UCAS (University & College Admissions Service)
An organisation that handles applications for all full-time courses of higher education in the UK. Their website www.ucas.com has lots of information about higher education.

University
An institution offering full and part-time courses of higher education. Most students entering university are aged over 18 and have advanced level qualifications.

Vocational
Vocational is usually used to mean that something is work-related.

Vinspired
An organisation that arranges voluntary work for 16 to 25 year olds across the UK.
www.vinspired.com

Volunteering
Unpaid work that can be done in a variety of settings. A way to gain experience for a job or course or personal development.

Work-based learning
Learning that is usually a mix of work experience and off-the-job training at a college or training provider such as an apprenticeship.

Work experience
All students have the opportunity to sample the world of work for up to two weeks in Years 10 or 11.

Work permit
Young people aged 13 and under school leaving age need to get a work permit for any part-time jobs they do.

Young apprenticeships
A programme of learning for 14 to 16 year olds who want to learn skills for a specific job and gain qualifications such as VQs (vocational qualifications). Not all schools offer these.

Young People’s Services
Each local council has a team of youth workers who arrange a wide range of activities for young people.

Z Codes
Connexions Resource Centre Index codes that are used to classify information about education, career choice, work and life style issues (codes A – W are used to classify information about specific jobs).