Help You Choose
For Parents and Carers
Student Choices at 13 or 14
• In Year 8 or 9 students need to make
decisions about some of the courses and
qualifications that they will study in Years 10
and 11
• What they choose now may affect their
options at 16 and beyond
Student Choices at 16
• Continue education at Sixth Form or College
• Learn and earn at the same time through an
Apprenticeship
• Employment with Accredited Training
Choices at 16 – What to Study
If students decide to stay in education they will
need to make decisions on:
– What subjects to study
– What qualifications to aim for
– Where to study
Students need to think ahead! ‘What do you
want to do at age 18?’
What is Help You Choose?
• Norfolk’s careers information, advice and
opportunities website for young people, parents
and carers
• Prospectus of courses, training and jobs in Norfolk
• Prepare and submit online applications
• Information and advice on choosing options
• The website address is: www.helpyouchoose.org
The Help You Choose Homepage
How to Search
• Click the 6th Form & College Courses Button
How to Search
• Use the search options to find the specific courses
you want
Search Results
Click a course to find out more about it.
How to Register on Help You Choose
Click on the register button at the top of the
homepage
How to Register
• Complete the first screen of information
including their UPN (Unique Pupil Number)
which will be given out by the school
• Have an email account to complete the
registration process
• Set up a username, password and security
which should be kept confidential
My Account
All students have a ‘My Account’ area in Help
You Choose where they can:
• Complete information which will then pre-fill
their online application forms
• Complete the ‘My Career Plan’ to help them
achieve their career goals
• Check the Status of their applications
Applying Online
All students should apply online on Help You
Choose for post 16 courses. If they have
completed ‘My Account’ area they will only
have a few additional questions to complete
on their form.
Why Apply Online?
• All the learning options are all in one place
• Young people can apply to multiple providers
• They will receive emails to keep them up-todate with the progress of their applications
What Happens After Applying?
1. The student gets an Email Receipt to confirm
their application’s been sent
2. They’ll then get an Email Acknowledgement
from each sixth form and college when they start
processing the application
3. Some sixth forms and colleges then contact the
student to arrange an Advice Interview
Help You Choose ‘Info & Advice’
If your children are unsure about what to do next or need
more information on their options, make sure you visit the Info
& Advice section of Help You Choose.
There you can find out more about:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Qualifications
Training options
Careers
Jobseeking
Higher Education
Financial help
Info & Advice
Apprenticeships Norfolk
If your child is interested in an Apprenticeship they should
click on the Apprenticeships, Jobs and Training tab to find
details of vacancies available across Norfolk.
Apprenticeships Norfolk
The Apprenticeships Norfolk website contains a lot of useful
information about Apprenticeships and can be found at
https://www.apprenticeshipsnorfolk.org/
National Apprenticeships Website
Young people can also register for apprenticeship vacancies
at www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
Where to get Support
• Careers teachers or subject teachers
• Form or year tutors
• Staff at the college or sixth form your child wants to
go to
• Staff at training providers who organise work-based
learning including apprenticeships
• Your child’s mentor
• Guidance/Careers Adviser
National Careers Service
• The National Careers Service provides
information, advice and guidance to help with
making decisions on learning, training and
work opportunities
• The service offers confidential, helpful and
impartial advice, supported by qualified
careers advisers
• The website can be accessed from the
homepage of Help You Choose
National Careers Service Homepage
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
Year 8s & 9s – Things to Do
• Use the careers resources at school to find out
more about their career ideas
• Look at the Help You Choose website and
other websites to get useful information and ideas
• Read the information from school about options
• Understand what subjects they have to do in Years
10 and 11 at school
• Know what optional subjects they can do at school
• Talk choices over with them and with their teachers
Year 11s – What to Do in Autumn Term
• Look at Help You Choose and complete ‘My
Account’
• Shortlist courses
• Go to Open Days and Events
• Check if they can get financial help while they study
• Check when the application needs to be done by
• Think about a back up plan
• Complete an online application form on Help You
Choose and send it off
If you have a question about the Help You
Choose website you can contact the helpdesk:
Help You Choose Helpdesk
0344 800 8022
[email protected]