We offer one of the largest ranges of subject options in Lancashire split across four different pathways:
Whether you have your sights set on a specific career or are ready to take on a new challenge, we have a course to spark your imagination and support your ambition.
At Burnley College we want to make sure you have all the information you need to make crucial decisions about your future and stand out from the crowd.
Our friendly School Liaison Team is here to offer you independent advice and guidance – they won’t push you down a certain route after GCSEs or insist you come to Burnley College (although we hope that you’ll share our vision for your future!)
They can offer you individual support and work with you over weeks or months – however long it takes for you to decide on your next steps.
As you make your post-GCSE choices, they’re right by your side, supporting you every step of the way with advice and guidance on:
You can ask them anything! They’ll have the answers you need.
Whether you want to progress to university or you’re considering your career, our Careers Team are here to offer the advice and guidance you need.
They can help with:
You can also find information on every course which shows the types of careers that you could progress onto to help you decide
If you have the passion, determination and are willing to work hard, you have multiple options available to you.
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There are four main pathways you can take – A Levels/V Levels, Vocational, T Levels or a Themis Apprenticeship.
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A Levels/V Levels provide you with an excellent academic foundation to take you on to university-level study and a successful career. You will choose three or four subjects to study, and will be assessed mostly by exams.
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Vocational qualifications offer more coursework-based learning, a range of hands-on activities and fewer exams. You will specialise in one subject area and your course will last from one to four years depending on the level of qualification you are studying for.
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T Levels are the most recent addition to the world of further education. You’ll gain you’ll in-depth academic and theoretical knowledge while studying with expert tutors in college, before heading out into industry for a minimum of 315 hours of work placement to put your skills into practice. You will specialise in one subject area and your course will last for two years.
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Apprenticeships allow you to combine work and study, with a mixture of on-the-job training and classroom learning. They are a great way to earn while you learn and will last two to four years depending on the apprenticeship.
You can apply to three different courses.
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If you apply to more than three courses and they are very different from one another you may be contacted by our friendly School Liaison Team, who will help you to explore your options and find a pathway that most suits your goals.
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ answer for this question.
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It depends on lots of things including what your career aspirations are, what exam results you are predicted and the ones you go on to achieve and, most importantly, how you like to study.
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It’s always best to get personalised advice on potential pathways and we have that available for you all year round.
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Talk to our expert, approachable and friendly School Liaison Team all year today.
No. This is a myth. Many of our technical courses, such as Vocational and T Levels, will reward you with the same number of UCAS Points as 3 A Levels - which is plenty to get into university.
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Every university is different, so make sure you check their entry requirements in advance. Our School Liaison Team will be able to help.
At Burnley College, you’ll need to choose either A Levels or a Vocational course - not both.
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If you do have any questions, speak to the School Liaison Team as they can help explain your options and look into whether or not taking one A Level alongside a Vocational course is possible.
You can apply from September onwards in Year 11. Your school will probably encourage you to apply for college before your Christmas break.
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This means you can focus on your GCSEs when you return in the new year.
If you’re not able to secure an employer, you will be enrolled onto a relevant full-time college course which starts in September while you continue to search for an employer with support from the Themis team. You can contact them if you have any questions:
apprenticeships@themis.ac.uk | 01282 733005
We work with different employers who will support you on your placement. If you have an employer in mind, speak to your tutors.
There is the option to change your course(s) within the first 2-3 weeks of term in September.
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We advise speaking to the Careers Team and your tutors as soon as possible so that we can make this happen.
Yes. If you are away for Enrolment Day, you will need to let us know. Once you are back, you should come to college as soon as possible to enrol.
Your timetable will differ depending on the subject/level and pathway that you take. In most cases you can be sure that your timetable will be Monday to Friday.
Yes, although some courses do require a uniform. Financial support may be available to help with uniform costs - speak to your tutor(s) for more information.
There are lots of communal spaces to spend time with friends in, as well as cafés and the Refectory for lunch and snacks.
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You can get involved in our exciting Enrichment activities or use our Learning Zones to revise, complete work or prepare for your next class.
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The town centre is also only a 10 minute walk away with lots of shops and food outlets.
To help make the important transition to college a smooth process, we’ve created a series of exciting resources to help you delve into the subjects you love.
If you are currently a Year 10 or Year 11 pupil at high school, this section is for you.
We have a range of resources available to help you discover your next steps – from skills-based, subject- focused activities right through to applying for college.
We understand that taking the next step from school to college can be both exciting and scary – that’s why we’ve created subject-specific resources to give you a taste of what you can expect from our courses.
Select the subject(s) you want to know more about, download the programme pack(s) and get ready to throw yourself into Burnley College life.
Open Evenings
Open Evenings are the perfect opportunity to explore the options available to you at Burnley College:
You can also join us at our Apprenticeship focused event (the Themis Careers Event) every January, where you can meet potential employers and show that you’ve got what it takes to be a successful apprentice.
Applications
You can apply from September onwards in Year 11.
We advise applying before the end of March, so that you can focus on your revision and GCSE exams.
Interviews
Depending on your chosen course(s), you may be invited into college for an interview.
This is nothing to worry about, it’s an opportunity for us to learn more about your interests and ambitions, and for you to ask any questions you might have about the course(s) you’ve applied for.
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Applicant Preview Day
If you’ve applied to Burnley College, you will be invited to Applicant Preview Day in late June. This is your opportunity to experience life as a Burnley College student – experience subject taster sessions, meet tutors and future classmates, and explore our exciting enrichment activities.
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GCSE Results Day & EnrolmentÂ
Once you receive your GCSE results from your school, you are ready to enrol at Burnley College.
If your grades are different than you expected, please don’t worry.
Make sure you attend enrolment during the time slot you are given and talk to our friendly, experienced School Liaison Team who will discuss your options with you.
We have put together some handy tips to help you power through the exam season and succeed in your GCSE exams.
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Get started on revision now so that it becomes a habit.
Create a revision timetable so you have a visual reference and not just a mental one.
Start with the goal and work backwards to create your plan.
Eat well as food is fuel.
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Stop using your phone an hour before bed.
Unwind using one of the many free mindfulness guides on YouTube.
Celebrate your achievements and reward yourself.
Collect past exam scripts and exemplar work so you can measure your responses and answers.
Explain to someone else how you would tackle each question.
Share what you have learned with your family and friends.
Spend time outdoors with family and friends.
A CV is an important document that will be expected at almost every job interview you go to.
It is particularly important to consider if you are looking to undertake a Themis Apprenticeship once you leave school.
The resources below have been designed to aid you in creating a compelling CV.
If you would like a member of the School Liaison Team to assist you in writing one, please get in touch.
When applying for any job, you are likely to be interviewed.Â
The resources below have been designed to help you answer interview questions confidently.
If you would like a member of the School Liaison Team to assist you in preparing for an interview, please get in touch.
If you are currently in Year 7, Year 8 or Year 9, this section is for you.
We have a range of resources available to help you discover the options available to you at college, as well as things you can be doing now to prepare you for your next steps after GCSEs.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECTS?
Do you love English or Science? Is PE or Art the best part of the week? Why do you like these subjects?
Do you like to:
Your answers could help you decide what you’d like to study at GCSE.
They may also give you ideas for a future career.
SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CHOOSING YOUR GCSEs
Whether you are still deciding, or you already know what career you want, here are some things to consider when choosing your GCSEs:
These are important decisions and there are people to help you.
Talk to your parents/guardians, your school Careers Advisor and get in touch with our friendly School Liaison Team:
Our Open Evenings are the perfect opportunity to discover more about our wide range of A Levels, Vocational Courses, Apprenticeships and T Levels.
Talk to our expert Tutors, Students and Advice and Guidance experts.
