Making the right decisions about education and training will have an impact on your child’s career options later.

We have some advice to help you to support your child with their choices​.

• It is good to know the subjects your son/daughter will be choosing from in year 8 or 9 when they choose what they want to study in years 10 and 11. For most students in the UK there is a mandatory set of subjects that all students must take e.g. Maths, English and Science and a set of subjects they can choose to study or not.
   
• Discussing alternative options for higher education such as apprenticeships or school leaver schemes can open up a world of possibilities for your child.
   
• Make use of the careers adviser at your child’s school/college. Encourage them to make an appointment or ask if you can book one at a parents evening.
   
• Talk to your child about careers. Find out what they know about the options available to them and whether they know what they need to do to be able to follow that path.
   
• Taking an online careers test could be a good way to open a conversation about careers and explore some of the results.
   
• Find out what open days or careers fairs are in your area. They can be a great way to explore options and talk to industry representatives about their careers.