What to do after GCSEs - Our GCSE Results day guide

Whether you have achieved above and beyond what you were hoping for, or feel disappointed in your results, you may be wondering what comes after GCSEs. What apprenticeship can you do after GCSEs? What are your options after passing? What are the next steps if you didn’t? Rest assured there will always be an ideal role waiting for you in an industry like construction. We’re going to break down some of the options available to you based on your situation.

I’ve passed some GCSEs including English and Maths

Great news! As you may have been told in school, English and Maths are the two subjects that provide the widest range of opportunities if you pass them. If you’ve passed another subject that you have a particular interest in, you could consider pursuing that further. For example, if you enjoy and have good results in Geography, you could consider a role such as town planning or human resources. If Physics was one of your best subjects, you may be interested in a career in engineering, which you could pursue with an apprenticeship or by completing relevant A Levels and then a university or college course.

I’ve missed out on an English or Maths qualification

Whilst you may feel like you are missing out on opportunities, you can still have a great career ahead of you. Some apprenticeships that have English and Maths as required qualifications may still accept you as a student if you have other attributes such as great work experience, but they will ask for you to retake English and Maths during your studies. Some apprenticeships are designed for those who missed out on English and Maths. They will likely still ask for you to re-attempt the subject, but the apprenticeship may be more suitable for students who prefer mainly learning on the job.

I’ve passed most or all of my subjects but I’m not sure what to do

It is normal to be confused or overwhelmed in this situation because there may be a lot of options available to you. Think about any work experience you have completed during your time in school and whether or not you enjoyed it. If you did, find out more about the career and the paths that can lead you there. There are many roles to choose from in construction, and many articles on Go Construct explaining a range of career opportunities in construction and the best steps to take.

I’ve achieved excellent grades but I don’t know if I want to go to university

Don’t worry, you don’t need to make that decision yet. If you are undecided between university or apprenticeships, you can still pursue A Levels along with your peers who do want to attend university. If you achieve great A Level results but decide not to go to university, it won’t be a wasted effort. There are a great number of apprenticeships, including degree apprenticeships, that have certain A Level results as an entry requirement. 

If university life sounds fun, but you don’t like the idea of more classroom time in lectures, then a degree apprenticeship might be ideal. You will still spend a significant amount of time doing on-site work or shadowing, but the learning portion of your time will be undertaken in a university environment. In many ways, it can be seen as the best of both worlds of apprenticeships and university.

I want to go to university but I don’t know what to study

Again, you don’t need to make this decision just yet. However, the options available at university will be affected by what A Levels you take. You can also reach university by completing an apprenticeship that leads to a degree apprenticeship, but if you achieved good results in GCSEs, then A Levels may be a better way of keeping your options open. If you change your mind in the future and decide to do an apprenticeship instead then A Levels will still serve you well.

I want to work in construction but I’m not sure how to get started

Construction is a great industry to choose! A forecasted 40-50 thousand people per year will be needed in the industry over the next few years. There are a lot of ways to get involved, from foundation apprenticeships to higher apprenticeships, from traineeships to traditional university degrees. Construction doesn’t have to just be on-site roles either. Many degrees can get you into roles in planning, management and business roles in the industry.