16+ education options

The law says that young people can leave school on the last Friday in June if they will be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.

They must then do one of the following until they are 18:

• stay in full-time education, for example at a college
• start an apprenticeship
• spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training.

Education options for young people aged 16+

There are a wide variety of options available to young people moving into further education, including:

• staying in a school setting at a sixth form
• going to a local FE college, sixth form college or independent training provider
• choosing to study academic and applied subjects
• choosing to study practical or vocational subjects
• joining a Supported Internship programme
• choosing a bespoke/specialist programme
• apprenticeship (typically intermediate or advanced level) or employment with training

Staying on to sixth form

Some schools in Suffolk have sixth forms where young people can continue their learning until Year 13/14 or when they turn 19. They don’t have to stay at the same school, and can apply to move to another school sixth form if a more appropriate course is on offer elsewhere. You can find out more about each school's sixth form by looking on their website; most also offer open days and tours at key points in the school year.