LEARNING FOR LIFE
HAVING survived seven years of primary school education and a few years of teenage angst, parents might think it’s all plain sailing onwards to their child’s ultimate dream career. Not so.
For some, the challenge of GCSE’s make some teens question whether or not an academic option is the right way forward. The prospect of a possible further five years’ studying, on top of the 12 already done, is just too much to contemplate and the thought of some hands-on vocational training and an earlier pay packet is simply too much to resist!
Parents with aspirations their offspring would sail through sixth form and on to university clutching a string of accolades can take heart, however, as Kent is blessed with a good choice of colleges, which offer an alternative to the traditional sixth form in school.
Many students thrive in a college atmosphere, which is very different to school, and it is possible to take A-levels both at Mid-Kent College (one of the largest colleges in the south east) and at K College (which has more sites than any other in Kent).
Both offer apprenticeships in Maidstone, Medway, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells – giving you the chance to learn AND earn! - while K’s ‘parent’ Hadlow College still one of the country’s leaders in all things agricultural and horticultural.
A spokesman for K College, which offers a wide range of courses for apprentices in everything from dental nursing to plastering and plumbing, said: “Apprenticeships offer high quality work-based training for young people who want to develop their prospects and career options.” Tuition is funded by the Government (although for apprentices aged 19 and over a portion is paid for by employer) and students generally attend college on a day release basis, gaining experience both on and off ‘the job.’
It’s always a good idea to ‘shop around’ to find the sixth form best suited to your needs.
Although many of the county’s grammar schools are single sex to Year 11, at sixth form girls are admitted to Maidstone (Boys) Grammar School and Oakwood Park, with boys admitted to
Maidstone Girls Grammar School (MGGS) and Invicta Grammar School.
MGGS has been a specialist school for science and maths since 2003, while nearby Maplesden Noakes specialises in business and enterprise and has strong links with the local business community. Swadelands at Lenham is renowned for its sporting prowess, while Invicta draws pupils from a wide area, being a specialist school for business, maths, computing and languages.
In Tonbridge and Malling, the
sixth form at Holmesdale Technology College, Snodland, has doubled in the past year, offering new facilities and an innovative curriculum. As well as offering some core A-level subjects, the College also offers BTEC Level 3 diplomas in business, public services, IT, sport, performing arts and travel and tourism.
If you still have a year to go before deciding on sixth form options, there’s no time like the present to start taking a look around!
Sixth Sixth Ta “an exceptional
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Oakwood Park Grammar School Oakwood Park Maidstone Kent
ME16 8AH 01622 726683
sixthform@opgs.org www.opgs.org
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- Extensive enrichment programme
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open evening Tuesday 11th November 6pm - 9pm
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www.invicta.kent.sch.uk Tel: 01622 755856
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Maidstone Town November 2014 31 2014 - 2015 ve
16+ Open Morning
16+ Open Evening
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