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Since the government introduction of raising the participation age to 18 years, the careers leader works with Lincolnshire County Council monitor the destinations of our learners from the end of Year 11.  This process is in partnership with learners, parents/carers, schools, colleges, apprenticeships, local providers and the University Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), underpinned by mutual and legal consent to share relevant information.  De Aston School also works with local support services and agencies in relation to those most at risk of becoming or who have become NEET (not in employment, education or training).

De Aston School has a legal duty to support government authorities in the collection of data regarding the intended destinations students in Year 11, 12 and 13.  This legal duty means that consent by the student is not required for data collection while attending De Aston School.  It is also recommended that a learner's destination is tracked for two years after leaving De Aston School whether this is at the end of Year 11, 12 or 13.  In order to do this permission is required from the student by signing the 'Destinations Tracking Data Sharing Agreement'.  This permission can be obtained while the young person at school in Year 11.

Where former De Aston School students would like support from the careers team they can contact

Mrs A Kemp, Careers Leader, or the Careers Officer for guidance.  The support level is reduced when learners have left but we will endeavour to help where we can.

Further information about this can be found at the Department of Education's publication of 'Destinations data: A Good Practice Guide for Schools'.

Please see our Destinations Tracking Data Sharing Agreement:

Destinations Tracking Data Sharing Agreement

Student destinations refers to the placement or provision taken up by students at the end of Year 11, 12 or 13.

For a student to have been successful in achieving the 'September Guarantee' they must be attending their chosen placement on or by 1st November in the following school year.

• School data shows the percentage of Year 11 achieving the 'September Guarantee' in the following academic year is: 100% in 2016; 98% in 2017; 96% in 2018 - these are in line or above national and local comparators.
• In respect of our Year 12 students: 97% in 2016; 98% in 2017; 94% in 2018 - well above national and local comparators.

For a student to have a ‘sustained destination’ they must remain in their chosen placement or provision from October until March. Alternatively if a student completes an apprenticeship a 'sustained destination' is measured as remaining on it for least six months.

• The latest publicly available data on 16-19 study programmes (2016 leavers) indicates that 82% of Year 13 leavers sustained their destinations which is below the national figure. School data indicates in 2014 this was 92% and in 2015 91% - above the national figure.
• The percentage of those not staying in education or employment was 8% (five students, in line with national figure) and 10% (seven students and above the national figure) were measured as unknown. The students in this position could be international boarding students who have returned home to continue to study or to start in employment and this has not been able to be recorded.  For 2014 this was 0% and 0% (well below the national figure); for 2015, 4% (two students and well below the national figure) and 4% (two students and in line with national figure) respectively.
• School held data on the percentage of Year 13 disadvantaged students NOT sustaining sestination: 2014 = 0%, 2015 = 0%, 2016 = 0% - all well below the national figures.

Note that the same data is published on the government's 'Find and compare schools in England' website, 2016 leavers are referred to in the publication year of 2018, likewise 2015 leavers in 2017, and 2014 leavers in 2016.

• For 16 year olds (2016/17 published 2019) figures that pupils staying in education or employment for at least two terms after Key Stage 4 was 96%, with 89% of pupils staying in education, which is above the national figures on these measures (94%/86% respectively) and that of other schools in the local authority (95%/88% respectively).
• The same measures for Key Stage 4 pupils in 2015/16 (published 2018) was 98% and 91% and well above the national (94%/86% respectively) and also schools in the local authority (95%/87% respectively).
• In 2014/15 (published 2017) 95% stayed in education or employment for at least two terms - in line with local authority state schools (95%) and above the national figure (94%). For 2013/14 (published 2016) it was 98% - above the figure for local authority state funded schools (95%) and above the national figure (94%).
• The latest publicly available data also indicates that De Aston School retains students well and this is growing. In 2017 42% and in 2018 45% of our students continued into our Sixth Form. Nearly all other learners went to a further education provision.

If you’re in Year 11, Year 12 Level 2 or Year 13, it’s time to start thinking about what you want to do after you leave school.

What you can do after you leave De Aston School can depend on things factors such as where you live, the grades you’re likely to get or achieve, what you’re interested in and what kind of environment you want to learn in. Often, the choice is between sixth form, college, an apprenticeship or a training provider.

So far your education has probably been set out for you – from primary to secondary school. You have most-likely not had to think about ‘what next’ – but now you’re expected to know what you want to do?

First of all – don’t panic! You may feel that this is the most important decision of your life, but it isn’t a final choice.  For example, if you choose to go to college but find an opportunity within an apprenticeship it is ok to change your mind and move onto the apprenticeship in order to progress.  

Of course, you want to get it right if you can, so doing some research into your choices is always going to help with making the right choice for you. Try to ignore what your friends are doing and focus on what you want to achieve for yourself. Of course, asking advice and talking to your friends can help, but ultimately it is a matter of what is best for you. The careers and transition team will help you with exploring your options and interests and submitting applications.

Sixth forms

Sixth forms are often attached to a school. There are advantages and disadvantages to this. If it’s the school you’ve already been at for a few years, you’ll feel comfortable and know your way around. Some people can find attending a completely new school a bit scary because lots of people there will already know each other. Sometimes sixth forms are completely separate from any other schools, and teach students from lots of different places.

Apprenticeships

With an apprenticeship, you would be working for an employer, earning a wage (at least £3.90 per hour as of  1st April 2019), and studying for a qualification  at the same time. You would be linked with a college or training provider to make sure you get all of your work done for your qualification.

An apprenticeship offers an alternative path into employment. Sure, it hasn’t got the academic edge of going to university, but an apprenticeship should leave you more prepared for the workplace  – which is the final destination anyway! And there are apprenticeships up to Master degree level! An apprenticeship will teach you a skill or trade, while offering on-the-job experience and a pay-packet. There are a surprisingly wide range of apprenticeships available to search now in a variety of job sectors.

Traineeships

Traineeships are designed help young people who want to get an apprenticeship or job but don’t yet have appropriate skills or experience.

Traineeships are an ideal opportunity for young people, aged 16 to 24, who are motivated to get a job but lack the skills and experience that employers are looking for.

Those who have been unsuccessful when applying for an apprenticeship or other job due to a lack of skills and experience are most likely be good candidates for a traineeship.

Colleges

Colleges are separate from schools, so everyone turns up on their first day as a new student. Colleges tend to offer A levels, NVQs, Diplomas and Foundation Learning. Sometimes colleges specialise; for example you might have an agricultural college that does farming and animal care related courses, or a catering college that specialises in cookery courses.

University Technical Colleges

These are form of school from Year 10 to 13, that specialises in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) learning.  They work with a local university and employers to deliver learning for the STEM related subjects.  It's very much like school now but with the STEM focus.

What grades do you need?

The grades are dependent on the requirements of the provider you are interested in attending.  It is best to refer to the provider's prospectus or website. 

Generally speaking you have needed to achieve the level below to the one you aspire to do, for example Level 2 is required for Level 3. 

If you wish to complete a technical qualification for becoming, for example a chef, you may need to start at the same or a lower level, i.e. Level 1 or 2, due to the specificity of the skills and the prior learning needed for Level 3 and beyond.

Reed, the recruitment organisation and website, provide a good explanation of the different levels and reasons for progressing.  See: https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/levels-of-education-what-do-they-mean/