Post 16 applications and enrolment – a timeline for students and parents
To assist Year 11 families with what to expect over the coming year, please see a guide to the sequence of events and stages below. Please note this is a general overview and some provisions may vary slightly.
Autumn Term (September to December)
- Research options: Explore courses, providers, and career pathways.
- Attend open events: Visit colleges and sixth forms to gather information.
- Start applications: Begin completing application forms for chosen providers. Avoid only applying to one provision. Have different plans for different outcomes and a possible change of plan. Search providers
Spring Term (January to March)
- Submit applications: Most providers have deadlines between early January and March. This will either be via Kent Choices (logins will be distributed by provision), Applicaa (link to application via provision website) or via their own application form on website.
- Sixth form guidance meetings and offers: Some providers may require applicants to attend a meeting or interview prior to making offers, some may send offers without requiring a meeting. At this stage it is likely that all offers will be conditional offers.
- Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs): Exams taken prior to final exams, students can practice exam technique and timing, as well as assessing where they have gaps and areas of future focus.
Summer Term (April to July)
- Confirm your choices: Accept offers. If you can, accept as many offers as possible to allow for any change in circumstance. Providers expect a proportion of applicants to accept places elsewhere and not take up a place at their provision.
- GCSE exams: Focus on achieving required grades, especially in English and Maths.
- Transition support: Attend taster days or transition sessions that send out invitations.
Summer Holidays (August)
- GCSE Results Day (Mid August): Collect your results.
- Enrolment: Attend enrolment meeting with your chosen provider. This can be in person or online. If you are on holiday on results day, please notify the provisions you have applied to in advance and check if they have alternative enrolment options.
September - Start of term
- Begin your post-16 course.