Home education - post 16

Careers advice from Southampton City Council

Access Southampton is Southampton City Council's free and impartial careers guidance website which aims to give careers advice and employment support to everyone at any stage of their working life.

Further education colleges

If you are interested in a sixth form college place, contact each college directly but be aware that they may not be able to meet your preferred course options at this stage.

During the Autumn Term 2022/23 you should begin making applications for September 2023 entry. The links below will take you to event pages where upcoming open days/evenings will be publicised, or, to their application process page.

College open evenings/days are a great opportunity to:

  • Get a sense of what college life is like by talking to existing students
  • Meet staff and discuss courses you are interested in
  • View the facilities.
  • Listen to the Principal’s presentation.
  • Pick up a wide range of useful information e.g. about transport links
  • Discover courses you may not have considered
  • Find out about opportunities that will be open to you
  • Get careers advice

Colleges and links to details of upcoming open days/evenings

Flying Start

Flying Start is Southampton City Council’s free and impartial guide to support Post 16 decisions. This offers information and support on a wide range of areas, including careers, POST 16 and training courses.

The Itchen Sixth Form College STEP Programme

Itchen College offer a Skills Training and Engagement Programme to support those aged 16-24 which is open to electively home educated families. Their programme is designed to provide support for learners to enable them to gain the confidence and skills to work towards education, employment, a traineeship or an apprenticeship.

Find out more about this programme and contact us via the details on the Elective Home Education page if you would like an EHE Visitor to make a referral to the programme for you or your child.

National Careers Service

The National Careers Service is a free careers service for adults and young people aged 13 and over, providing confidential advice and guidance to help your child make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. Advice and guidance can be accessed via the telephone and online.

Local vacancies and training

Southampton City Council produces a vacancy and information bulletin on a fortnightly basis which includes a selection of local vacancies and training opportunities. 

Apprenticeships

The Amazing Apprenticeships website has a wealth of information about apprenticeships available across a wide range of sectors.

You can also register an interest in apprenticeships on the government apprenticeships website and receive alerts when something of interest to you becomes available.

UCAS

UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) provides advice on sixth form, college, and apprenticeships as well as careers advice.

Participation in employment and training

The Department for Education 2019 home education advice document for parents states that children over compulsory school age may also be educated at home in order to meet the requirements to participate in education and training until the age of 18.