What is it?
The Young Apprenticeship (YA) programme is a challenging and exciting new opportunity for able, well-motivated 14-16 year old students, with a passion to develop their understanding and skills in a range of different sectors.

For Year 9 students, about to make their option / pathways choices we are offering 4 sectors within our YA programme:

Performing Arts
We have run this YA for the last 3 years. The Performing Arts YA provides a unique insight for Year 10 and Year 11 students into the Performing Arts business by incorporating real work experience and enabling students to specialise in one of three strands: Acting, Dance or Production.

We work closely with the Sector Skills Council for the Performing Arts industry (Creative and Cultural Skills).

Health & Social Care
For those interested in developing skills and knowledge relevant to the Social Care, Health Care and Children’s Care and Development sub-sectors of the Health & Social Care industry.

Possible Career aspirations - Nursing, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Doctors, Paramedics, Midwifes, Speech Therapist, Care Professional.

Retail
For those interested in developing the skills relevant to the Retail industry including Customer care, logistics, information technology, administration, buying and merchandising. This sector is incredibly diverse and one of the largest employers in the UK.

Possible Career aspirations - Retail Manager, Showroom designer, Sales Professional, visual merchandiser, logistic manager, e-commerce manager, Marketing.

The Sector Skills Council for the Retail industry (Skillsmart Retail) has a very good section of their website dedicated to Careers in the sector.

Sports Leadership, Coaching and Management.
For those interested in developing their skills in the Sports and Leisure industry. This includes sport, recreation, health & fitness, the outdoors and sports education & training.

Possible Career aspirations - Physiotherapist, Dietician, Leisure Centre Manager, Sports Development Officer, Advanced Coach, Sport Scientist, Professional Sports Person, Teacher.

The Sector Skills Council for the Sports and Leisure industry (SkillsActive) has a very good sector of their website dedicated to Careers in the sector.

Getting on...
The entry requirements other than genuine interest in the specific YA sector are combined SATs levels (from teacher predictions) in English, Maths and Science of at least 14 points [i.e. English 5, Maths 5, Science 5 = 15 points], above average behaviour and above average attendance.

The Young Apprenticeship programme provides an excellent springboard for a range of post 16 opportunities including BTEC Nationals, A levels, Advanced Apprenticeships and even directly into the world of work with training.

Each programme incorporates a BTEC First Diploma qualification – worth the equivalent of four GCSEs at grades A*-C. See here for more details.

What else do I need to know?
Places are strictly limited with 130 places available across the 4 sectors.

We will be offering all sectors to schools who are accessing provision on a Thursday which incudes all of the OpenOpportunity schools:

CNS Earlham Framingham Earl The Hewett School Notre Dame High School

and those from the All Routes Partnership:

Attleborough High School Hethersett High School Old Buckenham High School Wymondham High School Wymondham College

Additionally we are also offering all sectors to schools who are accessing provision on a Tuesday which incudes schools from other parts of Norwich and Norfolk including:

The Blyth Jex School (North Norwich) Costessey High School (Wensum) Hellesdon High School (Wensum) Archbishop Sancroft High School (Area 13) Heartsease High School (North Norwich) Hobart High School (Area 13) Long Stratton High School (Area 13) Sprowston High School (North Norwich) Taverham High School (Wensum) Thorpe St Andrew High School (North Norwich) Wayland High School (Western Learning)

Eligible students will be considered purely on merit and the selection process will involve a formal interview and/or audition. There will be an opportunity for students and parents to attend information briefings and for students to take part in taster sessions.

Each YA will be delivered by City College Norwich and school partners using the best specialist facilities and staff. The Sport YA will be delivered in conjunction with CCN and Easton College - at Easton College.

We are also delighted to be able to work with colleagues from other schools and a wide range of employment partners. The relevant Sector Skills Councils have also endorsed our plans and support our YA programmes.

The Young Apprenticeship provides experiences and opportunities not available elsewhere though requires a high degree of commitment. Activities may be scheduled outside of traditional term times. Real work experience – personalised to each student’s aspirations and interests – is integrated into the programme.

Interested?
If you have a talent or genuine interest or have thought your career path in one of the YA sectors we have mentioned then this is a course you should strongly consider.

If you still have unanswered questions do not hesitate to email us here.