Blog

If interest in the curriculum isn’t central, then assessments of ability and future prospects tend to dominate post-16 course choice decision-making, losing the synthesising power of motivation that comes from excitement and inspiration. Dr Nigel Newton reflects on the many tensions this idea contains…

Post-16 tutors use a number of strategies to guide students to find the best course for them but each strategy has its limitations. Could a new, more objective approach be helpful? Whether you’re a tutor helping Year 11s complete their college application forms or…

What with the usual Year 11 stresses at this point in the year, add in pandemic fallout and there is a perfect recipe for worried students. Options can help reduce anxiety and improve their confidence in their choices for the future. GCSE exam preparation, anxiety…

If curriculum knowledge is to be taken seriously, it must figure more importantly in how students are helped to choose their post-16 courses. In this article, I’ll argue that knowledge needs to take more of a centre stage in all aspects of post-16 guidance…

It’s the season for Sixth Form open evenings. One of the most important times of the year in relation to recruitment and helping students choose their post-16 options. Drawing on my experiences as a careers tutor, consultant and post-16 researcher, I offer four important…

A new method to improve retention, identify weak performing courses and push up attainment. What is the cost when a student drops a course they enrolled in post-16? Is poor retention a result of wrong recruitment practices or poor course delivery? I’ve been working…