Post 16 Support and Opportunities

We understand that leaving school and identifying your next steps can feel very daunting however we are here to help you through this key transition in your life.  Below are links to a number of useful resources, information and opportunities pages.

If you can’t find the help you need here, please contact us at admin.virtualschool@tameside.gov.uk and we will do our best to support you.
 
 

Positive Steps – Connect to Your Future

If you need advice and support in finding education or training opportunities, Positive Steps can help.

Follow the link below for the referral form to Positive Steps “Connect to Your Future”. A great program offering varied careers support for 15-19 year olds.

CTYF Referral Form

Positive Steps: Drop in service:
 
Who is it for?
Any young person between the ages of 16-18 years who’s not in Education, Employment or Training (we also work with people up to 25 years if they hold an EHCP)

Where is it?  
Positive Steps Careers Service based at 31 Clarence Arcade, Stamford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7PT
 
 
When is it?
Every Monday Morning 09:00 – 12:45
&
Every Thursday Afternoon 12:45 – 16:30

 

Care Leaver Covenant

Follow the link below for access to the Care Leaver Covenant page and their opportunities board. The Care Leaver Covenant is a national inclusion programme that supports care leavers aged 16-25 to live independently. They create meaningful opportunities for care leavers in five key areas and support care leavers to access those opportunities
Care Leaver Opportunities - Care Leaver Covenant (mycovenant.org.uk)



 

Tameside Employment and Skills Team

The Tameside Employment and Skills team have a wealth of resources available to support young people into work. They aim to connect employers and skills providers with young people and adults looking for work and learning opportunities
Follow the links below to explore the opportunities they have available:

 

• Tameside Council’s Employment and Skills team connects employers and skills providers with young people and adults looking for work and learning opportunities.
• Tameside’s Virtual Jobs Fair

Estranged and Care Experienced Students

An organisation to support students who are estranged, care experienced, care leavers, orphaned and at risk of/wishing to become estranged. They aim to provide a central space that signposts to support and guidance that is accessible to our community in all areas of our lives, with a particular focus on supporting access to further and higher education. 
Follow the link below to their website and handbook:

• Website: EaCES - About Us, Contact & Get Involved (google.com)
• Handbook: EaCES (google.com)

 
 

Further Education

 
Leaving school and moving to college can be an exciting but sometimes-scary time.  It’s important that you are exploring all of your options and speaking to the right people to make sure you are making the right decision for your post 16 options.  Post 16 education is all about your choices and choosing something you are going to want to do that will help you go further in your career. These BBC bitesize links may be a good way to start your thinking process.
 
 Making the jump from care to college - BBC Bitesize
 
 

College Open Days

 
College Open Days/Evenings are a fantastic way of exploring local colleges and what courses might be open to you.  Open events allow you to look around the colleges, talk to teaching staff about the content of the courses and what is expected and generally get a feel for your surroundings. 
 
Open events can happen throughout the year and you are able to go to how ever many you like, in fact it’s probably a good idea to visit your first choice more than once to make sure it is where you want to enrol.  Below are some links to colleges local to Tameside:
 

Tameside College Courses for School Leavers, Adults and Employers in Greater Manchester
 

 Ashton Sixth Form College (asfc.ac.uk)
 


The Manchester College | tmc.ac.uk
 

Home - Oldham College - Where Learning Works & Skills Pay
 

Oldham Sixth Form College - Home (osfc.ac.uk)
 

Stockport College - Welcome to Your Future - Apply Now for 2022
 
  
Although colleges generally take applications throughout the year it is important to remember some courses are more popular than others and can fill up really quickly.  It is important to get your application in a soon as possible to make sure you get the place you want.
 
Key pieces of information you need to complete you application form successfully include predicted/mock GCSE exam grades and contact details for you and someone else the college can contact to arrange an interview.  Most applications are now an online form.  Once you have the information you need save it on your desktop or USB pen so you can copy and paste the information to different applications.

If you need any support or advice on applying for college, please email us

 

Interviews

 
The next step in the application process will be the interview.  College will want to know that you are suitable for your course but also assess you and your interests and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.  These factsheets from My World of Work have some help hints, tips and guidance.
 
How to prepare for video and phone interviews | My World of Work
 
Nail your college interview | My World of Work
 
 

Apprenticeships

 
Apprenticeships are a great alternative to full time education.  They can offer you high quality teaching whilst earning on the job learning.  It can take a little work to secure the right position because you are applying for a job but if you determined to go down this it can be a rewarding way to learn a trade.
 

  Become an apprenticeship is a great website with lots of advice and information.
  
 
Become an apprentice (apprenticeships.gov.uk)
 
https://amazingapprenticeships.com/app/uploads/2021/10/Care-Leavers-Guide-to-Apprenticeship_FINAL.pdf

Council apprenticeships
 
Contact us and/or your social worker for advice