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.

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  • Hospitality Careers

  • College Websites





  • Choosing A Levels


  • Choosing BTECs

  • University Courses



  • Apprenticeships


Careerometer

Useful Documents

Students
Parents
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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:

  • These are a mixture of classroom learning (80%) and industry placement (20% – at least 45 days) To find out more look at www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • They are equivalent to 3 A-levels so have the same general entry requirements but check with individual colleges in case higher grades are required in specific subjects.
  • Courses relate to a career area like Education & Childcare, Health, Finance, Digital Coding & Technology or Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction – See college websites for further information.

Click below for more information.

  • Are more classroom and exam based and you usually choose 3 or 4 subjects. You study these for 2 years before taking your A Level exam.
  • Will generally need 5 GCSEs at grade 5s 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 requirement.
  • This type of learning involves on-the-job practical training. You would usually go to college / training provider one 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 may 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.
  • 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

Nacro

Martec Training

Learn4work

  • This is a mixture of hands-on learning, classroom learning and work experience. You are assessed through course work and exams.
  • Courses directly relate to a career area like childcare, social care, I.T and public services or to particular roles such as hairdresser or bricklayer.
  • There are different levels (Level 1, 2 and 3) depending on your GCSE results

College Websites

University Courses

Careers Information

T-Levels
  • These are a mixture of classroom learning (80%) and industry placement (20% – at least 45 days) To find out more look at www.tlevels.gov.uk/
  • They are equivalent to 3 A-levels so have the same general entry requirements but check with individual colleges in case higher grades are required in specific subjects.
  • Courses relate to a career area like Education & Childcare, Health, Finance, Digital Coding & Technology or Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction – See college websites for further information.

Click below for more information.

A-Levels
  • Are more classroom and exam based and you usually choose 3 or 4 subjects. You study these for 2 years before taking your A Level exam.
  • Will generally need 5 GCSEs at grade 5s 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 requirement.
Apprenticeships
  • This type of learning involves on-the-job practical training. You would usually go to college / training provider one 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 may 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.
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

Nacro

Martec Training

Learn4work

BTEC Diplomas
  • This is a mixture of hands-on learning, classroom learning and work experience. You are assessed through course work and exams.
  • Courses directly relate to a career area like childcare, social care, I.T and public services or to particular roles such as hairdresser or bricklayer.
  • There are different levels (Level 1, 2 and 3) depending on your GCSE results

College Websites

Other Info

University Courses

Careers Information

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

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| Ofsted 2024

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