What help is there in Year 11?

There is a range of help available in Year 11, especially during the Autumn term. This is generally when careers fairs, option evenings and college / sixth form open evenings take place.

These events are to help you and your teenager explore all the options. They can also give you a chance to meet with staff from colleges, sixth forms and training providers.

Personal Advisers also visit schools regularly. We meet young people, both individually and in groups, to give information, advice and guidance.

Your teenager should have received a booklet, Options 2009, which covers all the local opportunities open to them. You will probably find it helpful to look through this with them. You can also find out about courses and work based learning programmes through the website Apply Sheffield.

There is extra support for young people with special needs (e.g. learning difficulties, a disability or long term medical condition). Personal Advisers in schools can talk to you about the options available and can call on colleagues who have specialist knowledge. There is also a booklet for families called After School…Special Options.

Support continues after finishing Year 11. For example, we can send out regular vacancy bulletins and Personal Advisers are still on hand to give information and guidance, especially at key points such as results time.

You can help your son or daughter by encouraging them to:

• Use all the help on hand e.g. Personal Advisers, booklets, careers fairs, open evenings

• Look into all the options before making a decision

We recommend that young people start applying for further education and work based learning before the end of January of Year 11.

Encourage your child to contact their Personal Adviser to talk through the options available if they haven’t already done so.