College Advice Team

Advice and Guidance for School Leavers

We understand that making decisions about your future can feel a little overwhelming. Our College Advice Team (CATs) are trained in information, advice and guidance and work in schools across the South West giving face to face advice and guidance about all courses and opportunities for school leavers at Exeter College.

The College Advice Team regularly visit a number of different schools, so if you would like to meet with the team to discuss your options at Exeter College then please speak to your school Careers Coordinator to find out if they will be able to arrange an appointment. If they aren’t available in your school then don’t worry, you can still contact them by phone on 01392 400600 or email at cat@exe-coll.ac.uk.

How to make a decision about your next steps

Here are some hints and tips that we hope will make the process of choosing your options for College a little easier for you:

Illustration of female student exploring what subjects they enjoy (e.g. science) with a magnifying glass

Think about what you enjoy: Consider your hobbies, favourite subjects at school, work experience or part time job.

Illustration of male and female student chatting about what courses so study

Talk to family, friends and your teachers: Though this is your decision, it’s a good idea to talk things through with the people who know you best.

Illustration of happy male student jumping next to a prize

What are your strengths? Think about your predicted grades and the subjects you’re doing well in at school. Have your teachers recommended that you study any subjects further?

Illustration of male student considering his future career or university choices

Future plans: Do you want to go to uni or have you got a career plan? It’s important to select a course which will ensure these options remain available to you. If you’re not sure, then pick something that really interests you and keeps your options open.

How do we support schools and students?

The College Advice Team offer Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) services on all vocational and academic school leaver courses offered at Exeter College through a range of activities and engagement:

For schools

In school

In College

The College Advice Team aims to ensure all prospective students have access to accurate and aspirational Information, Advice and Guidance in alignment with Exeter College’s ‘right student, right course’ ethos.

Frequently asked questions

For answers to some frequently answered questions please see below.

What level should I study at?

Can I look around the College?

How do I find out more about courses?

What courses can I study together?

How do I apply?

Will I need to come to an interview?

What happens at interview?

What can my courses lead to?

How do I find the right course for my desired future career?

Still have Questions?

Don’t worry, the College Advice Team are here to help! They are available all year round to support you to make the right choices.
Contact us on 01392 400600 or cat@exe-coll.ac.uk.

Useful Resources

We understand that making decisions about your future can be daunting and that you need to research your options in detail. Below are some resources we’ve created or compiled to assist you in making informed decisions about your future studies.

  • This presentation aims to give you a brief introduction to your options at Exeter College, so whether you’re beginning your decision-making process or you’re a school leaver looking to finalise your decision, watch this presentation to find out more about the options available to you at Exeter College.
  • The how to decide leaflet contains useful tips on choosing the right course for you as well as information about the types and levels of courses on offer. We have listed some handy websites for you to carry out research into careers, higher education and Apprenticeships.
  • Don’t our forget to look at our Course Guide and come to an Open Event.

Other Useful Contacts

There may be other questions that you may have that are not just about the courses we offer. Please use our contact form to get in touch with our support teams or visit the pages listed below for further information.

A member of the College Advice Team talking to a learner in a college cafe