Many parents of a 14 to 16 year old home educator ask the same question: what happens at 16? This guide sets out the routes to know about, a way to compare them, and questions to put to colleges and employers. It is written for England. The official pages below were checked on 23 October 2026. This is general information, not legal or careers advice, and it cannot promise a place on any course.
What the official pages say
- Staying in education or training. The GOV.UK page School leaving age says that in England, until 18, a young person must do one of three things: stay in full-time education, such as at a college; start an apprenticeship; or spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering while in part-time education or training. The page does not mention home education, so this article cannot say how it applies to a home-educated young person. If you are unsure, ask your local authority.
- Apprenticeships. The GOV.UK apprenticeships guide says apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. It lists the requirements as being 16 or over, living in England and not in full-time education. Apprenticeships can take from 8 months to 6 years, apprentices are employees earning a wage, and training time is at least 20% of normal working hours. You can apply while still at school. The page does not say how these rules apply to home-educated applicants.
- T Levels. GOV.UK’s Introduction of T Levels (updated 26 January 2026) says they are 2-year courses taken after GCSEs, broadly equivalent in size to 3 A Levels, with an industry placement of at least 315 hours, approximately 45 days. The page states no minimum age or formal entry requirements; it says students work towards maths and English if they have not already achieved grade 4 at GCSE. Ask each provider what it requires.
The main routes at a glance
- School or college sixth form: classroom study, often A levels or similar.
- Further education college: a wide range of courses, academic and practical.
- Apprenticeship: paid work with training.
- T Level: a two-year technical course with an industry placement.
- Traineeship: ask a careers adviser or college whether one is currently offered.
- Work with training: paid or voluntary work plus part-time study.
For how GCSEs and other qualifications fit in, see preparing for external exams and assessment and qualifications.
A five-step method
- Write down what your teenager wants to do next, in their words.
- Match that to a route using the list below.
- Ask providers and employers the questions in the next section.
- Work back from application dates using the timeline.
- Pull everything into a one-page plan.
Step 2: match what you want to a route
Treat this as a starting point for conversations, not a rule. Each line reads: what you want; usual entry route; where to look.
- To keep studying academic subjects; a sixth form or college course; the websites of local schools and colleges.
- To learn a trade or job while earning; an apprenticeship; GOV.UK apprenticeships and the employers themselves.
- To study a technical subject with work experience built in; a T Level; GOV.UK’s T Levels page and provider open events.
- To try work first; a job or volunteering alongside part-time study; local employers and your local authority.
- Still unsure; a broad college course or a conversation with a careers adviser; college open days.
Step 3: questions to ask
Ask a college or employer, and get answers in writing where you can:
- Do you accept applicants who have not been in school, and what evidence do you ask for?
- Are there entry requirements in English and maths, and can private candidate results count?
- Is there an assessment, interview or taster day instead of, or as well as, school references?
- What are the application deadlines, and when are decisions made?
- Who is the right contact for home-educated applicants?
- For apprenticeships: does the employer or training provider treat a home-educated applicant as not in full-time education?
Step 4: a rough timeline
This is advice, not a fixed schedule; dates vary by provider.
- Age 14 to 15: explore interests, visit open events, and start keeping records of learning.
- Autumn of the year before leaving: shortlist routes, ask the questions above, and check deadlines.
- Winter and spring: apply, attend interviews or taster days, and keep a back-up option.
- Summer: confirm exam entries and places, and check start dates.
Step 5: the one-page plan
Fit these headings on one page: goal; first-choice route; back-up route; qualifications needed and how they will be taken; deadlines; who to contact; the next three actions with dates. Review it every term.
A hypothetical example
Hypothetical and illustrative only. Imagine a 15-year-old who enjoys building and repairing things and is weighing a college course against an apprenticeship. Their parent writes both on the one-page plan. For the college, they ask about entry requirements and whether the course needs English and maths results. For the apprenticeship, they ask local employers what they look for and how applications work. They also ask whether being home educated affects eligibility. After a taster day and two employer conversations, they decide which to apply for and keep the other as a back-up. No outcome is implied.
Assumptions
- You live in England and your child is of compulsory school age or close to it.
- Your teenager is able to take part in choosing the route.
- The GOV.UK pages named above are still current when you read this; check the date on each.
Limitations
- This article does not cover Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, where rules differ.
- The official pages do not mention home education in the places cited, so questions about how they apply are best put to your local authority and the provider.
- Entry requirements, funding and deadlines differ between colleges, employers and courses.
- Nothing here guarantees admission or any outcome, and it is not legal advice.
Next step
This week, ask your teenager what they would like to be doing at 17, write it at the top of a blank page, and book one open day or employer conversation. For wider context on the teenage years, read home educating teenagers.