What is a School Leaver Programme?

How does a school leaver programme work?

School leaver programmes last between one and five years, and the structure depends on the company that organises them.

However, every programme has three defining features:

• You’re employed on a part-time or full-time basis

• You’ll work towards a nationally recognised qualification – a Bachelor's or Foundation Degree, a Higher National Certificate or Higher National Diploma

• You’ll earn a salary and get paid for study periods.

The programmes combine work placements with study blocks, allowing you to alternate between working for your employer and studying for your qualification. This can be either a training provider, college or university.

Some employers will allow you to remote-learn from home or the office once a week. You’ll also be with the same employer during the full scheme. Loyalty, we love to see it.

This means there are zero fees AND zero loans to take out. You’ll be saving a hefty £50,000 worth of student loan debt. On top of that, school leaver apprenticeships also pay a wage. Yep, we’ll get onto that later.

What options do school leavers have?

School leaver programmes aren’t the only schemes you can get into after school. If you’re 16 and ready to enter the workforce post-GCSEs, you have options. Here are a few;

• Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeships

• Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeships

• Level 4/5 Higher Apprenticeships

• T-Levels

What kinds of school leaver programmes are available?

As a school leaver, you’re literally spoilt for choice. You’ll be able find a scheme across any industry, including accounting, design and finance at some super snazzy employers like the AA, BDO, KPMG and McDonald’s.

Here are a few more companies offering school leaver programmes:

Want to know about the best places to work? Check out our Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers. We ask apprentices what they think of their work experience, they leave reviews, and we get the Top 100.

Read what an apprentice working at the BBC thought about their scheme:

What are the minimum requirements for a school leaver programme?

The entry requirements for each scheme are different and can often be a little confusing, so we’ve put together a few examples of the standard entry requirements for current programmes.

KPMG

• Minimum 5 GCSEs Grades 4-9 or A*–C (including Maths at minimum 5 or B grade, and English Language)

• Minimum of 112 UCAS points (e.g. grades BBC at A Level or equivalent qualifications).

PwC

• Grade 4 or above in GCSE English Language and Mathematics (or equivalent)

• Minimum 112 UCAS tariff from up to 3 full A-Levels (or equivalent qualifications).

EY

• Minimum of grade 4 or C grade GCSE (or equivalent) in English Language and Maths

• Minimum three A Levels/Five Highers (or equivalent)

If you’ve left school without the above grades, that’s no problem either! You can still do an apprenticeship without GCSEs.

Loads of apprenticeships don’t have entry requirements, but would like potential apprentices who have a genuine passion for the job and are willing to work hard.

For example, Pret-a-Manger offers a wide range of apprenticeships that don’t require you to have any formal qualifications. Instead, they’re looking for candidates who can show the following skills and qualities...

• Passion

• Great Execution

• Team Working

• Retail Savvy

• Clear Talking

• Open to change.

The great part is these are skills you’ve 200% picked up during your school years. Ever been part of an after-school club or have a whole bunch of hobbies you’re actively involved with? You’re way more experienced than you might think.

How much does a school leaver programme pay?

On top of all that skills building and work experience, you’ll be paid for your time! How much depends on your employer and your scheme, but you’ll be paid in line with the National Minimum Wage.

You’ll be delighted to hear that many employers pay well above this though, offering salaries way above the average of £25,000 per year.

Want to know more about how much you could earn? Read all about the Best Paid Apprenticeships to learn more.

When should school leavers apply for a scheme?

Some employers start their application process as soon as October, however many more programmes become available during January and March. So it’s always a good idea to keep searching.

Ready to apply? Great. We’ve outlined the usual application process below. 

Application form → CV and cover letter → Psychometric tests → Face-to-face interview or video interview → Assessment centre → SCHOOL LEAVER PROGRAMME STARTS

You can find expert application and interview advice below, and school leaver apprenticeships you can apply to below that. Good luck!