This one’s less for you and more for someone you know. If you’ve a son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew or family friend finishing school this summer, you’ll know it’s an exciting time – a real new chapter – but a daunting one too, with so many decisions about what comes next. GCSE results land in mid-August, and while plenty of young people will have their next step mapped out, plenty won’t. If someone you know is still weighing things up, here’s a calm, practical look at the options – and why Lincoln College is worth a proper look.
The main routes after school
There’s no single “right” path, and that’s worth saying out loud. Lincoln College, sets out six main options for school leavers, and all of them can lead to a great career or on to degree-level study. A Levels are the traditional academic route towards university. T Levels are newer two-year qualifications, equivalent to three A Levels, with a substantial industry placement built in. Technical Training focuses on the practical skills of a specific trade or profession. There are also Specialist Programmes, Supported Education for students who need extra help, and apprenticeships, which let a young person earn while they learn with a real employer.
Why Lincoln College?
Lincoln makes a real effort to help new students settle. The first six weeks are known as “The Big Welcome” – a stretch with lots of activities and staff focused on helping students find their feet, get to know the campus and settle into their course. Beyond that, the things that matter most to parents are well covered: safe, secure campuses; a Student Services team on hand every day; financial support and a counselling service for anyone who needs someone to talk to; and industry-standard workshops, libraries and sports facilities that feel a world away from school. With campuses in Lincoln and Newark, plus the Air & Space Institute, there’s a lot of ground – and a lot of opportunity – on offer.
One practical point worth knowing: even close to the start of term, the College often still has spaces on entry-level and Level 1 courses – a real route in for anyone who didn’t get quite the GCSEs they were hoping for.
A word on results day
If the young person in your life doesn’t get the grades they hoped for in August, it’s far from the end of the road. There are starting points at every level, and the College is well used to helping students find the right course and build up from there.
Pro Tip: The most useful thing you can do is encourage them to get in touch early rather than wait. A quick call to course enquiries on 030 030 32435, a look through the course subjects, or booking onto an open day opens far more doors than worrying in silence.
It’s a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming one. Whether their future lies in a workshop, a studio, a salon or a lecture theatre, there’s a route that fits – and people on hand to help them find it. If you know someone who’d value a steer, do pass this on. Everything’s at lincolncollege.ac.uk.