For parents and caregivers: helping your child to make their Level 3 qualification choices

It can be overwhelming for students when they choose their A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers, or other post-16 qualifications, especially as may affect the options available to them at university and in the jobs market. This guide will help you to support your child in making informed choices that are right for them.

Plan ahead

Some university degrees and apprenticeships have mandatory or recommended entry requirements. Medical degrees, for example, often need biology and chemistry at A level, and some universities will only accept certain T level subjects for certain degree programmes.

Encourage your child to see if there are any required or recommended qualifications for the degrees or careers they may be interested in, but keep in mind that they might not be able to study all of the subjects they want to – for example, if their school or college timetable schedules computer science and economics classes at the same time, your child will need to choose one or the other, and while many colleges in England will offer A levels, it may be harder to find a local college that offers T levels.

Ask the experts

Encourage your child to talk to teachers and careers advisers to find out what a Level 3 course will actually be like. A subject may sound really interesting, but turn out not to be what your child had in mind. Studying for an A level in PE, for example, is often less about playing sport and much more about the science of sport. 

Most schools offer an ‘options evening’, where you and your child can talk to teachers about their subject. Creating a list of questions to ask in advance will help to make sure you both get a fuller picture of what the options entail. You could ask how the qualification is assessed, what the workload is like, and what topics will be covered. If your child wants to study a T level, find out whether a placement has already been agreed with an employer, and what it will entail. Make sure your child reads through the syllabuses of subjects they're considering before attending these events, so they can find out more about them. 

If possible, talk to students who are currently taking the course your child is considering. Asking older students what they like and dislike about the course, and if it is what they expected, could provide your child with helpful information as they make their decision. 

Your child will likely have a good idea of their strengths and preferred learning style, so be sure to ask them how they think they will find the courses based on their skills, knowledge, and interests.
 

Keep an open mind

As a parent or caregiver, you might be concerned about making sure that your child has ‘good’ job prospects. This may lead to families encouraging students to choose more familiar or traditional subjects and qualifications. However, students should choose options that they enjoy and that they believe they can do well in. All Level 3 courses are challenging, and it is difficult to motivate yourself to do something that you don’t enjoy for two years!

The job market is constantly changing and subjects that may not have seemed relevant or even existed in the past could be the pathway to the future. Give your child space to pursue their passions – it will pay off in the long run!
 

Remember who this is for

It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement and encourage children to choose subjects that you wish you had taken or that you think would be best for them. While it might seem helpful, in the long term they may end up having to take more courses to get into the job, apprenticeship, or university they want to because they haven’t built the right skillset or knowledge base.

Be there as a sounding board for your child rather than a decision maker, and try to be open to all their ideas even if they aren’t what you would choose for yourself.

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