Not every strong future starts with a degree — and at Carshalton Boys Sixth Form, routes that begin with an apprenticeship, a job, a structured gap year or a period of purposeful volunteering are given exactly the same weight, the same preparation and the same celebration as a university offer. We treat professionalism as the thread that runs through every one of these pathways: the standards, conduct and application rigour a student builds here are the same whether they are heading to a boardroom, a barracks or a building site.

This is a genuine alternative, not a fallback. Some of our proudest outcomes are degree-level apprenticeships with Deloitte, Dyson and the Metropolitan Police — routes that combine a salary, a recognised qualification and a career, without the cost of a degree.

EQUAL WEIGHT, EQUAL RIGOUR - Six routes, one standard of preparation

Whichever of these a student chooses, they receive the same standard of guidance, application support and follow-through as any UCAS applicant.

 

🎓	Degree & Higher Apprenticeships Level 4–7 apprenticeships combining paid employment with a recognised qualification, up to and including full honours degrees. Recent leavers have secured places with Deloitte, Dyson, the Metropolitan Police, the Atomic Weapons Establishment and FSD Electricals.

💼	Skilled Employment Direct entry into skilled roles with structured training, progression routes and professional accreditation, supported by CV building, interview preparation and employer introductions through our partner network.

🎖️	Armed Services Guidance and application support for the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and related officer and technical entry routes, including fitness preparation, assessment centre practice and careers-in-uniform employer visits.

🌍	Structured Gap Year A gap year built around a clear plan, not a pause — deferred university entry, paid work to build savings and experience, or a structured international volunteering placement, each mapped out and supported before a student leaves us.

🛠️	Internships & Work-Based Learning Sector-specific internships and extended work placements that build a professional track record ahead of an apprenticeship, degree or job application, drawing on our network of 100+ employer partners.

🤝	Volunteering Structured, sustained volunteering — locally or internationally — framed and evidenced as professional experience: building references, transferable skills and the kind of track record that strengthens any future application.

HOW WE PREPARE EVERY APPLICANT - Professional standards, whatever the destination

For every route

• One-to-one guidance to research options, entry requirements and realistic timelines for each pathway.

• CV, cover letter and application support tailored to employer, apprenticeship or forces application formats.

• Interview and assessment centre preparation, including psychometric testing practice where relevant.

• A professional reference drawing on academic, pastoral and enrichment evidence, in the same way as a UCAS reference.

Sustained follow-through

• Every leaver on a non-university route is tracked to a confirmed, positive destination — not simply an application submitted.

• Guidance continues past the summer for students awaiting apprenticeship start dates, forces entry dates or gap year placements.

Careers Leader: pcowell@carshaltonboys.org