After year 11 options... The facts!

• If your son or daughter chooses the post-16 or sixth fom option, their statement of special educational needs will be maintained by the Local Authority. Their statement will no longer be a legal document after they’ve left school, but colleges will take into account the support previously needed by the student in school. Colleges have access to extra funding and will make sure that the young people are given the support they need to succeed on their course. 

• A post-16 or sixth form course usually lasts for 3 years but students can leave at any time to take other options.

• Once a young person has started a course at a local or specialist college, it’s very difficult to change to the school post-16 or sixth form option.

• After completing a specialist college course, a young person may go on to a local college. In some circumstances it may also be possible for a young person to go to a specialist college after finishing a local college course.

• Local and specialist college courses usually last up to three years.

• Applications to local colleges should be made in the first term of Year 11 for a place starting the following September.

• It can take up to two years to process an application for a specialist college. It’s therefore essential that this option is considered at the 14+ transition review as well as yearly after that. You should ask your son or daughter’s Personal Adviser for help with this as it can be a difficult process.

• Not all specialist college courses start in September. To help your son or daughter choose the best route for them after Year 11 it is essential to get help and advice from a Connexions Personal Adviser. The long-term goals of the young person, such as future independent living and work ambitions, will affect their choice of route.