Where is the central database for every Sixth Form Course?

Guthrie Denniston

Published in Applicaa | March 27, 2024

As a young person in education, finding the right course can often be a daunting task.

Fortunately, at several key stages, there are central databases that make this search process more manageable and accessible to school leavers, whether it be finding a University course or Apprenticeship. But what about when you go one rung lower? Try and search for Sixth Forms and Sixth Form Courses.

1. UCAS – The Hub for University Courses (https://www.ucas.com/)

When it comes to searching for university courses in the United Kingdom, UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is the go-to central database. UCAS plays a pivotal role in facilitating the application process for higher education institutions. It allows students to explore a wide range of courses offered by universities and colleges, helping them make informed decisions about their academic future.

2. Find an Apprenticeship – Navigating Apprenticeship Opportunities (https://findapprenticeshiptraining.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/courses)

For those interested in apprenticeships, there’s the “apprenticeship survey.” This central database serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking hands-on learning experiences in various fields. Apprenticeships provide an alternative path to acquiring valuable skills and qualifications while earning a wage, and this database assists in finding the right apprenticeship opportunities.

3. Sixth Form Courses (https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/find-a-course/)

Well, the good news is there is something.

The problem is that:

  1. No one knows about it. It doesn’t appear on Google search.
2. Too much to take in lists every single course available. ie not just Sixth Form courses.
3. It is missing approx 20% of the courses. Nationwide there are 85,000 Sixth Form courses; however, it only lists 60,000 courses.
4. Not intuitive: doesn’t group the courses by Sixth Form provider.
5. Doesn’t indicate eligibility: for a Year 11 student to search to see whether or not they’re on track, based on their Predicted Grades.

From our research Year 11 students are applying for on average 5 different Sixth Forms. This leaves Year 11 students, in the most stressful academic year of their lives, digging around on each of the individual school & sixth form colleges websites to see what the sixth forms offer and if they meet the entry criteria.

Introducing “ApplicaaOne”

“Applicaaone.” This platform serves as a comprehensive resource for post-16 sixth-form courses. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows students to search for courses based on their interests (BTech or ALevel) and preferences, including proximity to their location. By inputting predicted grades and creating an “App One” account, students can see whether they meet the entry requirements for all the Sixth Forms across the country and even make applications to them with one click.

ApplicaaOne

Sound too good to be true?

It’s not. Learn more below:

https://applicaa.com/one/

Guthrie Denniston
Guthrie Denniston

Hello, I’m Guthrie co-founder of Applicaa, with my colleague Tim Dixon, and Managing Director. Tim and I used to work together at Greenford High School in London where he was Head of Sixth Form and we both taught Geography.