What

Different subjects and qualifications fit together to make a learning route. Each route prepares you for a number of options throughout your learning and beyond. There are some subjects and skills that all young people have to take, whatever route they follow, and these are designed to help you enter the world of work. Learning routes are sometimes called learning pathways because following one route can be like following a path to a certain destination.

Eventually there will be 3 main learning routes in Years 10 and 11, then a 4th learning route at the age of 16. However, at the moment there are lots of courses available that do not yet fit into these learning routes. This is because the learning routes are new and it will take time for all the different qualifications available to fit into them. Many of your teachers and support workers won't yet be familiar with learning routes. If you look at 'Other Courses' you will see qualifications that do not yet fit, but this does not mean they are not high quality qualifications.

All routes are equally valuable and will lead you through the qualification levels. The important thing is to find the route that is right for you. It is often possible to combine elements of one learning route with another so some young people might take mostly GCSEs but also choose a 14-19 Diploma. However, choosing the right match depends first on what is right for you and second on what is available in your school or wider area. Learning routes are also designed flexibly so you can switch to a different route at the end of your current route.

It will take until 2013 before all courses and qualifications are organised within the 3 learning routes at Years 10 and 11 and 4 learning routes after 16. At this time you should be able to choose whatever courses are right for you and follow that learning route or combination of routes. But this does not mean there aren't choices available to you now. There will be lots of courses at your own school and you will probably find some that are organised with other learning providers. For example, you may spend one day every week at another school or college.

You will receive help with your choices at school from your teachers and you can find out more at options evenings. You can also organise an appointment with your Connexions Personal Adviser if you would like to talk things through on your own or with your parents. Connexions PAs can also help you if you are not in school, just contact your local Connexions centre. Check out the 'links' on this page if you want to do some more research on your own.

In Years 10 and 11 there is a mixture of courses that you have to take (compulsory subjects) and courses that you can choose to take (optional subjects). This is to make sure that you have an element of choice over what you study so you can pick things you want to do, but also that you can't cut yourself off from important subjects and skills that you will need in later life. However, in any learning route there are some subjects everyone has to take such as English, Maths, Science, Functional Skills and Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS).

Through each learning route you will achieve a number of different qualifications, for instance GCSEs and/or 14-19 Diploma qualifications or lots of smaller qualifications from a Foundation Learning (FL) route. You may have both FL and GCSE qualifications, or perhaps an NVQ from a Young Apprenticeship. All qualifications belong to different 'levels' which means if two qualifications have different names but are on the same level they are of the same value. It is important to understand qualification levels.

One way of making sense of of the many qualifications available is to look at what they teach you and how much they relate to the world of work.

1. General/Academic qualifications are broad areas of study showing you have achieved a certain educational standard (eg, GCSE, A Level).

2. Vocational/Applied/Work-relatedqualifications focus on practical skills (BTEC, NVQ and others).

3. Occupational qualifications are related to specific jobs and show that you have reached a certain standard.

Also in this last group are Skills-based qualifications at Entry Level and Level 1 which demonstrate that you have mastered the basics such as reading, writing, using number and using a computer.

The Young Apprenticeship Programme is a work-related programme which gives young people the opportunity to spend up to 2 days per week on a work placement. You would study towards a level 2 qualification and gain lots of experience and skills connected with an area of work eg, Sports Management, Business and Administration or Hospitality to name just three. However, you will need to check out YAs carefully to see what is available in your area and - if they are - whether you would be eligible to apply for one.

By grouping all qualifications in levels people can understand how much a qualification is worth and what you need to achieve to move up to the next level. There are nine qualification levels but you will normally only take courses up to level 3 between the ages of 14-19. As an example you will normally need to reach level 2 (eg, 5 GCSEs grades A*-C) to go on to take level 3 qualifications (eg, A levels, Advanced Diploma or Apprenticeship). Equally you would normally need to be at level 1 to take GCSEs. Have a look at the Qualifications section in Need Help to find out more about the different levels.