In a word, yes.
Solo on or after 16th, GFT anytime after that, but no licence until you're 17. This means no carriage of passengers and no international flight.
Always worth a letter to the CAA asking if you can pick your licence up on your 17th, as I did. For this they required all the paperwork a few weeks in advance, basically meaning I had to pass the GFT a month or so before my 17th.
Good luck - do let us know how you get on.
Edit to add: can't believe I've had my licence nearly two years...meaning solo is nearly 3 years ago
tKF