Futures Overview
Futures Tool Kit
Trust Futures Strategy
Destinations Report 2025

Careers Contact

Named Careers Lead:

Miss J Ledingham

Academy Tel Number:

01782 882100

Email Address:

jledingham@thediscoveryacademy.co.uk

Alpha Trust Careers Advisor

Karen Harrison

Tel Number:

07930 894693

Email Address:

kharrison1@thediscoveryacademy.co.uk

Vision and Purpose

Alpha Academies Trust is committed to ensuring that all of our young people are allowed to develop and grow into successful adults, with a clear ambition of what they would like to achieve as they move on through each stage of their life. To support them in achieving this we will ensure that all of our Academies have an outstanding CEIAG provision and that they meet all 8 of the Gatsby Benchmarks.

Our Futures Programme builds on the national requirements for careers, enterprise and work related learning and tailored in line with the ethos and direction of our Academies.

Useful Links

Careerometer

Useful Documents

Students
Parents
Staff
Employers

Quick Links

School Leavers – Your Options at 16

Think carefully about the options open to you after year 11 before deciding on your next steps. There are many college courses, apprenticeships and training programmes to choose from. Find out about your options so you can compare them and decide what will suit you.

How to find out about your options:

  • Look on college websites, attend college open events, and talk to your careers adviser in school. Use the careers websites on the other side of this page to research A levels, BTECs, and Apprenticeships.
  • Talk to your family and teachers about your options, as they know you well and what may best suit you.

Courses and training offered:

  • Are mainly classroom and exam based and students usually study 3 or 4 subjects for 2 years before taking A Level exams.
  • Will generally need 5 GCSEs at grade 5 including Maths and English, and 6 in the subject you wish to study. Some colleges may ask for higher grades so always check individual college entry requirements
  • These are a mixture of classroom learning (80%) and industry placement (20% – at least 45 days)
  • Each T Level is equivalent to 3 A-levels so cannot be combined with other subjects
  • They have the same general entry requirements as A Levels but check with individual colleges in case higher grades are required in specific subjects.
  • Courses relate to a career area e.g. Education & Childcare, Health, Finance, Digital Coding & Technology or Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction – See college websites for further information.
  • These are a mixture of classroom learning (80%) and industry placement (20% – at least 45 days)
  • Each T Level is equivalent to 3 A-levels so cannot be combined with other subjects
  • They have the same general entry requirements as A Levels but check with individual colleges in case higher grades are required in specific subjects.
  • Courses relate to a career area e.g. Education & Childcare, Health, Finance, Digital Coding & Technology or Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction – See college websites for further information.
  • New 2-year vocational qualification is being introduced, with a strong emphasis on learning through practical experience and applied activities.
  • Each V Level is equivalent to 1 A-level and can be combined with other V Levels or A Levels.
  • Courses directly relate to a career area.
  • The first subjects available for study from September 2027 will be Digital, Accounting & Finance, and Education. More subjects will become available from September 2028 onwards.
  • This type of learning involves on-the-job practical training. You would usually attend college / training provider 1-day/week and 4 days/week with an employer
  • You can do an apprenticeship in many career areas. To find out more, look on the apprenticeship web site www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
  • You will have to find your work placement yourself and competition for vacancies is high, so you will need a backup option, such as a full-time college course or a study programme.
  • A 1-year programme for students who want to progress to level 3 options (V Levels, T Levels or A Levels) but need more support to achieve the entry requirements. The programme includes English and maths if needed.
  • The first subjects available for study from September 2027 will be Digital and Education & Early Years. More subjects will become available from September 2028 onwards.
  • A 2-year work focused programme for students who want to progress into an apprenticeship or employment. The programme includes English and maths if needed.
  • The first subjects available for study from September 2027 will be Catering & Hospitality and Education & Early Years. More subjects will become available from September 2028 onwards.
  • Designed to help you to improve your skills (maths / English, confidence, work experience) and act as a stepping stone onto an apprenticeship. They are based at small providers throughout the city such as;

Equality Training www.equality-training.co.uk
Nacro www.nacro.org.uk/nacro-services/nacro-education/nacro-education-stoke-on-trent/
Martec Training www.martectraining.co.uk

College Websites

www.stokecoll.ac.uk
www.nscg.ac.uk/newcastle-campus
www.stokesfc.ac.uk
www.reaseheath.ac.uk
www.southstaffs.ac.uk

Choosing A Levels

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/a-levels-and-highers/choosing-a-levels
www.informedchoices.ac.uk/

University Courses

www.ucas.com
www.theguardian.com/education/universityguide

Apprenticeships

www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
www.indeed.co.uk/

A to Z of Jobs

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-careers
www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors
www.careersbox.co.uk
www.icould.com

Construction

www.citb.co.uk/bconstructive
www.goconstruct.org/

Engineering

www.borntoengineer.com/resources/the-different-types-of-engineering-and-their-career-paths-explained

Motor Vehicle

www.autocity.org.uk

Health Care

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk
www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk
www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Careers-in-care/Think-Care-Careers.aspx

Childcare

www.nurseryworldjobs.co.uk/careers/

Teaching

https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/

Creative Careers

https://discovercreative.careers/#/
www.screenskills.com/careers/

Psychology

www.bps.org.uk

Public Services

www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers
www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/
www.joiningthepolice.co.uk/
www.army.mod.uk

Science

www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors

Sports Careers

www.careers-in-sport.co.uk/profiles

A-Levels
  • Are mainly classroom and exam based and students usually study 3 or 4 subjects for 2 years before taking A Level exams.
  • Will generally need 5 GCSEs at grade 5 including Maths and English, and 6 in the subject you wish to study. Some colleges may ask for higher grades so always check individual college entry requirements
T-Levels
  • These are a mixture of classroom learning (80%) and industry placement (20% – at least 45 days)
  • Each T Level is equivalent to 3 A-levels so cannot be combined with other subjects
  • They have the same general entry requirements as A Levels but check with individual colleges in case higher grades are required in specific subjects.
  • Courses relate to a career area e.g. Education & Childcare, Health, Finance, Digital Coding & Technology or Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction – See college websites for further information.
BTECs & Job Specific Qualifications
  • These are a mixture of classroom learning (80%) and industry placement (20% – at least 45 days)
  • Each T Level is equivalent to 3 A-levels so cannot be combined with other subjects
  • They have the same general entry requirements as A Levels but check with individual colleges in case higher grades are required in specific subjects.
  • Courses relate to a career area e.g. Education & Childcare, Health, Finance, Digital Coding & Technology or Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction – See college websites for further information.
V Levels
  • New 2-year vocational qualification is being introduced, with a strong emphasis on learning through practical experience and applied activities.
  • Each V Level is equivalent to 1 A-level and can be combined with other V Levels or A Levels.
  • Courses directly relate to a career area.
  • The first subjects available for study from September 2027 will be Digital, Accounting & Finance, and Education. More subjects will become available from September 2028 onwards.
Apprenticeships
  • This type of learning involves on-the-job practical training. You would usually attend college / training provider 1-day/week and 4 days/week with an employer
  • You can do an apprenticeship in many career areas. To find out more, look on the apprenticeship web site www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
  • You will have to find your work placement yourself and competition for vacancies is high, so you will need a backup option, such as a full-time college course or a study programme.
Foundation Certificate
  • A 1-year programme for students who want to progress to level 3 options (V Levels, T Levels or A Levels) but need more support to achieve the entry requirements. The programme includes English and maths if needed.
  • The first subjects available for study from September 2027 will be Digital and Education & Early Years. More subjects will become available from September 2028 onwards.
Occupational Certificate
  • A 2-year work focused programme for students who want to progress into an apprenticeship or employment. The programme includes English and maths if needed.
  • The first subjects available for study from September 2027 will be Catering & Hospitality and Education & Early Years. More subjects will become available from September 2028 onwards.
Study Programmes
  • Designed to help you to improve your skills (maths / English, confidence, work experience) and act as a stepping stone onto an apprenticeship. They are based at small providers throughout the city such as;

Equality Training www.equality-training.co.uk
Nacro www.nacro.org.uk/nacro-services/nacro-education/nacro-education-stoke-on-trent/
Martec Training www.martectraining.co.uk

Other Info

College Websites

www.stokecoll.ac.uk
www.nscg.ac.uk/newcastle-campus
www.stokesfc.ac.uk
www.reaseheath.ac.uk
www.southstaffs.ac.uk

Choosing A Levels

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/a-levels-and-highers/choosing-a-levels
www.informedchoices.ac.uk/

University Courses

www.ucas.com
www.theguardian.com/education/universityguide

Apprenticeships

www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
www.indeed.co.uk/

A to Z of Jobs

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-careers
www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors
https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors
www.careersbox.co.uk
www.icould.com

Construction

www.citb.co.uk/bconstructive
www.goconstruct.org/

Engineering

www.borntoengineer.com/resources/the-different-types-of-engineering-and-their-career-paths-explained

Motor Vehicle

www.autocity.org.uk

Health Care

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk
www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk
www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Careers-in-care/Think-Care-Careers.aspx

Childcare

www.nurseryworldjobs.co.uk/careers/

Teaching

https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/

Creative Careers

https://discovercreative.careers/#/
www.screenskills.com/careers/

Psychology

www.bps.org.uk

Public Services

www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers
www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/
www.joiningthepolice.co.uk/
www.army.mod.uk

Science

www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors

Sports Careers

www.careers-in-sport.co.uk/profiles

This page and it’s content is reviewed annually. (Due September 2026)

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