Post 16 Provision
The Post-16 Adviser works in partnership with social care, carers, young people, colleges and training providers to deliver education, training and employment support for young people in care.
Post-16 PEPs for young people in care (CiC)
Personal Education Plans (PEPs) are statutory for 16 to 18 year olds (and good practice to continue through to the end of Year 13 when a Personal Adviser is in place). PEPs must be held termly regardless of whether in education, training, employment or Not in education, Employment or Training (NEET). We work with education providers, young people, social care and fostering services to ensure high quality PEPs across the KS5 cohort.
The Post-16 Adviser will not attend the PEP unless:
- the young person is NEET
- is at risk of becoming NEET. If this is the case please inform the Post-16 Adviser as soon as possible to get support.
Post-16 PEPs for young people previously in care (CPiC)
PEPs for children previously in care are not statutory but are considered ‘best practice’.
CPiC PEPs should be conducted by education staff, co-produced with parents/ carers and involve any relevant professionals.
They should include the views of the young person either through direct participation at the PEP meeting or through consultation in advance.
Funding for Post-16 young people in care
We don't receive Pupil Premium Plus funding for Post-16 young people in care. However, if a young person is re-sitting their English or Maths GCSE then we may be able to fund 1:1 tuition.
To find out more, contact us.
- 01273 293 992
Contact the Virtual School to find about training and support.
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund gives financial support to help students stay in education.
The bursary can be used for costs related to education such as:
- travel
- lunch
- equipment
- uniform
- trips
Children in Care and Care Leavers are defined as a vulnerable group and may be eligible for a bursary of up to £1,200 a year. Find out more about the fund.
This funding does not come to us at the Virtual School. Application forms are available from the provider’s student services team. Completed applications should be returned to them. Depending on the young person’s situation there may be other funding streams available to them. Search for available grants.
Youth Employability Service (YES) – young people in care and previously in care
YES have an enhanced offer of careers and employability support for CiC and CPiC 16 to 25 years who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) or at risk of being NEET.
Guide to Post 16 qualifications
There are lots of possible pathways in Post-16 such as:
- colleges
- school sixth forms
- training providers
- apprenticeships
- traineeships.
There are different types of qualifications and course names. A guide to qualifications, levels and grades is provided below:
How qualifications compare
Find out what level your qualifications are at and what qualifications they could lead onto afterwards.
Level 4
Academic awards: Level 4 qualifications
Vocational Awards, Certificates and Diplomas
- Degree
- Foundation Degree
- HNC or HND
- NVQ Level 4/5
Apprenticeship level: Higher Apprenticeship
Full Level 3
Academic Awards: Minimum 2x A-Levels
Vocational Awards, Certificates and Diplomas
- NVQ Level 3
- BTEC Awards
- Certificates
- Diplomas at Level 3
- BTEC Extended Diplomas
- OCR Nationals
- Cambridge Technicals Level 2
Apprenticeship level: Advanced Apprenticeship
Full Level 2
Academic Awards: 5x GCSEs
As star to C or Grade 4 to 9
Vocational Awards, Certificates and Diplomas
- NVQ Level 2
- BTEC First Diploma
- Functional Skills L2
- OCR Nationals
- Cambridge Technicals Level 2
Apprenticeship level
- Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Traineeship
Level 1
Academic Awards: GCSEs D to G
As star to C or Grade 4 to 9
Vocational Awards, Certificates and Diplomas
- NVQ Level 1
- Introduction Diploma
- Cetificate
- Cache Diploma
- Skills for Working Life
- Functional Skills L1
- OCR Nationals/Foundation
Apprenticeship level
- Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Traineeship
Entry Level
Academic Awards: 1,2 or 3
Vocational Awards, Certificates and Diplomas
- Entry Level Awards
- Certificates and Diplomas
- Functional Skills at Entry Level
Apprenticeship level: Traineeship
GCSE Grading structure
Comparison of the new and old grading structures
| New grading structure | Old grading structure |
| 9 | A* |
| 8 | A |
| 7 | |
| 6 | B |
| 5 | C |
| 4 | Standard pass |
| 3 | D |
| 2 | E |
| 1 | F |
| G | |
| U | U |