Students

At Herne Bay High we aim to provide you with the opportunity to explore all career and Post 16/18 options throughout your time at school. It is important that you feel supported in your ideas about the routes that you would like to pursue and that you are given the resources to help you to be able to research and learn about these routes.

Information about GCSE options 

In term 4 of Year 9, students choose their GCSE options for Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11). This choice is important because you will not be able to change your options after this stage. It is wise to give some thought to what subjects you may wish to follow at A Level, Level 3 BTEC, college, at university or what subjects may fit best with a potential job or apprenticeship.

Picking your GCSE options in Year 9 provides the first opportunity for you to specialise in the subjects that you most enjoy. This can feel like a daunting decision however the guidance below should help you to make the right decision.

Things to think about

• Make sure you do your research first about the subject and what it covers for the GCSE course. 

• Don’t just pick a subject because your friends are doing it – it’s your future so your decision should not be swayed by friendship groups! 

• You may have a different teacher for GCSE (Level 2 Qualifications) so picking a subject just because you like your teacher may not be the most sensible decision. 

• Choose subjects that you enjoy. You will always do better if you are studying something that interests you. 

A-Level options 

Most of our students decide to continue their education at Herne Bay High School and study Level 3 Qualifications with us after Year 11. The resources below will help you to make your decision about what A-Level choices to make.

Please look at our 6^th Form webpage for more information on our courses: Course Guide - Herne Bay High School

A LEVELS: An Advanced Level is a subject based qualification that is studied over 2 years. A Levels are mainly assessed through examinations.  Some subjects may also include coursework or practical assessments. The final grades range is A*-E.

LEVEL 3 BTEC: are designed to provide skills and knowledge needed to succeed in chosen career paths and provide a broader knowledge of a particular sector or industry. They are available in a range of sizes which are equivalent to one or three A levels. They can be taken in combination with other qualifications.

LEVEL 2  view our prospectus How to Apply - Herne Bay High School

Choosing the right A-Levels

It is important to consider your interests after sixth form when making your decision about the correct A-Levels to choose. If you are interested in going to University it is recommended that you look into courses that you may be interested in applying to and checking the entry requirements. For some subjects and universities, part of their entry requirements depend on you achieving certain grades in specific subjects instead of just meeting the grade or UCAS points requirement overall. It is important to check and make sure that you are keeping your options open.  

A good  research starting point is here:

Informed Choices | Informed Choices

Discover Uni Home | Discover Uni

Discover Careers, Apprenticeships And University With UCAS

Use the Unifrog Subject Library to search your selected subjects:

Alternatives to Sixth Form 

College route - known a Further Education Providers offer alternative subjects and qualifications such as;

Business and Technology Education Council (BTEc)  - offer a range of courses across various industries at different levels.  Btecs are designed to combine practical and subject theory. Popular subjects include Business, Engineering, Health and Social Care, Art and Design, Creative Media, IT and Computing, Sport and Travel and Tourism as well as many others. For more subject information click here: Subjects | Pearson qualifications

Technical qualifications or T levels – are 2 year technical qualifications designed to provide students with a blend of classroom learning and practical experience.  T Levels are normally studied over 2 year with 80% of your time in the classroom and 20% at an industry placement. They are normally equivalent to 3 A Levels and offered in a variety of subjects.  For more information click here: What Are T Levels? | Your Questions Answered | UCAS

Apprenticeships - combines on the job training with classroom learning.  You will gain hands on, paid industry experience with an employer and work towards a nationally recognised qualification.  For more information click here: Everything You Need To Know About Apprenticeships - Amazing Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are available at multiple levels so students can access apprenticeships after Year 11 onwards. There are hundreds to choose from and some include a qualification, like a degree which allows students to not only receive a funded undergraduate qualification but also get paid for working and receive work experience.

Other Qualifications - There are many other qualifications available at various levels and more information can be found here: Post 16 qualifications you can take | UCAS or Careers advice - job profiles, information and resources | National Careers Service

Higher Technical Qualifications - are level 4 and 5 qualification that have been approved to deliver the skills employers require. For more information click here: Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) - Amazing Apprenticeships

All students have access to a wealth of information in school, ranging from the careers section in the LRC, where our independent careers advisers are based.  Along with access to Unifrog, the complete destination platform.

Student Resources

Students have access to a wealth of information in school, ranging from the careers section in the LRC, where Mrs Lasslett our independent careers adviser is based.  Along with access to Unifrog, the complete destination platform.

Students are introduced to Unifrog in Year 7 and continued to use unifrog throughout their time with us.

Students should initially use Unifrog to complete their Interest profile, Personality profile, which leads into the Psychometric questions, the Work environment profile and the Skills profile.  These should be repeated in Year 9 and Year 11.

Students can explore pathways using Unifrog by accessing the Careers library, Know how library, watch webinars, undertake MOOC – Massive Open Online Courses. Students can favourite elements within Unifrog and these can be found in the Read, Watch, Listen area.

Students are able to record all activities and skills they have undertaken during their time at Herne Bay High and anything they do above and beyond the curriculum.

Equally as students begin to explore their pathways further, they have the option to search for opportunities regarding University and Apprenticeships.

Students can also access KentChoices where they are able to research and apply for sixth form and college courses

We would appreciate feedback from students, families/carers and teachers. Our feedback survey is available here: https://forms.office.com/e/50rdYrd80U