Sun, August 03, 2025
<h1>16+ Learning Choices - Opportunities for All</h1>

<img width="200" src="/images/uploads/directory/_thumbnail/signposts.jpg">

<p><p>Before you become eligible to leave school around your 16th birthday you will be supported to consider&nbsp;what you might want to do when you leave school and when you might leave.&nbsp; From S4 onwards (some schools collect this information from S3 onwards)&nbsp;you will asked to complete a 16+ planning form which collects information about your anticipated school leaving date, your preferred route and your preferred occupation.&nbsp; Even if you decide to stay on at school for a few more years this information will help schools to support you to explore your future plans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The information will be&nbsp;used to ensure you have support if you need it at the right time and&nbsp;to plan work-related learning activities so that you can learn more about different sectors and jobs.&nbsp;By creating opportunities for you to learn about different routes and jobs it will help you to decide what you might like to do [or not do] when you leave school. Opportunities could include&nbsp;employer talks, career events, workshops, work experience and visits.</p>

<p>Plans for leaving could include:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Getting a job</li>
	<li>Doing a College course (can be Further or Higher Education)</li>
	<li>Going to University (Higher Edcuation)</li>
	<li>Training as a Modern Apprentice or Graduate Apprentice</li>
	<li>A&nbsp;training course to develop or improve employability&nbsp;or other skills</li>
	<li>Other informal learning including personal or social development opportunities</li>
</ul>

<p>You may decide that staying in learning is not for you and you may prefer to:</p>

<ul>
	<li>start up your own business</li>
	<li>take a gap year</li>
	<li>take up a volunteering opportunity</li>
</ul>

<p>The choice is yours.&nbsp;Your school, the Local Authority and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) along with other partners are here to support you with that choice. It is often useful to think about planning well in advance, so that you can make subject choices that will support your plans.</p>

<p>You may not know what you want to do, or you may not get the exam results required for your first choice. Don&rsquo;t worry; you&rsquo;re not alone in this.&nbsp;You can change your mind at any time.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<div>Further information on 16+ Learning Choices is available on this website or&nbsp;:</div>

<div><a href="http://www.highland.gov.uk/info/878/schools/19/school_leavers" onclick="window.open(this.href, '', 'resizable=yes,status=no,location=yes,toolbar=yes,menubar=yes,fullscreen=no,scrollbars=yes,dependent=no'); return false;">Highland Council -&nbsp;Learning Choices</a>&nbsp; or&nbsp;contact your&nbsp;local <a href="http://hi-hope.org/directory/listing/skills-development-scotland/">Skills Development Scotland Office</a></div>

<div>If you have not been attending school, have recently returned to the area or are new to the area get in touch for further information.</div></p>

<h2>Further Information and Contact Details</h2>
<P><strong>Street Address:</strong> 
		16+ Learning Choices, Care & Learning, Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX
		</p>
		
				<p><strong>Telephone:</strong>			 	07818588253</p>

		

		

		

					<p><strong>Email:</strong> <a href="mailto:ann.gillies3@highland.gov.uk">ann.gillies3@highland.gov.uk</a></p>

					<p><strong>Website:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hi-hope.org/information">www.hi-hope.org/information</a></p>