Post-16 Careers Week Live Event Recordings
As part of Post-16 Careers Week 2024, we hosted a series of Live Events to help students, parents and carers get the inside track from the Admissions Teams, Heads of Careers or College leaders from local sixth forms, colleges, training providers and even the hiring managers for apprenticeships at local businesses. In case you weren’t able to join us live on the night, you’ll find links to the recordings to watch back below.
Studying A-Levels | College & Sixth Form Open Event (Tues 15th Oct)
If you’re considering studying A-Levels after finishing your GCSEs and are preparing to submit your applications for Sept 2025 admissions, watch the video below to hear from the expert panellists at Aquinas Sixth Form College, Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College, Hazel Grove Sixth Form, Loreto Sixth Form College and Xaverian Sixth Form College. We asked them all about the decision-making process (what subjects to choose, how many and how to decide between them), applications (what to include, when to submit and how to make them stand out), what happens next (conditional offers, interviews and acceptances), results day and enrolment.
Choosing T-Levels, Apprenticeships and BTECs | Vocational College Open Event (Weds 16th Oct)
If you’re looking for more practical, hands-on classroom or on-the-job learning, opting for T-Levels, Apprenticeships, BTECs or NVQs might be the right path for you. But which should you choose and what are the key differences between them? We asked these questions and more to experts from Stockport College, The Manchester College, The Growth Company, Stockport Homes Group and Stockport Council in our 1-hour webinar to help you navigate your applications for Sept 2025 starts.
What’s next at 18+? University, Degree Apprenticeship & HE Open Event (Thurs 18th Oct)
If you’re keen to explore your options at 18, check out our webinar below where we caught up with the Admissions and Recruitment Teams at the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Stockport College University Centre & Adult Learning, and Apprenticeships team at Stockport Council. We talked about studying for a traditional university degree (covering everything from personal statements to grants and funding), other HE options like HNCs and HNDs, how to find and apply for degree apprenticeships, and what other courses, study or employment support options are available for those leaving full-time education.
Your Questions for our Expert Panellists
During each event, we tried to answer as many of your questions as possible. For any we didn’t get round to, we’ve sent these across to our experts to ask for a written response. We’ll shortly be adding their replies onto this page, so please keep checking back for further updates. Here’s some of those we’ve received so far:
How many colleges can you apply to (maximum)?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: You can apply to as many as you want, but you should only apply to the ones you wish to study at.
Why apply for more than one?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: There may be different reasons for this, it might be location, travel, distance or even the curriculum offer or entry requirements.
Is there any central place to apply for all colleges/institutions?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: For post-16 options, no. Each college/sixth form has their own application procedure.
Why should we choose your college/sixth form?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: At Loreto, we are the highest performing sixth form college in Manchester and focus very much on educating the whole person. We do not just offer a very broad curriculum of over 40 A levels, BTECS and A level equivalent courses, but also over 50 enrichments to choose from.
Jo Lambert, Hazel Grove Sixth Form: At Hazel Grove Sixth Form we offer tailored support for every student to ensure they can aspire to and achieve access to the destination of their choice; this includes specific support for Oxbridge, medics, dentists and vets as well as degree apprenticeship support, voice coach work, thorough UCAS application support alongside pastoral and academic support for all throughout.
As Hazel Grove only offers A-Levels. Are entry requirements specific to the courses that I am wishing to complete higher than a college setting?
Jo Lambert, Hazel Grove Sixth Form: In some instances, yes. We want to ensure you can succeed at your chosen courses and enjoy them so that you are in the best place to succeed at what you aspire to do Post 18. Working as hard as possible in your GCSEs will ensure you make an excellent start to your A Level studies.
Can you change your A-Level choices after submitting your application?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: Yes, you can.
Following the open evening, roughly how long do you have to apply to the colleges?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: January 10th is the deadline for Loreto College.
If a student do not meet the entry criteria/merit, 1. will there be supplementary pre-courses and later join the subject of your choice? 2. And otherwise, if rejected based on entry merit, will they be offered alternate courses within same school? what is the criteria for that?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: All places are offered on the condition of meeting published entry requirements. If they are not met, but an offer of a place has been given, we meet will all students at enrolment to offer individual course advice. This might mean a change in course or level, or careers advise to look at options at another institution.
If any GCSE resits are needed can these always be done alongside the college/sixth form subjects chosen?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: We offer GCSE English and Maths resit and we offer GCSE Chinese as an option for any student to study.
How is best to find out what support colleges can provide for a student with medical needs?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: We offer bespoke support for MDVH aspiring students with MEDSOC enrichment and a team of staff that support with applications etc. 69 students went on to MDV degrees for Loreto this year.
How many subjects do we need to opt max?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: 3 is the usual, but students may opt to study the EPQ in addition. Some students study 4, but universities only require 3.
What is the difference between A-levels and level 3 Course?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: A levels are level 3 courses. They are equivalent to BTEC level 3 courses in the educational framework, but are assessed slightly differently.
If I am unable to make the open evenings will it affect my chance of getting in or any fault in my applications?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: No, not at all.
For art related subjects that require a portfolio, when and how to submit it?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: Information about this is found on our art course pages on our website.
What are your thoughts on the mix of subjects at A level e.g. picking too many similar subjects?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: It’s all up together individual. Choose what you enjoy!!! Only if the degree/career stipulates a necessary subject should you ‘have’ to select it.
Are extra-curricular activities vital for an acceptable application?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: Not vital, we just want to hear of what you have done during your time at school. This may be in school time and out of it.
Would attendance be taking in to consideration if student has had history of medical appointments?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: Contextualised absence such as medical appointments are always considered.
With Aquinas/Loreto being much bigger institutions as opposed to somewhere like Hazel Grove Sixth Form, how does student support compare in terms of support not only academically but also regarding applications to universities?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: At Loreto, our student support is excellent. Every teacher is a tutor and provides wonderful pastoral care alongside their curriculum. We have. An additional learning support team too who meets with students for a range of support, it might be for organisation or metacognition support, but it may be in relation to an emerging need too. In addition, we continue to invest in the needs of our learners. We have an extensive student services team comprising of Heads of Hall, wellbeing officers, safeguarding team and counsellors.
Jo Lambert, Hazel Grove Sixth Form: At Hazel Grove Sixth Form we offer bespoke support for every student; this includes in Year 12 and Year 13. We have a voice coach offer for interview preparation, a 1:1 UCAS support tutor to help with personal statement and reference writing and a three stage proof-reading process to ensure applications are of the very highest standard. Our electives and super-curricular programme ensure that students take every opportunity to bolster their applications through Year 12 and are involved in University Access programmes right from the start so they don’t miss any opportunities.
Would year 10 students benefit from open days this year?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: Yes, however, there are lots of opportunities such as the year 10 day visits in the summer term. Creating a long list of courses is always a good idea at this stage.
If choosing maths heavy subjects (maths, further maths, physics), is it wise to pick an option like German to, I suppose, provide a break for numbers. Is an MFL qualification valued by universities?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: MFL is absolutely valued by universities, but I return to the earlier answer of joyful study. Choose what you love/enjoy and the rest will follow!
Jo Lambert, Hazel Grove Sixth Form: HGSF – Language are a highly valued subject by universities and would provide an excellent complement to any combination of subjects at A Level. As a facilitating subject, they allows access to a wide range of degree options Post 18.
Question for Loreto, do you have a waiting list for your taster day which is full?
Danny Price, Loreto Sixth Form: We were, but the days are very full now, so it will be unlikely that any spaces become available.
Hi, is there an apprenticeship programme for dental nursing or dental therapist. If so, what are the entry requirements and how do you secure a decent workplace for young people.
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: we do not offer this course at TSCG.
My daughter is hoping to do Hair & Media Make Up. If places are limited, what happens if a course is over subscribed?
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: It is important to apply early, once all places are taken you could be offered a different course that could be linked to hair and beauty.
The students who purely wants to go for studies and university and no work before, do you still recommend T-Level to those students? Why?
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: T-Levels are for those who want to progress to university or employment, they offer a substantial work placement that supports their studies and career choices.
What are the number stats, how many universities recognize and offer equal university education for students with T-Level?
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: The government have key individuals who have promoted and informed universities of what a TL is. If you contact the university of choice you can discuss any concerns but they should have this information on their websites.
Can we have greater clarity please on whether a student should apply at level one or level two after leaving school at 16?
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: Apply for your first and 2nd choice and the level applicable to your predicted grades, once you have an offer you can enrol on an appropriate level using your exam results.
Why there is no T-Level breadth of subjects available towards south Manchester and around Stockport? Most T-Level opportunities are around central or north of Manchester.
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: Each college will provide an offer based on many factors. There is not a TL replacement for all previous L3s. Apply for the subject area and the appropriate level. TL and current vocational qualifications are a great choice.
Is moving from a level 2 onto a T-level three years in total, or is the second year a bridge that converts a level 2 into a T-level and it’s only 2 years in total?
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: A-level 2 is one year and a TL or L3 is two years.
Does University of Manchester and other Russel Group University accept T-Levels for Computing and Sciences?
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: Look at the university website for their entry requirements, or if unsure contact the university
Either Apprenticeship or T-Level, would educational institution will arrange employer placement? or student has to find the employment opportunities like job search by themselves?
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: You can apply to the college who could have a vacancy, or you can access the government website to search across the UK for an apprenticeship. Often employers advertise e.g. INDEED.
Do the majority of apprenticeship opportunities find their way onto the .gov portal or would a student be well advised to actively seek them out elsewhere?
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: Mostly yes.
How do you reconcile a potential lack of availability of appropriate apprenticeships, and the fact that they might start at any point in the year, with the legal obligation to be in full-time education until 18?
Lisa Kniveton, Stockport College: A learner should apply for a FT college course and study, if an apprenticeship comes up part way through the year they can transfer.
Hi, is it true that UCAS are replacing the personal statement?
Sophie Hoyle, The University of Manchester: There will be some changes to the personal statement for Entry 2026. However, it will remain the same for Entry 2025.
How does deferring a uni place work?
Sophie Hoyle, The University of Manchester: You can either apply for deferred entry (e.g. apply in the Entry 2025 application cycle for Entry 2026), or you can wait to apply in the year that you’ll be going to university. If you decide to apply through UCAS for deferred entry, check with the Admissions team for the courses you’re applying for whether they would accept an application for deferred entry before submitting your application. At The University of Manchester, you can find the Admissions email address for each subject on the ‘overview’ tab of course finder. You can also find information on the deferrals policy for a course on the ‘application and selection’ tab. More information on deferred entry can be found here.
If I don’t go to university in the year after my A levels, how do I apply as a mature student if I have more than one gap year?
Sophie Hoyle, The University of Manchester: Lots of people choose to go to university many years after finishing compulsory education. You would still apply through UCAS and we would recommend checking with the Admissions teams for the courses you’re interested in what their requirements would be. At The University of Manchester, you can find the Admissions email address for each subject on the ‘overview’ tab of course finder. You can find more information on applying as a mature student here.
Regarding degrees- if I don’t obtain the grades necessary for my university choices, how easy is it to take a year out and then reapply the following year with grades in hand?
Sophie Hoyle, The University of Manchester: If you don’t obtain the necessary grades, taking resits is one option you can take. Each course and each university will have a different policy on applicants who are resitting and/or reapplying, so make sure you check with Admissions teams first. At The University of Manchester, you can find the Admissions email address for each subject on the ‘overview’ tab of course finder. You can also find information on resit/reapplication policy for a course on the ‘Application and selection’ tab.
