There are plenty of reasons for choosing to take a year out, but it is essential to clearly define your reasons - and set your goals - before you finally decide.

If you plan on taking a year out, you should plan very well indeed to make the most of what will probably be a once in a lifetime opportunity. But careful planning takes time and even the best plans can go wrong …..

If you are thinking about taking a year out between Year 13 and whatever-comes-next, you’ll be weighing up the opinions of parents, friends, school, careers guidance, universities, the newspapers, gap organisations …. Should you go away? How do you decide?