Useful Websites

This website provides all the information you need to get started on the road into Higher Education.

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA offers a range of qualifications and services, including GCSE, GCE, GNVQ, VCE and Entry Level, in a wide range of centres across the country.

Careers gateway

A careers service that provides confidential advice, support and information via telephone, email, webchat for everyone aged between 13 and 19.

Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth Isle of
Wight Business Plan & Delivery Plan

The Department for Education and Skills was established with the purpose of creating opportunity, releasing potential and achieving excellence for all.

14-19: Education and Skills
14-19: opportunity and excellence
14-19: extending opportunities raising

DfES - lists external qualifications that the Secretary of State has approved

An awarding body that helps to deliver education and training programmes to learners. They reward achievement in both vocational and general education.

Education Maintenance Allowances can give you up to £30 a week to help you get more qualifications or vocational skills after 16.

Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19.

This guidance provides up-to-date support for teaching gifted and talented pupils and students. It aims to help schools and colleges develop an inclusive curriculum by giving information and advice.

Isle of Wight Council website

Details of hundreds of courses.

Learning and Skills Council - is responsible for planning and funding high quality education and training for everyone in England other than those in universities.

The Learning and Skills Development Agency is a strategic national resource for the development of policy and practice in post-16 education and training.

The site aims to help teachers teach the National Curriculum for England. It links every National Curriculum programme of study requirement to high-quality, relevant teaching resources, including QCA/DfES scheme of work units and QCA exemplification.

An Awarding body that helps to develop and provide a range of general and vocational qualifications.

Ofsted is a non-ministerial government department whose main aim is to help improve the quality and standards of education and childcare through independent inspection and regulation.

Performance figures for qualifications (point scores and contributions to threshold percentages) OpenQUALS is changing to "National Database of Accredited Qualifications".

The Parent Centre
• Support, information and advice for Parents

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is a guardian of standards in education and training. They work with others to maintain and develop the school curriculum and associated assessments, and to accredit and monitor qualifications in schools, colleges and at work.

National Bureau for Students with Disabilities: - a national charity promoting opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment

UCAS is the UK central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to full-time first degrees, HNDs and university diplomas.