Thursday September 17th, 2026
It is currently week: B
Thursday September 17th, 2026
It is currently week: B
Apprenticeships are a combination of working with an employer and studying and can be done in a range of different subjects (approx. 240) and areas. As an apprentice, you will have a contract of employment and holiday entitlements. If you are successful in your apprenticeship, there is a good chance you can progress to permanent employment. As an apprentice you must work a minimum of 30 hours a week and the minimum duration is 12 months. You will be paid at least the minimum apprenticeship wage, and employers can and often increase this wage/salary to attract the best candidates. Apprenticeships range from level 2 apprenticeships up to degree level apprenticeships as follows:
| Name | Level | Equivalent educational level |
| Intermediate | 2 | 5 GCSE passes |
| Advanced | 3 | 2 A Level passes |
| Higher | 4, 5, 6 and 7 | Foundation degree and above |
| Degree | 6 and 7 | Bachelor’s or master’s degree |
If you are not going to Sixth Form, college or university and are looking for an apprenticeship you can register on the government’s apprenticeship website for local vacancies and set up alerts:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
Another useful apprenticeship website with apprenticeship information and latest vacancies is:
https://www.ratemyapprenticeship.co.uk/
If you are not planning to go to university then look at career opportunities and vacancies on the Not Going to Uni website:
https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/
Students can also research and apply for an apprenticeship by looking at more useful websites:
https://www.oxfordshireapprenticeships.co.uk/
A job combined with a university degree, meaning you’ll be working for an employer most of the time and studying at university or college for the rest. The benefits of a degree apprenticeship are that the cost of study is met by the employer and would typically mean you attending university in person or online for once or twice a week. Degree Apprenticeships are attractive to students who do not wish to go to university and school is often approached by national and local employers looking to recruit strong A level candidates with the rights personal skills and attributes.
Apprenticeship vacancies appear throughout the year – each will give a deadline for applications and start dates. Vacancies with larger firms, such as Barclays, often start appearing from September, but most start to be advertised from Jan or Feb onwards. Make sure you register on websites such as Rate My Apprenticeships and also keep an eye on employer websites.
Smaller businesses might start recruiting a month or two before the job starts, so if you hope to start work in August or September, start looking from March/April onwards.
Gosford Hill School is an academy which is part of the River Learning Trust which is an exempt charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with registered company number 7966500 and its registered office is River Learning Trust, Central Office, C/O Rose Hill Primary School, The Oval, Oxford, OX4 4HF.