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Your Path

Guide for parents and carers

How to support a young person with their next steps, whichever route they choose. Last checked 07/10/2026.

Every route explained

There is no single best path. University, an apprenticeship, a T Level, college or sixth form, and a job are all good routes, and people move between them. The best choice is the one that suits your child.

University

University applications go through UCAS. The personal statement changed for 2026 entry onwards: instead of one long essay, students answer three separate questions.

  • The three questions cover why they want to study the course, how their studies have prepared them, and what else they have done to prepare. In total there are 4,000 characters, spaces included, with a minimum of 350 for each answer. UCAS can change this, so check the current limit on UCAS.
  • Admissions tutors want specific examples and what your child learned from them. Long lists of activities and big claims score less well.
  • Your child can use the same example in more than one answer if they say something new each time.
  • Universities set their own entry requirements. Look at each course page, not just the university's home page.

More: UCAS: parents, guardians and carers (opens in a new tab), UCAS: writing your personal statement (opens in a new tab)

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a real job with training. Your child is employed, is paid, and learns on the job and in study time.

  • There are levels from GCSE-equivalent up to degree level. Degree apprenticeships can lead to a full degree with no tuition fees for the apprentice.
  • Vacancies are advertised on Find an apprenticeship all year round. Each employer sets its own questions, closing date and limits.
  • Competition for good apprenticeships can be high, so applying for several is normal. Tell your child that a few rejections are common and not a verdict on them.
  • Our job and apprenticeship statement planners help them practise answers like "why this apprenticeship" and "why this employer".

More: Find an apprenticeship (gov.uk) (opens in a new tab), Apprentice pay and conditions (gov.uk) (opens in a new tab)

T Levels

T Levels are two-year technical courses taken after GCSEs, broadly the same size as three A levels.

  • They include a work placement of at least 315 hours, which is around 45 days, with an employer.
  • Schools and colleges set their own entry requirements. If your child has not achieved a grade 4 in GCSE maths and English, they will usually need to keep working towards them alongside the T Level.
  • Not every college offers every T Level, so check what is available near you and how your child would get there.
  • T Levels can lead to university, an apprenticeship or a job.

More: T Levels (gov.uk) (opens in a new tab)

College and sixth form

At 16, students in England can stay in education or training until 18, at a sixth form, college, or through an apprenticeship.

  • Sixth forms mostly offer A levels. Colleges also offer vocational courses such as BTECs and T Levels, and many offer A levels too.
  • Each applies separately and sets its own form and deadlines. Some include a short statement or an interview.
  • Visit if you can. Ask about travel time and cost, class sizes, support, and what students go on to do.

More: National Careers Service (opens in a new tab)

Jobs

Many young people go straight into work, or take a job alongside study. Jobs are a good way to build skills and confidence.

  • Entry-level jobs often use a short application with a "supporting statement". Employers score it against a list of what they want, called the person specification.
  • Help your child match real examples to each point on that list. Our job statement planner does this step by step.
  • A part-time job, caring at home, volunteering and clubs all count as experience.

More: National Careers Service: find a job (opens in a new tab)

Key dates by year group

Dates marked Checked 07/10/2026 come from UCAS or the exam boards. Dates marked Typical vary by school, college, employer and year, so always check the one you are applying to.

Year 9 and Year 10

  • Year 9, spring term (Typical)

    Choosing GCSE or other Key Stage 4 options. A good time to talk about what your child enjoys, not only what they are good at.

  • Year 10 (Typical)

    Work experience, careers talks and trips to colleges or employers. Encourage them to try one or two things that are new.

Year 11 (age 15 to 16)

  • Autumn term (Typical)

    Open evenings at sixth forms and colleges. Make a short list of two or three places, and a back-up.

  • Autumn to early spring (Typical)

    Applications to sixth form and college. Each one sets its own deadline and form, so check each website.

  • All year (Typical)

    Apprenticeship vacancies are advertised on Find an apprenticeship throughout the year. Many start in late summer, so searching in spring is common.

  • Spring and summer (Typical)

    Interviews, taster days, and the bursary application if your child may need help with costs.

  • 19/08/2027 (Checked 07/10/2026)

    GCSE results day for the summer 2027 series. JCQ key dates (opens in a new tab)

Year 12 (age 16 to 17)

  • Autumn to spring (Typical)

    Exploring courses and universities, apprenticeships including degree apprenticeships, and gap year or work options. Open days and taster days are often in spring and summer.

  • Summer term (Typical)

    Start collecting experiences and writing notes for the personal statement. Work experience and volunteering over summer helps.

Year 13 (age 17 to 18), applying for 2027 entry

Money help

Amounts and rules change, so use the gov.uk links to check the latest figures for your child's start date.

University: student finance

  • In England, student finance has two main parts: a tuition fee loan, paid straight to the university, and a maintenance loan for living costs, paid to the student.
  • Household income affects how much maintenance loan a student can get. The gov.uk calculator gives an estimate.
  • Repayments start only after the student has finished the course and is earning above a threshold. Monthly repayments depend on what they earn, not on what they owe, and interest is charged from the day the loan is taken out.
  • gov.uk says student finance is changing for courses starting on 01/01/2027 or later, so read the latest information for your child's start date.

More: Student finance (gov.uk) (opens in a new tab)

Apprenticeships: pay

  • The minimum wage for apprentices is £8.00 an hour for apprentices aged 16 to 18, and for those aged 19 or over in their first year (from April 2026). After the first year, the rate for their age applies. Many employers pay more, and the contract should state the rate.
  • At least 20% of working hours are spent on training, and apprentices are paid for it. They get at least 20 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.
  • Check how your child would travel to work and whether a travel cost will be a problem. Ask the employer or training provider what help is available.

More: Apprentice pay and conditions (gov.uk) (opens in a new tab)

16 to 19 Bursary Fund (college and sixth form)

  • Schools and colleges can help students with the costs of studying, such as travel, books, equipment and specialist clothing.
  • Young people in certain situations, such as being in care or a care leaver, or getting certain benefits, can get up to £1,200 a year. The school or college checks what the student actually needs.
  • Other students may get a smaller amount, called a discretionary bursary. Each school or college sets its own rules and how to apply, so ask them early.

More: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund (gov.uk) (opens in a new tab)

Helping with applications without writing it for them

The most useful thing you can do is help your child find and explain their own examples. The words, and the decisions, need to be theirs.

Do

  • Ask questions. "Tell me about a time you..." helps your child find examples. Let them answer in their own words.
  • Help them list what they have done: jobs, clubs, caring, hobbies, volunteering. The skills and experience bank is built for this.
  • Read a draft and say what you liked, then one or two things to improve. Point to a sentence and ask "what did you learn from that?"
  • Help with the practical side: dates, deadlines, getting to open days, and a quiet place to work.
  • Help them read it aloud to spot mistakes.
  • Remind them it is fine to ask for help from a teacher, tutor or careers adviser too.

Please do not

  • Do not write it for them or rewrite it in your words. Admissions tutors and employers can tell, and similarity checks flag copied text.
  • Do not use AI to write it for them. It should be their own thoughts and words.
  • Do not add achievements they did not do, or push for a route they do not want.
  • Do not leave it to the last minute. Early drafts are normal, and the first one is rarely the best.
  • Do not worry if they change their mind. Exploring is part of the process.

Your child's plan is saved on their own device unless they choose to save it to an account. If they want you to read a draft, they can make a private feedback link for you. Anyone with the link can read that one draft, and nothing else.

Free tools in Your Path