3 Btec- you will need 4/5 GCSE A-C including you will need 4/5 GCSE A-C including English language and/or mathsEnglish language and/or maths

► Level 2 Btec- Level 2 Btec- You will need 4 GCSE D or aboveYou will need 4 GCSE D or above

► Level 1 Btec- Level 1 Btec- you will need 2 GCSE at E-Gyou will need 2 GCSE at E-G

► Entry grades vary across the colleges so you need Entry grades vary across the colleges so you need to check on the college websites.to check on the college websites.

► For example Newcastle need 2 GCSE at C or above For example Newcastle need 2 GCSE at C or above to get onto a level 2 course but Stoke college need to get onto a level 2 course but Stoke college need 4 GCSE at grade D.4 GCSE at grade D.

Btec RouteBtec Route► Btec courses can be suitable if you:Btec courses can be suitable if you:

► Know which job sector you want to go intoKnow which job sector you want to go into

► Enjoys projects, research and work experienceEnjoys projects, research and work experience

► Can work with others and manage a portfolio of Can work with others and manage a portfolio of evidenceevidence

► Prefers coursework to examsPrefers coursework to exams

► Want to learn about a career area before going to Want to learn about a career area before going to work in it. work in it.

► Like learning about current practice in real Like learning about current practice in real situations.situations.

Industry specific qualificationsIndustry specific qualifications► These qualifications are linked to specific jobs e.gThese qualifications are linked to specific jobs e.g

• The beauty industry has VTCT qualificationsThe beauty industry has VTCT qualifications• The construction industry has C&G qualificationsThe construction industry has C&G qualifications• Other industries use NVQ.Other industries use NVQ.

► These qualifications are practical and will require These qualifications are practical and will require you to complete a portfolio. you to complete a portfolio.

► These qualifications are good if you:These qualifications are good if you:

► Know what job you want to be trained forKnow what job you want to be trained for

► Want to be trained in a specific skill e.g gas Want to be trained in a specific skill e.g gas engineeringengineering

► Are practical and prefer to be doing things as well as Are practical and prefer to be doing things as well as

learning about them learning about them

Who are my Careers adviser?Who are my Careers adviser?

Chrissy Pawliszyn Chrissy Pawliszyn and Elaine Spoonerand Elaine Spooner

Drop in and see us in the LRC– You Drop in and see us in the LRC– You need to speak to student reception so need to speak to student reception so

they can let you through!they can let you through!