Research shows young people to be unaware of options post-GCSE

New research released by the Association of Colleges (AoC) has shown that the majority of young students are confused about their potential options post-GCSE. The research also identified that fewer than half of pupils preparing for GCSEs receive any form of specialist advice on their post-exam options, and the majority are unable to name more than two potential post-GCSE qualifications, with a large number only able to cite A-levels as a viable option.

Joy Mercer, Director of Education Policy at the Association of Colleges, has called on parents to step up and play a much greater role in making their children aware of some of the options available; particularly as a large number of the students interviewed for the research rated the information they receive from family members as higher than that received from schools/colleges or careers advisors.

Ms Mercer concludes: “It’s not about whether one option is better than another, it’s about ensuring that our children can make an informed choice about their future. We would encourage parents to speak to their children early to ensure they are aware of all the options open to them.