Post-16 Options including college and university

All children and young people have the right to full-time education up to the age of 16. After that, you must do one of the following until you’re at least 18:

Stay in full-time education, for example at a college or sixth form. To study vocational, technical or academic subjects.
Access a Supported Internship, an education programme where you spend lots of time in the workplace
Start an apprenticeship, where you start a job but continue to learn alongside.
Spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training.

Many young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) benefit enormously from these last few years, whether they stay on at school, move to a college of further education or sixth form college, or start an apprenticeship or training program.

It can be scary to leave a school you are familiar with and to leave adults and peers that you know well to go onto something else but our 'Moving on after school' page can help you find your way.

If you have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), then the Annual Review in Y10 will be the Phase Transfer Annual Review. This just means it is the Annual Review where your move on to your next step after school will be discussed.

Following the Phase Transfer Annual Review meeting in Y10, your EHCP will be amended to name a college by the 31st March in the year of transfer (Y11).

This deadline is set out in Regulation 18 of The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014.

It can be scary to leave a school you are familiar with and to leave adults and peers that you know well to go onto something else but our 'Moving on after school' page can help you find your way.

Following the Phase Transfer Annual Review meeting in Y10, your EHCP will be amended to name a college by the 31st March in the year of transfer (Y11).

This deadline is set out in Regulation 18 of The Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014.

Hampshire Futures' have created an interactive guide for young people to help them choose what comes next after school.

Hampshire Futures also have a range of videos exploring career options which are designed to help young people choose a career path. View the videos and get careers advice for lots of different job roles.

The Southern Universities Network also has some helpful guides and videos to aid young people in making a decision about what they would like to study and what type of course might be right for them.

In addition to this Sense, Contact and Disability Rights UK all have helpful guides to post 16 options for young people with a disability.

Whoever you are and whatever you're interested in for a future career, there will be an option that is right for you.

Hampshire Futures' have created an interactive guide for young people to help them choose what comes next after school.

The Southern Universities Network also has some helpful guides and videos to aid young people in making a decision about what they would like to study and what type of course might be right for them.

In addition to this Sense, Contact and Disability Rights UK all have helpful guides to post 16 options for young people with a disability.

Whoever you are and whatever you're interested in for a future career, there will be an option that is right for you.

Some schools have a sixth form which means you can continue learning their until you are 18. You may decide to stay at your school's sixth form if they have one, or you may prefer to move on to a college.

Colleges are often less formal than schools. You are often allowed to call your teacher by their first name for example. You can choose from a range of subjects to study there and they often offer vocational courses as well. To learn more, please take a look at our Education and Training web page.

A-Levels

You can do A levels at college or sixth form. You can do these after your GCSEs. The subjects are like GCSEs but there are a lot more to choose from.

More information about A Levels

T-Levels

You can do T levels at college or sixth form. You can do these after your GCSEs. If you know what industry (the type of job) you want to work in, T levels can help you learn the skills you need.

More information about T Levels

Technical and vocational

You can do technical and vocational courses at college. You can do these after your GCSEs. Technical and vocational courses can help you learn skills by being hands on and practicing.

You can do technical and vocational courses at college. You can do these after your GCSEs. Technical and vocational courses can help you learn skills by being hands on and practical.

More Information about Technical and Vocational courses

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is where you do a job but also learn at the same time and gain qualifications. You can do this after your GCSEs.

More information about apprenticeships

Supported internships

You can do a supported internship when you would like a job but aren’t quite ready. It is an education course but you spend most of your time in the workplace. You can do this from the age of 16.

More Information about apprenticeships

What if I need more advice?

Speak to your Careers Lead in school. Their details will be on the school website.
Speak to a Careers Adviser. Your school can put you in touch with them.
Contact National Careers Service for more help and information:

Call 0800 100 9000 or visit the National Careers Service website for a webchat.

A-Levels

You can do A levels at college or sixth form. You can do these after your GCSEs. The subjects are like GCSEs but there are a lot more to choose from.

More information about A Levels

T-Levels

You can do T levels at college or sixth form. You can do these after your GCSEs. If you know what industry (the type of job) you want to work in, T levels can help you learn the skills you need.

More information about T Levels

Technical and vocational

You can do technical and vocational courses at college. You can do these after your GCSEs. Technical and vocational courses can help you learn skills by being hands on and practicing.

You can do technical and vocational courses at college. You can do these after your GCSEs. Technical and vocational courses can help you learn skills by being hands on and practical.

More Information about Technical and Vocational courses

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is where you do a job but also learn at the same time and gain qualifications. You can do this after your GCSEs.

More information about apprenticeships

Supported internships

You can do a supported internship when you would like a job but aren’t quite ready. It is an education course but you spend most of your time in the workplace. You can do this from the age of 16.

More Information about apprenticeships

What if I need more advice?

Speak to your Careers Lead in school. Their details will be on the school website.
Speak to a Careers Adviser. Your school can put you in touch with them.
Contact National Careers Service for more help and information:

Call 0800 100 9000 or visit the National Careers Service website for a webchat.

Mainstream further education colleges support students with SEND in a similar way to schools and should follow the SEND code of practice: 0–25 years.

There should be a named person in overall charge of SEND support just like in a school.

The college must make sure that students with SEND know who this is and where to go for help.

What support might I get?

Under the Equality Act 2010, mainstream further education colleges must also do everything they reasonably can to remove all the barriers to learning for disabled students.
Accessible information, such as symbol-based materials.
Mentoring.
Assistive technology such as software that reads for you and software that writes for you, visual aids like magnifiers and screen readers, and physical aids like adaptive seating and sensory tools.
Some one-to-one and small group learning support.
Independent living training such as how to travel on your own, how to cook and what foods and drinks are good for you.

Mainstream further education colleges support students with SEND in a similar way to schools and should follow the SEND code of practice: 0–25 years.

There should be a named person in overall charge of SEND support just like in a school.

The college must make sure that students with SEND know who this is and where to go for help.

What support might I get?

Under the Equality Act 2010, mainstream further education colleges must also do everything they reasonably can to remove all the barriers to learning for disabled students.
Accessible information, such as symbol-based materials.
Mentoring.
Assistive technology such as software that reads for you and software that writes for you, visual aids like magnifiers and screen readers, and physical aids like adaptive seating and sensory tools.
Some one-to-one and small group learning support.
Independent living training such as how to travel on your own, how to cook and what foods and drinks are good for you.

If you had help at school or think you will need help at college, it is important to tell the college as soon as you can.

Once the college know about you, they will start to plan how you will transfer from school to college. For example, you could have some extra visits or meet the staff that will be working with you. Make sure to share as much information as you feel comfortable with to help your college support you the best they can. Declaring this information will not have a negative impact on your application and can only help you.

If you had help at school or think you will need help at college, it is important to tell the college as soon as you can.

Colleges have a legal duty to support students who have SEND. This means if you need help to enable you to succeed at college the help should be there. Examples of support are:

Giving you extra time to complete course work or exams.

Providing support in lessons such as someone to write notes or someone who can help you to plan your work and get you started.

Making sure any information about your subject is in a format you can understand.

Providing notes of lessons in advance.

Providing assistive technology and the training you may need to use it.

You do not need an EHCP to get support for you special educational needs in college.

Colleges have a legal duty to support students who have SEND. This means if you need help to enable you to succeed at college the help should be there. Examples of support are:

Giving you extra time to complete course work or exams.

Providing support in lessons such as someone to write notes or someone who can help you to plan your work and get you started.

Making sure any information about your subject is in a format you can understand.

Providing notes of lessons in advance.

Providing assistive technology and the training you may need to use it.

You do not need an EHCP to get support for you special educational needs in college.

Apprenticeships give you the chance to earn and learn at the same time and take between one to four years to complete.

They are a mixture of on-the-job and off-the-job training for young people and adults 16 and over.

On-the-job, you will gain key skills like working in teams, problem-solving, communication and using new technology
Off-the-job, you will spend time working towards a recognised apprenticeship framework

To do an apprenticeship you must

be at least 16 years old,
live in England
not be in full-time education

There are lots of apprenticeships available, at different levels and in different industries.

You will be paid, and learn "on the job" as well as spending some time each week at college, or with another learning or training provider, studying towards your qualification. Apprenticeship levels range from Level 2 (equivalent to five good GCSEs) to Level 7 (equivalent to a masters degree)

How to apply for an apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships give you the chance to earn and learn at the same time and take between one to four years to complete.

They are a mixture of on-the-job and off-the-job training for young people and adults 16 and over.

On-the-job, you will gain key skills like working in teams, problem-solving, communication and using new technology
Off-the-job, you will spend time working towards a recognised apprenticeship framework

To do an apprenticeship you must

be at least 16 years old,
live in England
not be in full-time education

There are lots of apprenticeships available, at different levels and in different industries.

How to apply for an apprenticeship.

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Where can I go to college?

We have lots of great colleges in Hampshire. There will be a college local to you but sometimes young people opt to travel to a college further away to do a particular course if it is not offered in their local college. The choice is up to you! Go visit some colleges, do some research to help you decide what is best for you.

To help you make your decision, here is some more about these colleges offer students with SEND.

Farnborough College of Technology

Learning and Disability Support at Farnborough College of Technology

At FCOT, their aim is to provide ongoing support to assist students to be successful in their learning whilst supporting them in developing their independence. Students with learning difficulties or disabilities have a choice of progression routes.

Farnborough College of Technology

Learning and Disability Support at Farnborough College of Technology

St Vincent College

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Learning and Disability Support at St Vincent College

We aim not only to meet the needs of individuals, but also to anticipate those needs. These aims are adhered to throughout all aspects of college life from enquiry to admission and enrolment and finally to moving on from college.

St Vincent College

No photo description available.

Learning and Disability Support at St Vincent College

City of Portsmouth College

Our local SEND offer | City of Portsmouth College

Learning and Disability Support at City of Portsmouth College.

Explore our comprehensive Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support services, providing inclusive and supportive learning experiences for all students.

City of Portsmouth College

Our local SEND offer | City of Portsmouth College

Learning and Disability Support at City of Portsmouth College.

Explore our comprehensive Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support services, providing inclusive and supportive learning experiences for all students.

South Hampshire College Group (SHCG)

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Learning and Disability Support at South Hampshire College Group

South Hampshire College Group (SHCG) brings together three Further Education colleges from Eastleigh, Fareham, and Southampton to create a strong and ambitious organisation.

We understand that our students may need varying types of support whilst studying at college which is why our student support teams are on hand to advise and support you.

South Hampshire College Group (SHCG)

A building with a curved roof

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Learning and Disability Support at South Hampshire College Group

South Hampshire College Group (SHCG) brings together three Further Education colleges from Eastleigh, Fareham, and Southampton to create a strong and ambitious organisation.

We understand that our students may need varying types of support whilst studying at college which is why our student support teams are on hand to advise and support you.