Study programmes
What's a study programme?
It's a personalised programme of learning built around your son or daughters’ needs.
It will:
- Include a qualification that is a higher level than your son or daughter has attained, including A Levels or vocational qualifications.
- Help your son or daughter to progress in training, employment, further or higher education.
- Provide an opportunity for your son or daughter to work towards GCSE A*-C in Maths and English if they haven’t already achieved an A* – C grade.
- Enable your son or daughter to undertake meaningful work experience related to any vocational areas of the study programme, developing their employability skills.
- Offer opportunities to develop your son or daughter’s skills and confidence to support progression. This might be around tutorials, study skills, leadership team-work, self-management skills and other activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or volunteering.
Who can undertake one?
A study programme is for:
- Students taking A Levels
- Students taking vocational qualifications
- Students taking a technical baccalaureate
- Students on traineeships
- Students with learning difficulties and disabilities who are on specialist programmes
All students aged 16 to 19, whether doing academic or vocational studies or a mix of both, are expected to follow a study programme based on what they have achieved by the age of 16 and their future education and career aspirations.
Students of all abilities follow study programme principles within the curriculum for the courses named above.
For example, for A Level students the A Level is classed as the main aim of study. The study programme principles require that they also have non-qualification activity such as:
- Tutorials
- Work experience
- Work to develop personal or study skills
- Support in choosing options to ensure progression into employment and higher education preferences.
Those students who choose to take a vocational qualification route as it is the most appropriate to their career goal will be expected to study at least one substantial vocational qualification within their study programme and it will also include other aspects such as work experience, tutorials, and study skills.
An apprenticeship is also classed as a study programme as the framework includes all the principles.
All students on any type of study programme who have not achieved at least a C grade in both GCSE maths and english by the end of key stage 4 will have to continue to study those subjects whilst in post 16 education or training.
Where can you undertake one?
Wherever your son or daughter chooses as the most appropriate place for them to continue their studies after the age of 16. This includes:
- School 6th forms
- 6th form colleges
- Further education colleges
- Private providers
How long does it take?
Most study programmes are full time courses of up to 2 years.
The duration of a traineeship however, should be a maximum of 6 months. It is expected that the duration of the work placement within a traineeship is a minimum of 6 weeks in duration and a maximum of 5 months.
Are there any costs?
There should be no cost for course tuition fees for 16-19 year olds on any of the study programme routes.
How do you apply?
Your son or daughter should apply for their chosen pathway i.e. A Levels, vocational courses, traineeships or apprenticeships, by following the standard application routes.
This is because the study programme is a set of curriculum principles that have to be adhered to within all pathways and not a specific qualification in its own right.
Where to next?
Access to further careers advice and guidance should be made available to your son and daughter before the end of their chosen study programme.
On completion of the programme your son and daughter should have attained qualifications and experience that enables them to progress to higher education, employment of their choice or progression to a higher level qualification.