When young people are leaving school there are a range of options available to them:

• Full time employment
• Part time employment
• Apprenticeship
• Internships
• Start a Business
• University Course (Undergraduate level)
• College Course (Highers, Access, NC, HNC, HND Level)                                                                                                                         

Information on all of these options is available through My World of Work and we would encourage you to visit this website with your young person.

Articulation

Our focus at Routes for All is on entry to college at HNC/ HND Level. The reason that we target this entry point specifically is that when an HNC or HND has been awarded to a student they are then eligible to use the articulation route to progress to university. The articulation route is a common route to university level study and takes no longer to reach degree level, than someone who went straight from school to university.

For example Simon and Sarah both leave school at the same time. Simon wishes to go to university to study Business and achieves the grades required to do so. Sarah also wishes to study Business at university but doesn’t achieve the grades to do so. Simon in this examples enters university as a first year, Sarah starts an HNC college course in Business, as her grades did see her meet the minimum entry requirements at this level. 

Sarah completes year 1 (HNC) Simon completes year 1 Business, both are studying at SQA Level 7. They both progress to Level 8 study for Simon this is 2nd year at university for Sarah it is her HND year.

Before the end of the academic year, Sarah applies for university, using the articulation route- she can apply directly to 3rd year entry at university. She is successful and gains a place on the course. Simon also progresses to year 3. (Both are now studying at SQA Level 9).

At the start of the new academic year both Sarah and Simon are in the same university class and they both progress to complete their course and graduate at the same time. The route to the final destination is different but they have both achieved the same outcome and level of qualification.

 

                                

 

An HNC or HND is the qualification which allows this type of progression and it is why the Routes for All team value this level of qualification the most.

Where young people have aimed to apply for an HNC/HND but have missed the entry requirements, they should look to see if they have the entry requirements for NC level and can progress to HNC the following year.

At S4 in school pupils will in the majority sit a mixture of National 4 and National 5 qualifications. Successful completion of a subject at National 5 level allows for progression to Higher (typically S5 or S6 for pupils) completion at Higher Level, can see the Level of Advanced Higher being sat in S6. The young people that we work with at Routes for All will be on track to achieve 1-3 Highers by the end of S6. This may mean that the young person is sitting National 5 level in S5 and will have one year (S6) to achieve a Higher pass.

A combination of subjects being taken at S5 and S6 level can include National 4, National 5, and Higher subjects. (Advanced Higher in S6 only). There is no correct choice of subjects and the path will be determined by the progression and abilities of the young person.

It does happen that late in S5 or S6, a young person makes a decision to study a certain course but then becomes aware that they have not studied a required subject at a required level.

For example a young person decides that they would like to study animation at HNC level but the entry requirements show that they need a Higher pass in Art and Design, but they have not studied this subject since S4. This type of scenario may prove problematic for the young person. Whilst at school, a chat with a careers adviser in school is advised as they will be able to offer provision of next steps, and will be familiar with support arrangements in the school that they are based.

 

 

         

 

Some schools for example may allow for a ‘crash’ Higher to be taken where the young person jumps into the subject with very little prior knowledge or experience. Other schools will strongly advise against this. In hindsight the choosing of subjects to study in the secondary school years, is very influential on the post school choices. We would encourage you to explore your young person strengths and weaknesses when considering which course to choose. We sometimes see an element of comfort and desire in young people choosing to study at "x" college as this is where their friend will study.

Rest assured that there is lots of support offered to young people when the join a college course. Time will be spent in introducing them to their classmates, and they will often become well rounded individuals as they will be part of a diverse student body. The experience at college will prepare them for further study or for the world of employment. An element of the Routes for all programme looks at what the college and university experience is like for students and helps to dispel any myths that exist around what is looks like or means to be a student.

You can find further information on our Useful Resources page