Now reaching the summer term of Year 12, our attention turns to our lives beyond sixth form which makes it the perfect time to start exploring our options when applications open in September.

Most of us have 3 options after a-level: going to university, getting a job/apprenticeship, or taking a gap year and now is the perfect time to start to explore these.

One option for us is university and a lot of universities have open days in June where you can check our courses, entry requirements, accommodation and whether you prefer city or campus universities. These are very useful, and I would highly recommend looking now so there’s less stress in November and you’ll find that the same degree is different at each university.

Another option is apprenticeships, and now is perfect time to find out what companies take on students, what different industry roles are available and what level of apprenticeship they offer? You will find ones from Level 2 and even degree level! Some companies advertise as early as September so it’s much better to start looking now to secure your place.

The final common route is a gap year which is very useful for gaining work experience, travelling, and exploring your options if you’re struggling to decide. You may discover university isn’t for you once you’ve had time to think about it!

To get more support I’d recommend you talk to your school’s career advisor for more advice and guidance specific to you and your interests. Good luck with your research beyond sixth form!