Advice for parents and carers

In Years 8 and 9, students usually choose what they want to study at GCSE, which can affect their options for study post-16. Whilst core subjects (typically English, Maths and Science) are compulsory, students can choose the additional subjects they would like to continue to study.

At this age, students usually pick the subjects they enjoy most; however, as a parent, you can help your child think this decision through carefully to ensure they are not limited later down the line. For example, if they want to go on to study science at a higher level and have the opportunity to take three separate science GCSEs (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), then this may be a good choice.

Your child’s GCSE subjects and results will influence their A level choices, which in turn will affect their options for higher education. Even if they decide not to study at university straight after school, a good set of GCSE qualifications can open doors elsewhere and enhance their career prospects.

In Years 10 and 11, students will also decide which subjects they’d like to study at sixth form/college. The decisions they make here may impact what they can study at university. Generally, university requirements are three A level qualifications, but this may vary depending on the course and the university. BTECs, International Baccalaureate (IB) and vocational qualifications are just a few of the alternative qualifications that can be accepted. If your child is interested in attending a university like the University of Birmingham, then the Informed Choices website may help them with deciding on their sixth form choices.

If you are based in the West Midlands, your child may be eligible to attend events, courses and summer programmes hosted by the University of Birmingham. These experiences, such as the Your Future, Your Choice Year 10 Summer School, are available free of charge and will introduce students to the world of higher education, help them decide on the best route for their future and provide additional support in reaching their academic goals.

In Year 12, most students will take end-of-year exams. The results of these exams will be used by schools and colleges to predict the grades they think the student will achieve at the end of Year 13. Universities will use these predicted grades when deciding whether or not to make an offer of a place. These exams are important for your child's future progression, so encourage them to focus on doing well.

Towards the end of Year 12, schools and colleges will begin to prepare students for their applications to university. There will be plenty of opportunities for your child to hear from university staff at UCAS events, careers fairs and university visits.

Universities also host Open Days for prospective applicants to learn more about the course, the university and student life. Most Open Days feature talks for parents and carers so that you can find out more about the process, how to apply, and the financial support available to your child.

When deciding which university is right for your child, you should encourage them to do independent research. For example, while a course name might be the same, the content and structure of the courses will vary considerably between universities. Online university course pages offer lots of information that will help with this decision, and they include details about the course content, assessment types and graduate employability prospects.