St Vincent College, Gosport's principal gives 5 top tips for students thinking about further education

Here, Principal Andy Grant shares his tips on how to help young people think about their plans for their education after school.

What do you enjoy learning?

It sounds simple, but do you enjoy reading and writing essays, solving problems and working with numbers, or perhaps creating and/or working with your hands?

It is far more likely students will commit to courses they find interesting, satisfying and feel they have an aptitude for.

Have you got a career in mind?

If so, do you know if there are any particular qualifications required to follow that career path?

These days, there are often many different alternatives to starting a career, so visit a school or college careers centre and do research online to see how different people have achieved what you want to, and work out which way most appeals to you.

Does a college or sixth form cater for what you want to do?

Obviously if you have particular courses in mind, you need to make sure that the centre you are looking at who runs them.

If you have a choice of places, look at styles of learning, the facilities a centre has and you can always reach out to engage with Heads of Departments or tutors with any questions or to ask what past students have gone on to achieve.

For example, at St Vincent College, we pride ourselves on allowing students to take academic qualifications and vocational courses such as NVQs alongside other courses, including A-Levels.

It often makes for a balanced, wide-ranging skill set that allows greater future choice.

What opportunities are there outside the classroom?

Education is not just about qualifications. If you play sports, music or enjoy acting, choose a college that has clubs and societies for you to share your hobbies and passion with others.

You should also look at the careers service for work experience opportunities, advice on progression and support in pursuing your goals during and after college.

How will college fit into your life?

As well as fitting the courses you want into a timetable, many of our students have part-time jobs, work placements and commitments at home. Make sure you look at transport links, costs and travel times to ensure college works with other parts of your life.

To find out all St Vincent College has to offer, visit www.stvincent.ac.uk or book a Personalised Tour online at www.stvincent.ac.uk/personal-tours or by emailing [email protected].