Discover Your
Year 11 Timeline
September 2025
Think
Think about what you want to do after your GCSEs.
Discuss
Discuss your subject/career interests with a careers adviser as well as people who know you well, e.g. teacher or parent/carer. They can help you think about your skills and how you best learn.
Research
Start researching your preferred options and make a note of upcoming open
Apply
Apply to at least three schools and/or colleges. Complete your applications as soon as possible as spaces fill up very quickly.
Don't Forget
Don’t forget that colleges and schools have application deadlines so it’s very important not to miss these otherwise you may not be considered in the first round.
Keep a record
Keep a record of where you have
applied to, the courses you have
applied for and when you submitted your applications.
Thinking about starting
an apprenticeship?
Now is a good time to research the different apprenticeships available. Also make sure your CV is up to date.
Get your references ready
You will need to provide a
reference – think about who in your school you can ask to do this.
Half Term Break
Use the half term break to assess your situation. Have you attended any open events? How many applications have you sent? If you haven’t sent any applications yet, do it now!
November 2025
More open events
and
applications
Continue attending open events and submitting applications.
December 2025
Interviews
Start preparing for your interviews.
End of term
The end of term is the ideal time
to have submitted all of your applications.
January 2026
Interviews start
Interviews usually start this month. These give schools, colleges and employers an opportunity to find out more about you.
Apply now for
apprenticeships &
traineeships
Start making applications for apprenticeships and traineeships.
February 2026
Follow up applications
If you haven’t heard back from
any schools or colleges you have applied to, contact them and find out what is happening with your application.
Funding
You might be entitled to money that can support you while you study or complete your apprenticeship – this is called a 16-19 Bursary Fund.
Before Easter holiday
Have you heard back?
If you haven’t heard back with offers of a place and/or attended any interviews, contact the schools or colleges you have applied to.
It's not too late
If you haven’t made any applications, you can still submit them. Make sure to follow up your application.
After Easter holiday
Remember!
If you are looking for an apprenticeship or traineeship, now is the time to keep on top of this!
Did you know?
If you are in Year 11, your official last day of school is the last Friday in June. Only after this date can you start working full-time or start an apprenticeship.