Why study A-Level Engineering? (Year 11)

Post-16 choices shouldn't be made on syllabus details alone. This lesson plan will help you to show Year 11 students whether A-Level Engineering or another post-16 route - including A-Level Maths and Physics, a T-Level, or an engineering apprenticeship - fits them best.

This lesson is designed to be delivered in 30 minutes as a teacher-led classroom activity.

This activity supports the following frameworks:

  • Gatsby Benchmark 4

This activity is suitable for Year 11 and features careers linked to the following subjects:

  • Engineering

This is one of three lesson plans for teachers covering Engineering with Year 11 students - whether through standalone GCSE Engineering or the engineering strand of GCSE Design & Technology:

These lesson plans will help you show students how Engineering connects to their future careers.

We recommend using this lesson plan at the beginning of the spring term, as students approach their post-16 choices. It builds on the two earlier lesson plans and draws them together to help students make an informed decision. A-Level Engineering is one post-16 route among several - and it isn't widely offered. This lesson plan helps students decide whether it's the right route for them, or whether Engineering fits their future better through A-Level Maths and Physics, a T-Level, or an apprenticeship.

Learning objectives

  • Students will understand what studying A-Level Engineering involves.
  • Students will recognise how Engineering fits different post-16 routes, not just A-Level.
  • Students will be able to say which route towards Engineering is right for them and why.

Before the lesson

  • You will need a computer connected to the internet and a classroom screen.
  • Open the What can you do with Engineering? page and have it ready on the screen.
  • Review the page in full so you know what's in each section.
  • Be ready to describe whether your school or college offers A-Level Engineering - and if it does, the syllabus, exam board, assessment structure, and major project. If not, be ready to describe the A-Level Maths and Physics route as the main alternative way into engineering degrees and apprenticeships.

During the lesson

1. Recap: jobs and skills (5 mins)

  • Ask students to recall what they discussed in the earlier Year 11 lessons:
    • What jobs use Engineering?
    • What skills does Engineering build?
  • Write their answers on the board as a quick recap.

2. Walking through the page (15 mins)

  • Bring up the What can you do with Engineering? page on the classroom screen.
  • Show students the table of contents so they see the shape of what's on the page.
  • Walk through the key sections together, unpacking why each one matters for their post-16 decisions:
    • Engineering at A-Level - What the course covers and how it differs from GCSE.
    • Subjects that pair with Engineering - Which other A-Level choices work well alongside it.
    • Where Engineering can take you next - The full range of routes. Be sure to flag engineering apprenticeships (one of the strongest apprenticeship pipelines in the country), T-Levels in engineering and manufacturing, and A-Level Maths with Physics as the standard alternative route where standalone Engineering isn't on offer.
  • Briefly outline your school or college's A-Level syllabus, exam board, and assessment methods - or, if A-Level Engineering isn't offered, your A-Level Maths and Physics options.

3. Is A-Level Engineering right for you? (10 mins)

  • Ask students to think about whether A-Level Engineering - or one of the alternative routes - fits their post-16 plan.
  • Prompt them with questions:
    • Did you enjoy GCSE Engineering or the engineering side of D&T enough to spend two more years on it?
    • Are you happy with how mathematical A-Level Engineering gets - it leans heavily on Maths and Physics?
    • Are you ready for a course that includes a substantial design-and-make project across most of Year 13?
    • Do the skills Engineering builds matter for the career or route you're leaning towards?
    • Does A-Level Engineering pair well with your other post-16 choices?
    • Would A-Level Maths and Physics, a T-Level, or an engineering apprenticeship work better for you?
  • Close by reminding students that the best post-16 choice is the one they'll engage with - whether that's A-Levels, a T-Level, an apprenticeship, or going straight into work. Interest and effort are what lead to good results, and good results open doors.

After the lesson

  • Share the What can you do with Engineering? page with students and their parents/carers:
    • www.coffeewith.xyz/subjects/what-can-you-do-with-engineering
  • Encourage parents/carers to explore the page with their child and to discuss the contents.
  • Encourage parents/carers to also explore related videos and careers with their child.
  • Use the School Tools / Activities feature to record the lesson activity:
    • Activity name: Year 11 - Why study A-Level Engineering?
    • Activity type: Linking curriculum learning to careers