Imagine standing at the edge of a wobbly bridge. You can see the other side – it might look misty, promising, maybe exciting – but the bridge sways underfoot, and you're not entirely sure how to cross without losing your footing. That, for many young people in sixth form and college, is what the future can feel like. So how do we ensure they learn to trust their inner resources, to step out with clarity and confidence? 

We know there is some critical information they need – pathways, application processes, deadlines, funding options, personal statements. The sheer volume of what they need to know can be overwhelming. Layer on top of that the pressures of post-16 study, the social weight of 'what are you doing next year?' and the dawning realisation that a significant chapter of life is about to close – it's no wonder many learners feel anxious rather than ready.

When UCAS approached Lis McGuire, John Paley, and me last year, I was immediately excited. Their vision was for something genuinely different: a programme that covers the essentials but reaches much further, that goes beyond helping young people form a plan of action to helping them develop the career management skills that will sustain them through the post-18 transition and beyond. Working alongside Lis and John, both of whom bring exceptional insight into creative delivery and coherent curriculum design, has made the process every bit as rewarding as the vision promised. 

So, what does the Destinations Programme look like?

Knowledge +

It begins by asking learners to look back before they look forward – recognising and celebrating the skills and qualities they've demonstrated by managing the transition from their previous studies. That shift in perspective matters. It reminds young people they already have a career and they are not beginners at navigating change. They have evidence of their own journey and capability, if only they're helped to see it.

From that foundation, the programme builds outward. It develops the courage to persevere when things feel hard. It creates space to practise accepting and navigating uncertainty and it nurtures curiosity: the kind that pushes learners to look beyond the familiar, beyond what their friends are doing or what seems like the 'obvious' route. It also addresses how to prioritise, to manage the competing demands of study, life, and planning for the future.

Learning that sticks

The programme is interactive and multi-sensory, designed with sticky learning in mind – the kind of engagement that lodges in memory because it's been experienced, not just received. This isn't incidental to the programme's aims; it's integral to them. Young people who engage actively with their own learning develop the very metacognitive habits that will serve them well in whatever comes next.

Career management – resources for the journey

As we know, a career is far more than paid work. It encompasses formal and informal learning, training, community activities, and caring responsibilities. For young people, their career is well underway – they are already building the skills and resources needed to navigate an increasingly uncertain and complex world. A plan alone will never be enough, which is why most countries have a career management or career development framework – a set of competencies that shapes curriculum design and informs career conversations. In Scotland and Wales, this takes the form of Career Management Skills frameworks whilst the Career Development Institute has published the Career Development Framework, used primarily in England and Northern Ireland. 

This programme aims to develop the career management resources that learners can carry with them – through UCAS applications, through freshers' week, through the inevitable moments of doubt and redirection that come later.

The wobbly bridge doesn't disappear after post-16. Young people who cross this one with confidence are far better prepared for the bridges ahead. 

 The UCAS Destinations Programme brings a new approach to post-16 career learning, alongside a community where educators can connect, share ideas, and support one another. 

Join the Destinations Programme

Want to see the programme in action and hear directly from the experts behind it?

Join our live webinar on 6 July, where Liane Hambly, John Paley, and Lis McGuire will walk through the framework, share practical insights, and answer your questions. You’ll get a deeper understanding of how to embed the programme in your setting and make the most of the resources available. 

Book your place