The architecture of post-16 and post-18 options. Apprenticeships (Levels 2, 3, higher, degree). Further Education colleges. Sixth form. T Levels. University (and the Access to HE diploma route for learners who haven’t taken the A-Level pathway). Direct employment. Self-employment and sole trading. Volunteering as a stepping-stone. Gap years (intentional vs drifting).
The point of this strand is not to recommend one pathway over another. It is to ensure each learner has a realistic mental map of the system they’re navigating — including the routes that traditional careers advice often under-emphasises.
What this includes
- The post-16 landscape — apprenticeships, T Levels, A Levels, FE, sixth form, supported internships, traineeships
- The post-18 landscape — university (UCAS), apprenticeships (Level 4–6), direct employment, self-employment, gap year strategies
- Non-linear pathways — Access to HE diploma, mature student routes, entering work first then studying later, restarting after a break
- Industry-specific pathways — for learners with strong sectoral interests (creative industries, healthcare, construction, tech, education, public service)
- Funding and finance — apprenticeship pay, student loans, bursaries, support for SEND learners through DSA, hardship funds
- The shape of a working life — that pathways are not one-time decisions; learners will likely change direction multiple times
Tested by
- ASDAN Employability (career planning is part of the regulated qualification)
- ASDAN Towards Independence (PfA-aligned)
- ASDAN Transition Challenge (the closest direct overlay — designed for transition planning)
Cross-curriculum links
- GIGF — Module 6: Green Skills and Future Jobs (sectoral pathway exploration, especially for green-economy careers)
- Life and Work — Citizenship (pathways are also civic — voting, taxation, public services start to apply with adult employment)
- Life and Work — Financial Literacy (apprenticeship pay, student finance, contracts)
Suggested evidence types
- Pathway map produced by the learner — three or four post-16 / post-18 options researched and compared
- Comparison table on a real opportunity (e.g. apprenticeship vs FE college vs sixth form for the same end goal)
- Reflection on a pathway the learner has had to revise
- CEIAG conversation log with named adviser (formal CEIAG sits in the T&L Policy as a statutory obligation)