At the age of 16 (the end of year 11 high school) some pupils opt to continue their education through sixth forms and colleges; others decide to join an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is a type of formal education where you will learn a job by actually doing it. Through apprenticeships, you will still gain qualifications yet will also get a wage.

Apprenticeships offer a brilliant way to earn while you learn. They combine real work with training, helping you build skills, gain experience and achieve recognised qualifications across more than 700 career pathways. Open to anyone aged 16 and over living in England, apprenticeships blend on‑the‑job learning with dedicated study time and can lead to exciting next steps — from higher‑level apprenticeships to university or full‑time employment. Explore current opportunities and discover whether an apprenticeship is right for you on GOV.UK.

Benefits of Apprenticeships:

• Earn while you learn with an apprenticeship.

• Start your career with real work, real skills, real qualifications.

• Apprenticeships: your pathway to skills, experience and a future career.

• Build your future through hands‑on learning and paid training.

DfE Apprenticeships Advice

Watch the clip about Zac Norton, an apprenticeship at Mazak engineering in Worcester, to find a little more about what life as an apprentice is like.