Each college has its own dates for applications and you’ll apply through each individual college.  You need to check with the college, or colleges, you're applying to and find out what their process is.

Colleges usually have options for starting in August/September.  And applying online usually takes place at the end of January.  Courses are likely to be more vocational – geared towards a specific career. The class sizes are normally smaller than university lectures.  Courses usually have fairly structured timetables of lectures, practical classes and seminars. You can study for different types of qualification – National Qualifications, vocational courses, Access course, modules, HNCs, HNDs. The “Colleges Scotland” website has a list of all Colleges detailing the individual website links where you can find out more information about a college the courses available. 

You’ll probably study for four years before you get a qualification. Depending on what you study, courses are a mix of practical and vocational and are more academic, exploring a particular subject.  You could be in large lectures with hundreds of other students.  You’ll be expected to study independently – less lectures and classes, but more reading/writing in your own time.  You can study for degrees, Master course and in some subjects move on to postgraduate course.  There is a UCAS section on our website , alternatively the UCAS website has many videos, helpful hints and tips to assist you through the process.

If you are in S5, Lenzie Academy offer Foundation Apprenticeships which is a partnership between school, college and employer offering a 2 year programmes allowing young people to gain experience of employment and college while still at school. More information about this can be found in our Vocational section. If you are over 16 years of age you can apply for a Modern Apprenticeship, you learn on the job, and get the experience you need from skills for work, to handy things like timekeeping, taking responsibility and teamwork plus, you work towards a qualification and get paid. Whether you’re thinking about the future, job hunting, or want to learn new skills, a Modern Apprenticeship could be for you. There are more than 80 types of Modern Apprenticeship across hundreds of jobs, so you can find one that suits you. You can try apprenticeships.scot or apprenticeshipsinscotland.com 

A gap year isn’t about taking a year-long holiday. It’s what you do with that time that counts. The traditional time to take one is after you finish secondary school. But people also take a gap during their studies, in between graduating and starting work, or even as a career break.  A gap year well spent makes a great addition to your CV.  With it you can Travel - Seek out new experiences, explore places which are relevant to your interests.  Work - Getting some work experience helps you get a foot in the door and make contacts in your industry. You can save money for your upcoming studies. Volunteer - This can take you to some beautiful places, or let you help people in your own community either way giving you valuable experience. Study - You can try short courses, learn a language, or get your driver’s licence. If you didn’t get the results you wanted in school, use the year to fill in the gaps.

They’re not for everyone though, Gap years have lots of advantages; however, there are a few things to think about: It can be expensive make sure you weigh up the costs; you might find it hard to go back to studying after your break; you need to take the time to organise it or you might not get the most from the experience and if your friends move on to college, university or work while you’re away you could feel out of step with them.

Your new job is out there – you just need to know where to look.  Set aside some time each week to find vacancies or fill in applications. Set yourself some tasks to complete for example, contacting an employer, updating your CV, or looking on a website, make sure you note down closing dates for job vacancies, and keep track of what you’ve applied for and when. 

Hundreds of new jobs appear online every day, look for job sites about your specific industries or types of work. Check the sites of employers you're interested in working for.  Check the vacancies section in your local newspaper.  A jobs fair is your opportunity to meet employers face to face and find out about upcoming vacancies.  If there’s a company you really want to work for, try approaching them, research the employer, and find someone you can contact directly. Send a cover letter and CV highlighting you strengths and explaining why you want to work for them. Follow up with a phone call, be polite, but determined. If there’s nothing coming up, at least you’ve made a new contact. Ask that they keep you in mind in the future.

Below is a list of our existing employer links supporting Lenzie Academy pupils to develop their skills and knowledge. If you want to find out more information or think you may be able to get involved please take a look at the file attached - A Guide for Employers.

Here you will find details of Employer Opportunities that have been passed to the school.

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Here are the latest advertised DYW opportunities, click on the link to download the file :

 March 2024