Post-16 Transition

After leaving Trumpington Community College, students must choose whether to: 

• stay in full-time education  

• start an apprenticeship or traineeship 

• spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering while also doing part-time education or training 

Even if a student is confident that they want to apply for an apprenticeship or enter employment, it is important that they have a back up plan, which they have chosen, so that if things do not work out as they hope, they will still have a good level of control over their next steps.  That is why we will expect all students in Year 11 to apply for Post-16 full-time education, and we will support them to do so. 

Apprenticeships 

You can find out more information about apprenticeships by visiting the following websites: 

• AIM Apprenticeships – One of our careers partners provides a Frequently Asked Questions section on their website 

• Cambridge Regional College – Our local Further Education college delivers a range of apprenticeships, with guidance and details of vacancies available on the Apprenticeships section of their website – they also offer Apprenticeship Information Evenings on 16th November at their Cambridge campus and 21st November at their Huntingdon campus 

• GOV.UK Find an Apprenticeship – This government website enables you to search for and apply for a wide range of apprenticeship opportunities 

Full-Time Education 

Year 11 students in Cambridge have an incredibly impressive choice when it comes to what they do after they complete their GCSEs.  While many students will move on to the larger Sixth Form Colleges, Hills Road and Long Road, or the Further Education College, Cambridge Regional College, schools such as Parkside, CAST, Netherhall and Chesterton have Sixth Form provisions, which offer different courses, such as the International Baccalaureate at Parkside Sixth, or T-Levels at CAST.  These school Sixth Forms are also smaller, and may suit students who are not as keen on a large college environment.  We encourage all of our students to consider carefully which setting is most appropriate for them specifically. 

There are 14 Post-16 centres in the Cambridge Area Partnership, offering a range of courses and subjects.   

CAP Post-16 Centres within Cambridge 

CAP Post-16 Centres outside of Cambridge 

Making applications 

• Students can apply to one or more different Post-16 centres using MyChoice16 

• Students make one application, which can contain multiple providers and courses, which will be sent simultaneously to all centres applied to   

• Students must put their choices of Post-16 centre in order of preference when submitting their applications 

• The deadline for applications is 9th January 2024, but all Year 11 students at Trumpington Community College will submit their applications prior to the Christmas holidays 

Entry criteria 

• Entry requirements are the GCSE grades that students must achieve in order to enroll on a particular course and these will vary from provider to provider, and from course to course 

• Students are advised to find information about entry requirements through providers’ prospectuses, websites and open evenings 

Guidance meetings and interviews 

• Some Post-16 centres will ask students to take part in a guidance meeting or interview as part of the application process 

• Each centre will provide this information on their website and prospectus 

• These often take place during the College Day, and students will be supported to access these, as appropriate

• You can access up-to-date information on guidance meeting at all CAP Post-16 settings by clicking here

Offers of places 

• Post-16 centres will make offers at different times 

• Students who apply by 9th January 2024 and then attend their guidance interview will be made an offer by 28th March 2024