Education

We all want to do well at school, but it’s not always easy when you’re growing up. Here are some things we think might help. Doing well means different things for everybody. It's not always about grades, but often about how you feel.

There are lots of different levels and types of education.

We break them down for you here:

Entry level
This is the most basic form of qualification, and is an introduction into education. Examples of a entry level qualifications include:

  • Entry level functional or essential skills
  • Entry level awards and diplomas
  • Entry level certificates (ELCs)
  • Entry level English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Level 1
This is usually in Years 10 and 11 of school or for anyone looking to go a bit further in their education. Examples of Level 1 qualifications:

  • GCSE (grades D, E, F or G)
  • Level 1 Awards and Diplomas
  • Level 1 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)
  • Music grades 1, 2 and 3

Level 2
This is often Years 10 and 11 or for anyone looking to further their education. Level 2 learners usually go on to do Level 3, as well. Examples of Level 2 qualifications include:

  • GCSE (grades A*, A, B or C)
  • O level (grades A, B or C)
  • Grade 1 at CSE level
  • Level 2 Awards and Diplomas
  • Level 2 NVQ
  • Music grades 4 and 5

Level 3
Level 3 shows how much you know about a certain subject. It often takes place in Years 12 and 13. Examples of Level 3 qualifications include:

  • A level (grades A, B, C, D or E)
  • AS level
  • Tech level
  • Level 3 awards, diplomas and certificates
  • Level 3 NVQ
  • Music grades 6, 7 and 8
  • Advanced apprenticeships
  • Access to higher education diploma

Level 4
This shows that you really know your stuff about a subject. Examples of Level 4 qualifications include:

  • Higher National Certificate (HNC)
  • Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)
  • Level 4 diplomas
  • Level 4 NVQ
  • Higher apprenticeships

Level 5
This is for anyone who wants to go to university, as it's the level before that. You may go straight to university without completing Level 5, however, depending upon the subject you want to study. Examples of Level 5 qualifications include. 

  • Foundation degree
  • Higher National Diploma (HND)
  • Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)
  • Level 5 awards, diplomas and certificates
  • Level 5 NVQ

Level 6
This a degree level qualification. Examples of Level 6 qualifications are:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Graduate diploma
  • Level 6 NVQ
  • Degree apprenticeship

Level 7
This a Master’s degree qualification that’s higher than Level 6. Examples of Level 7 qualifications include:

  • Master’s degree
  • Integrated Master’s degree
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
  • Postgraduate diplomas and certificates

Level 8
This is the doctorate level of education, often known as a PhD. It’s the highest qualification of education possible in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Examples of Level 8 qualifications include:

  • Doctorate or PhD
  • Level 8 awards, diplomas and certificates

Nothing should hold you back from achieving your dreams, especially with universities offering a wide range of support systems and adaptations to ensure that students with additional needs can access higher education.

As with all big decisions in life, there are some things to consider before accepting an offer, and we have outlined a few of these below to get you thinking about what comes next.

The UCAS website has a wealth of information on funding, finances and finding the right university for you.

Choosing a course
Don’t let misconceptions about your needs stop you from choosing a subject you’re interested in. Make sure the course is practical for you and that you are able to confidently and comfortably complete everything you will need to. In most cases, your university will make adaptations and help you to access any extra support or equipment needed to ensure you have everything you need to excel in your studies.

The University League Tables can be a good place to start when thinking about which universities you want to apply to

Accommodation
Moving away from home can be a big life change, but having the right adaptations to make your living area comfortable will make it much easier to get used to.

If you are moving into accommodation provided by the university – such as halls, you will need to talk to the university about adaptations and any additional adjustments you may need.

If you will be living in rented accommodation which is not provided by the university, you will need to do a lot of research into the suitability of the property for your needs. This can be tricky, but organisations such as Unipol, 'The home of student housing', can help you.

When choosing where to live, remember to consider your travel to classes and activities.

It is also worth starting to think about any other help you may need. If you will be relying on home-help for cooking or cleaning, you should start to think about the costs associated with this and how that will fit into your budget and lifestyle as a student.

Facilities
It is important that you have easy access to all classes and facilities, and most universities have access guides on their website. Make sure you attend open days to see the facilities for yourself and ask university staff as many questions as you need to, to feel comfortable in your decision.

All university and education providers will have a team on-hand to offer support to students. This should be your first contact when talking to your university about the adaptations and support you may need.

One of their key roles will be to ensure that students with disabilities or additional needs are provided with the help and assistance necessary to succeed. This might include providing you with a learning assistant who can take notes, transcribe and support you with other academic tasks. This could also include extended deadlines, additional time to complete exams or providing a different environment in which to take an exam.

Finances
You can claim Disabled Student's Allowance (DSA) alongside your usual student loan. The DSA is not a loan or benefit, so it will not need to be repaid when you leave university. When claiming DSA, you will need to attend an assessment to determine your needs and abilities. You can find out more about DSA on the government website.

Applications can take up to three months to arrange, so it’s best to apply early.

Study materials
Adapted textbooks and other study materials are available to suit most requirements. Most universities offer large print, braille, e-books, audiobooks and digital talking books. Online systems can also be adapted to suit your needs in similar ways.

If you have a specific university in mind, they will be able to give you more specific information about accessibility and student life with additional needs.

Making new friends can be really tricky. Some people find it very easy to make new friends, while others may not. The good news is that you can practise and get better at making friends. 

Here’s a great video from BBC Bitesize with some good advice on how to make friends.

While having lots of friends is nice, you don't have to be friends with everybody you meet and it's important to remember that friendships can change over time. In ten years, you might have a completely different group of friends to those you spend time with now, and that's okay!

This Bitesize video talks about how friendships might change after spending time apart.

Maintaining your focus and concentration can be difficult for a range of reasons – it may be part and parcel of your diagnosis, or it might change as things in your life affect you more or less; but there are several things you can try. We can’t guarantee that all of these suggestions will work for everybody and for all types of focussing issues, but we hope you find them helpful.

Five Tips for concentration and focus:

Eat, drink and sleep
We all work best when we feel our best, so make sure you’re well-rested, eating the right things and have access to drinks and snacks when you need them.

Give yourself a break
If you know that you struggle to focus for long periods of time, try to avoid forcing yourself into a situation that will cause you stress and make concentrating feel even more difficult. Make sure you have space and time to let your mind be free. You may need to talk to those around you, such as teachers and tutors to make sure this is possible.

Mediation
It can take some time, but, for some people, concentration and focus are skills that get easier to control with practise. Guided meditation is a great way to practise keeping your mind on one thing for a few minutes, as they feature soothing voices to talk you through the process and remind you to bring your attention back to the task.

Simple exercises
If you are able, doing some basic exercises while focussing on a task can improve concentration. Things like flexing and tightening your leg muscles, or making a tight fist then loosening your fingers, can be enough to stop distractions from taking hold.

Fidget toys
These are designed to keep your hands and mind busy when they’re hard to settle. For some people, playing with these gadgets can help them to focus in situations where listening to another person is important.

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