Teenagers in the South West are the first to benefit from the new UCAS Progress service, which helps young people make the right choices after GCSEs.
The UCAS Progress website (www.ucasprogress.com) launches today and gives students across the region the chance to search and apply for thousands of post-16 opportunities.
UCAS is best known for managing applications to universities, but UCAS Progress is for younger students.
Whether it’s an A level in maths, a BTEC in design or a plumbing apprenticeship, UCAS Progress has details of the courses available to young people.
An information hub covering classroom and work-based options is central to the website. These advice pages help students to make well informed, personal choices about their future.
The South West launch is the first stage of a national roll out. By the autumn, teenagers will have access to a complete list of courses, all over England and Wales.
Over 700,000 students, teachers and advisers are already using UCAS Progress which is currently available in around half of local authorities in England. The course search has been used over two million times since October.
Young people must stay in education or training until they are 18, under new laws, and UCAS Progress is a one-stop-shop to research what’s available.
Gina Bradbury, Head of UCAS Progress said: “Year 11 students in the South West can use UCAS Progress now to look for courses beginning in the autumn. I’m really excited that by September, we’ll have a fully national service with information on every course across England and Wales available in one place.
“Students currently in Year 10 can also use the site to get a head start for next year, as UCAS Progress brings together everything they’ll need to make choices after GCSEs.”
Karen Turner, head of Year 11, Summerhill School: "UCAS Progress has really helped our students and opened their eyes to what's available. They've all been surprised by the accessibility and the amount of courses out there. It really has made a tremendous difference to their future."
UCAS Progress is free to use for all students and will be rolled out across the rest of England and Wales in the autumn. The service can be accessed at home, at school and on mobile devices.
Press Office contacts
UCAS Press Office: 01242 545 469
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NOTES TO EDITORS
UCAS Progress sits within UCAS, and is a search and apply service for younger students looking at post-16 options. The newly launched UCAS Progress website provides information and advice on all the education and training routes available after GCSEs. The search service will be national from September 2014 and free to use for young people.
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is a charity and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education. We manage applications from over 650,000 people each year for full-time undergraduate courses at over 350 institutions across the UK.