This document provides guidance to second year A-Level students on planning their future paths. It instructs students to watch a video presentation on their options, research universities, apprenticeships, gap years and careers, and document their findings. Students are then asked to map out two pathways - one definite and one alternative option - to achieve their goals by detailing the steps, advantages, challenges, and deadlines involved. The purpose is to help students develop clear objectives and plans to make their goals achievable with the support of their personal tutors and relevant organizations.

2. “AS a second year A-Level student, we hope that you’‛ve already
started to give your future some thought, and more importantly,
that you’‛ve started to look into all the routes available to you -
to achieve your goals. Within the next few PDP sessions, with
the help of a Video Presentation we’‛ve produced, as well as with
the help of your Personal Tutor, and of course Student Services,
it’‛s time to put your plans down onto paper...and to become
SMART...think of it like this, do you know all the steps you’‛re
going to have to take to achieve your goals???”
“SO the next steps you need to take are:
FIRSTLY watch the video presentation on all your options
SECONDLY make notes below and start researching your future, so you
can discuss your options with your Personal Tutor, and...
THIRDLY – this comes a little later in process, plan the path which will
allow you to achieve your goals...”
ANY NOTES FROM THE VIDEO PRESENTATION:

3. “Once you’‛ve watched the Video Presentation you need to begin
your research into HOW you are going to get to where it is you
want to be. Whether this is University, a Gap Year, an
Apprenticeship, or pursuing a Career through work based
learning. Your research needs to be documented, by completing
the boxes below...”
UNIVERSITY:
WHY UNIVERSITY?
WHICH UNIVERSITY?
THE ADVANTAGES
ANY CHALLENGES, AND HOW YOU’‛LL OVERCOME THEM?
WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE MY APPLICATION MORE
APPEALING TO THE ADMISSIONS TUTOR?
ANY ORGANISATIONS, I NEED TO CONTACT:

4. A GAP YEAR:
WHY A GAP ‘YEAR’‛?
WHAT SKILLS WILL I DEVELOP WHILST ON THIS GAP
YEAR?
HOW DOES IT TIE INTO MY ULTIMATE PLAN?
IS THERE ANY ORGANISATIONS OUT THERE THAT CAN
HELP ME?
WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL CHALLENGES I’‛D HAVE TO
OVERCOME?
Visit www.real.gap.co.uk (for some brilliant information...)
AN APPRENTICESHIP:
WHY AN APPRENTICESHIP?
WITH WHICH COMPANY?
ANY CHALLENGES, AND HOW THEY’‛LL BE OVERCOME?
Visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk (for some brilliant information...)

5. A CAREER – (WHILST LEARNING ON THE ‘JOB’‛)
WHY THIS ROUTE?
WHICH EMPLOYER, AND WHY?
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES, AND HOW WILL I OVERCOME
THEM?
WHAT SKILLS WILL I DEVELOP?
“Now you’‛ve researched the four options, it’‛s time to get a little
more specific, and for YOU to actually map out how you are
going to achieve your goals. It’‛s really important that you have
one definite option, so e.g., studying at University, and also a
second option, for example teaching English on a Gap Year whilst
abroad. What you’‛ll need to now do is complete the two
pathways or flowcharts on the next two pages detailing how you
are going to achieve your goals, you’‛ll then discuss this on a one
to one basis with your personal tutor...Good Luck!!!!”
Pathways this way...

6. Which Option?
What are the advantages of this choice?
More specifically which university,
apprenticeship etc..., and why?
How will overcome any challenges I may be
presented with?
What do I need to do to make this happen?
E.g., Personal Statement, CV, Voluntary
Experience...?
What are the deadlines I need to meet?
Which organisations do I need to get in
touch with to help me achieve this goal?

7. Which Option?
What are the advantages of this choice?
More specifically which university,
apprenticeship etc..., and why?
How will overcome any challenges I may be
presented with?
What do I need to do to make this happen?
E.g., Personal Statement, CV, Voluntary
Experience...?
What are the deadlines I need to meet?
Which organisations do I need to get in
touch with to help me achieve this goal?

8. “We hope that the completion of your
pathways has provided you with the clear
objectives YOU are going to have to meet
to make your goals achievable, whether this
is the completion of a Personal Statement,
a CV, a Covering Letter, or making other
enquiries with employers, gap year
organisations...more importantly we hope
you now know how you can overcome any
challenges you may be presented with, and
the organisations who are available to help
you make these targets achievable”
- Team PDP -