A background in Art can lead to a University degree in Fine Art, Art History,  and Art Restoration and open up careers including, advertising, publishing, design, hair and beauty, architecture, fashion and textile industry, urban renewal projects, museums, TV and Film, theatre set design, museum/art gallery curator, book illustration and tattooist.

LMI shows that Film and TV are predicted growth areas in Bucks for the foreseeable future.

At the end of the course, you may continue to study Business or a related subject such as Management, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Law, or Investment Banking in Higher Education.

If you are seriously interested in any of these careers, I would strongly recommend pairing Business studies, Economics or Finance with A-Level Maths.

Students with a background in these subjects can look for employment with companies such as British Airways, Rolls-Royce, Network Rail, Coca-Cola, all of whom offer excellent Apprenticeships.  However, if you want to make the big bucks, use any of these subjects as a stepping stone to a good University Degree in Mathematics.

AI is at the heart of Government's economic policy, so a qualification in Computing could be the stepping stone to a career in cutting edge technology. Because of plans to create a high-tech medical research corridor between Oxford and Cambridge, by the time you graduate you could be geographically at the heart of this project. 

Other career paths include:

• Software development
• Software engineer
• Software tester
• Web designer
• Game designer and developer
• Forensic computer analyst
• Cybersecurity analyst

Criminology A-Levels can open doors to a variety of post-18 opportunities, both in further education and employment. However, always remember that what you combine this subject with is vitally important. My advice is that you should seriously consider Science with this. Most Universities do not consider Criminology as a Science, so before getting too set on a career in this area it is important to have at least one facilitating subject on your timetable. I’m not a big fan of doing both Criminology and Psychology at A-Level unless you are looking at just enhancing your UCAS points. If you are interested in careers associated with Psychology, look under the Psychology entry in this guide.:

Here’s a breakdown of your next steps after A-Level Criminology: 

Higher Education:

• Criminology Degrees: A natural progression. These degrees delve deeper into criminological theories, research methods, and specific crime types.

• Related Degrees: Criminology A-Level, combined with two other A-Levels (with suggestions) can also be a good foundation for degrees in:

• Law - with History, English Literature or MFL
• Sociology - with Geography or English 
• Psychology - with a Science and Geography
• Forensic Science - with Maths or Science
• Social Work - with Health and Social Care and Sociology
• Policing and Criminal Justice - with Geography, Sociology or History

Employment:

While a Criminology A-Level alone will not qualify you for specialised roles, it can be a strong foundation for certain career paths or provide a competitive edge when combined with further qualifications or experience:

• Entry-Level Positions in the Criminal Justice System:
  • Administrative roles in police forces, courts, or prisons
  • Support roles in probation services or victim support organisations

Other fields:

• Social work (with further qualifications)
• Youth work
• Security industry
• Research roles in social sciences
• Prison officer 

A-Level Drama will enable students to:

• Study drama and theatre or a performing arts subject in higher education at degree level at many institutions, including acting and musical theatre courses.
• Gain a qualification respected by all universities. Drama students are employed in many fields including law, education, theatre, management, events management and many other people-orientated careers.
• A-Level Drama fosters and nurtures commitment, teamwork and creativity - skills often desired by employers.

These courses sit well with other arts-based courses at university and can provide a solid base for careers in the media, journalism, teaching, the law, management, sales, the theatre, civil service, advertising, banking, the BBC and the Film industry.

Students of A-level English Literature and Language go on to careers in:

• Journalism
• Civil Service
• Advertising
• Speech Therapy
• Broadcasting
• Linguistics
• Law
• Medicine
• Education
• Marketing
• Public Relations
• Translating
• Sales
• Management

A wise old sage-Mr Brawn-once told me that Maths is everywhere, and he was right. If you can look at the world through a mathematical eye, you can see Eternity in a grain of sand and gain a greater understanding of everything around you. It’s so important that even if you don’t choose Maths for A-Level I would strongly advise taking Core Maths as an extra. It gives you half an A-Level and associated UCAS points, and employers and Universities love it.

Mathematics is regarded as a facilitating subject by all Universities (including the Russell Group) regardless of the courses for which you apply.  It is also highly regarded by employers as it is recognised as being one of the most challenging at A level.

As for LMI, Maths is everywhere, and so are the opportunities; every job requires Maths.

Obviously, Maths sits well with any of the sciences, but if you don’t know what you want to do, Maths with English Literature is a great, if rare, combination and says a lot about you as a person. It’s so rare that the exam boards often schedule the Maths A-Level on the same day as English Literature. As I said, it’s rare, but don’t discount it, what university or employer wouldn’t look closely at an applicant with those two beasts of the academic jungle under their belt.

Further Maths

Much the same as above, but Further Maths may be a requirement for some degree courses in Mathematics, Physics and Engineering. Please check the entrance requirements for any specific degree courses that might be of particular interest to you.

EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) and carries the same UCAS points as half an A-Level. It only takes a year to complete, so it doesn’t make much sense not to take advantage of this opportunity. If you combine the EPQ with some Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS) you increase your chances of finding something interesting that could open up a Career Pathway otherwise unexplored.

Geography is relevant to a wide range of careers, not only in its focus on contemporary issues and real world examples, but also on the methods and skills that it teaches. In particular, students develop skills in decision-making which are ideal for a wide range of employment.

Future careers include Renewable Engineering, Law, Journalism and Media, Leisure and Tourism, Environmental Management and Consultancy, Business and Financial Services, Urban Planning, Transport and Logistics, Marketing and Advertising, the Civil Service, International Development, Charity Sector and many more.

Subjects Geography links to, either at A-Level or at University

• Business studies and Economics often require a knowledge of the human and geopolitics side of geography.
• Maths - A key feature in the new specification, with statistics and data analysis featured
• English Language and History - require similar skills due to the style of written assessment.
• Sciences – particularly Biology or Environmental Sciences fit in well with all the Physical Geography units as well as the human units on Management of Environments.
• PE/Sports Sciences – A love of sport often fits well with a love of the outside and students interested in sport often find Physical Geography topics interesting.
• Travel and Tourism – A future in the travel industry links well with all aspects of geography.
• Law – Human Rights and Health with many International laws and agreements studied throughout the course.
• Politics – cross-curricular links with topics such as superpowers and globalisation. Similar exam questions and writing styles across both subjects.

This course sits well with other arts and humanities courses and can be studied in its own right at University, through a range of course options. 

For anyone interested in a career in Law, History, along with MFL and English Literature is a great combination. Not only can you take a Degree in Law, but to keep your options open, a Degree in History followed by a Bar Conversion is a preferred pathway for many Legal Practices.

Law Degree Apprenticeships are uncommon and therefore very competitive but is probably one of the best routes into the sector. A good A-Level in History would make you a strong candidate.

The course can provide a good foundation for careers in Teaching, Law, Media, Sales, Journalism, Advertising, the Heritage Industry, Banking, Accountancy (with Maths) and the Civil Service-see their Fast Stream programme. 

Despite the common assumption that the whole world speaks English, in reality this statement only applies to 6% of the world's population speaking English, and although this sounds counter-intuitive,  75% of the world speak no English at all. So,  the adage that MFL is irrelevant because  if you need to communicate in a different language, Google Translate does the job for you, is at best misinformed and at worst ignorant. In reality, a  language qualification is highly regarded by employers and there are linguists employed in a wide variety of careers ranging from the armed forces to lawyers, accountants, business management, publicity, marketing, retail and the Civil Service. The language deficit in the UK has become an urgent economic, social and political question. The realities of globalisation make the speaking of languages more important than ever. Thinking outside the box, a linguist has a skill set similar to that required in coding, AI, cybersecurity and anything that requires a systematic, logical and mathematical way of thinking.

When looking at combinations of A-Levels, MFL sits well with any Humanities subject, particularly English, History and Geography.

Our MFL Department are in the process of establishing a relationship with world-wide drinks brand Coca-Cola.

This qualification can be used for a  range of design-based University courses and careers. For example, Architecture, Fashion/Textile Design, Graphic Design, Product Design and Theatre Design, Film to name a few. Just to illustrate how transferable skills learnt in this subject are, when paired with Maths and Physics, this is a suitable qualification for entry into Engineering degrees.

LMI shows that Graphic Design, Retail, Manufacturing and the Film industry are all growth areas in Bucks.

Our DT Department has a good working relationship with Furniture giant ERCOL based just outside Aylesbury, who offer excellent Apprenticeships.

At this level, this one’s all about developing transferable skills that both support study in a wide range of subjects at university and the transition to employment, including quantitative and analytical analysis and forming and testing hypotheses. The development and application of mathematical skills prepare students for the study of Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Behavioural Science, Neuroscience and Communication Science.

Psychology works well with Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths, but because the skills and knowledge learnt are transferable, it works with any combination of subjects.

Students can progress from this qualification to: Higher education qualifications such as psychology degrees, and biology-related courses or further education courses such as BTEC Higher Nationals,  Higher Nationals in Applied Biology and Biological Sciences for Industry. 

LMI suggests that there is scope for careers in this area in Public Services, particularly the Police and Prison Services, Social work, Health and Education.

Religious Studies A-level can not only be an interesting subject, but can also give you a range of transferable skills that lead to a variety of careers.

Traditionally, RS works well with History and English Literature as a set of A Levels.  Christianity underpins most of pre-Modern Literature and will greatly enhance your knowledge and understanding of William Blake and Shakespeare. In fact, any text will be enriched through a study of RS. Modern and Post-Literature is informed by non-Western beliefs, and an Inspector Calls that you studied in Year 11 is full of religious allegory, even the central character is named after the biblical Eve. The History of the world can be seen as the history of faith and belief, and it is impossible to fully know one without the other.

Religious Studies can be a useful subject to complement Sociology and Geography, as it will help you to see the world from different perspectives, and gain a deeper understanding of society as a whole. If you are planning on going to University after your A-levels, religious studies is also a useful primer for Philosophy or Theology Degrees.

RS at A Level is mostly about gaining transferable skills and UCAS points, but the following career paths are available depending on how far you want to take your studies:

• Chaplain
• Teacher
• Advice worker
• Police officer
• Youth worker
• Archivist
• Charity worker
• Counsellor
• Community development worker
• International aid/development worker
• Mediator
• Journalist

Biology

Biology opens up a huge range of Higher Education and career opportunities in areas as diverse as medicine and dentistry, physiotherapy, pharmacology, agriculture, bioengineering, environmental consultancy,  sports science and neuroscience.

At A-Level, when paired with Chemistry and Maths, Biology can open up careers in all aspects of Medicine and medical research.

When paired with Humanities it can lead to an exciting new Degree course called Human Sciences, which will become more and more important as we meet the challenges of the negative impact humans have made and continue to make on the planet.

Astrazeneca often offer wonderful and numerous Degree Apprenticeships in medical research across their company.

With plans to create an economic corridor based around medical research from Oxford to Cambridge, LMI suggests that Careers with a strong Biology focus are set to boom in Bucks..

Chemistry

A-level Chemistry qualifications are highly regarded at Universities.  It is essential for a career in medicine, veterinary science, forensics, pharmacy and degree courses in nursing.  It is useful in careers as diverse as engineering and catering.  Entry qualifications for Chemistry-based degrees are generally quite low and there is a high demand for qualified chemists. Astrazeneca often offers wonderful and numerous Degree Apprenticeships in their company.

With plans to create an economic corridor based around medical research from Oxford to Cambridge, LMI suggests that Careers with a strong Biology focus are set to boom in Bucks.

Physics

“Studying physics at school is excellent preparation for a range of challenging and rewarding degree courses.” - Wendy Piatt, Director General, Russell Group

There is a significant national shortage of skilled physicists and therefore physics offers many opportunities post-18.  Many employers actively seek out people who can prove their ability to think logically, understand complex ideas and apply them to the real world.  Typical sectors where physicists are found include: Research and Development; Engineering; Design and Production; Telecommunications; Medical Physics; Astronomy and Astrophysics; Meteorology, Education and Finance.

With the National Space Centre based at Westcott in Aylesbury and the National Motor Racing College based at Silverstone, LMI identifies Bucks as an economic hub in these sectors.

Human Biology

See the entry under Biology

Human Biology offers routes into many different careers, including:

• Nursing
• Midwifery
• Social work
• Care assistant
• Early years practitioners
• Primary school teachers
• Occupational Therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Speech and Language Therapist
• Chiropractor
• Dental Assistant
• Psychiatrist
• Sports Science

LMI indicates that all these careers are in demand and growing in Bucks.

Sociology equips students with strong analytical and evaluation skills relevant to fields where understanding social dynamics is crucial. When combined with the right A-Levels, It can  lead to any career where analysing human behaviour and social issues is important. 

A Sociology A-Level can lead to a variety of further studies and careers, including Degrees in Criminology, Psychology, Law, Social Work, Journalism, Teaching, Marketing, and, of course, Sociology itself. 

Sociology sits well with any facilitating subject and can also compliment Psychology or Criminology.

LMI. Because there is an emphasis on research and analytical skills, the Civil Service Fast Stream programme offers a number of opportunities to work for the Government and when paired with Economics, these opportunities increase dramatically.

Key career paths that could be accessible with a Sociology A-Level:

• Social Work
• Market Research: analysing consumer behaviour and trends through research skills developed in Sociology 
• Journalism: reporting on social issues with a critical understanding of societal structures 
• Teaching: educating students about social issues and critical thinking skills 
• Law: Applying sociological insights to legal cases and understanding the social context of crime 
• Human Resources: managing employee relations and understanding workplace dynamics 
• Public Policy Analysis: contributing to policy development by analysing social impacts 
• Community Development: working with communities to address social challenges 

Research Assistant: conducting research on social phenomena in academic or research institutions. 

The course is suitable for students who are aiming to go on to University and study a sport-related degree. From here, the following pathways open up: Teacher, Sports Analyst, Sports Psychologist, Physiotherapy and Nutritionist, or progress onto higher training Apprenticeships within the Sport and Leisure Industry.

Don’t forget Sales, if you like sport, you are likely, by nature, to be organised, strategic and highly competitive. As far as LMI is concerned, selling is always popular in this area and if I was looking for someone to head my Sales Team I would look for someone with a background in sport.