About Leaving School
Leaving School is the UK’s independent guide to everything that comes after school. We cover every route — apprenticeships, T-Levels, university, Skills Bootcamps, gap years, and more — so you can make the decision that’s right for you, not the one someone else thinks you should make.
About the author
James Adams
Career and Education Founder
James Adams is a Career and Education Founder who also runs Tech Educators, an award-winning digital training provider based in Norfolk. He has direct experience delivering Skills Bootcamps, apprenticeships, and corporate training, and holds an Executive MBA (Distinction) from the University of East Anglia.
He created Leaving School to give young people honest, independent guidance on every route available after school.
Credentials
- Founder of Tech Educators — Digital Business of the Year (Norfolk Business Awards 2022), Future50 (EDP 2022)
- Co-founder of Akcela — startup advisory and funding platform
- Executive MBA (Distinction) — University of East Anglia (2016–2018)
- Chartered Management Institute certified — CMI ID P04484611
- Former school governor — Hillside Avenue Primary and Nursery School (2015–2016)
Editorial standards
Every page on Leaving School goes through a 6-stage process before it’s published. We don’t cut corners, and we don’t publish anything we can’t verify.
Research and verify
Every claim is checked against primary sources — gov.uk, UCAS, DfE, and official statistics. We note the verification date on every page.
Write for you, not about you
We write in plain language, directly to you. No jargon, no corporate speak, no filler. If something is complicated, we explain why.
Go deeper than competitors
We don't just list facts — we explain what they mean, cover edge cases, and address the questions you're actually asking.
Stay balanced
University isn't automatically better than an apprenticeship. We present honest pros and cons for every route, so you can decide what's right for you.
Editorial independence
Leaving School is editorially independent. We don’t push one pathway over another. When the site includes premium or sponsored content, it’s always clearly labelled.
James Adams also runs Tech Educators, which delivers Skills Bootcamps and corporate training. Where content touches areas Tech Educators operates in, this is disclosed.
Get in touch
Have a question, suggestion, or correction? We want to hear from you.
hello@leavingschool.co.ukLast updated: March 2026