FUTURE PATHWAYS Information Evening

THE NEW LANDSCAPE There used to be 3 main things most students did at 18: UNI JOB GAP YEAR Now the landscape is wider, especially due to: Globalisation + higher university tuition fees + growth in employer engagement at 18 Students now have numerous options. Students could apply for multiple options, but this will put added pressure on them .

A WEALTH OF OPTIONS! SPONSORSHIPS / SCHOLARSHIPS DEGREE WITH A YEAR IN INDUSTRY Private sector DegreeS UK UNIVERSITY WITH YEAR ABROAD HIGHER EDUCATION ABROAD Level 3/4 Foundation courseS UNIVERSITY/EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIP DEGREES SALARIED SCHOOL-LEAVER PROGRAMMES HIGHER APPRENTICESHIPS THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET Gap year in the uk or abroad A WEALTH OF OPTIONS!

WEBSITES FOR INFO ON JOBS, SCHEMES & APPRENTICESHIPS apprenticeships.org.uk milkround.com/earlycareers allaboutcareers.com schoolleaverjobs.co.uk apprenticeshipguide.co.uk future-talent.com notgoingtouni.com unisnotforme.com thebigchoice.com

(Microsoft Corporation, 2013) … SO IF THEY WANT TO GO TO UNI, BUT DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR A CAREER… Choose a degree course they will ENJOY, as 70% of graduate jobs accept any degree subject But, if their career is important, then developing their employability skills is CRITICAL “For us it’s less about what you’ve studied and more about why you want to work for us and the skills you can bring” (Microsoft Corporation, 2013)

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS Communication and interpersonal skills Problem solving skills Using your initiative and being self-motivated Working under pressure and to deadlines Organisational skills / Team working Ability to learn and adapt / Numeracy Valuing diversity and difference Negotiation skills

Why Higher Education? It can increase the chance to get a job they enjoy It can increase the chance to receive greater financial returns from employment It's necessary for many professional careers HE teaches many transferable business and life skills that will only help in their future

DEGREE WITH A YEAR IN INDUSTRY Some universities offer this across a wide range of courses. Placement year is usually paid (but not always) Reduced Tuition fee for the placement year Employers like it + may lead directly to employment

UK UNIVERSITY WITH YEAR ABROAD Examples of unis with semester/year abroad (most other unis have them too): Aston: work/study/teaching placements (or a combination) worldwide East Anglia: study abroad in USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, NZ + Erasmus in 21 European countries Exeter: 400 students per year at 40 different European unis on Erasmus or European Study programmes

HELP! CHOOSING COURSES / UNIS To check out different courses and universities: search.ucas.com – the Course Search tool on bestcourse4me.com unistats.direct.gov.uk university.which.co.uk sacu-student.com – especially the Spartan Test Or try ukcoursefinder.com, unifrog.org or whatuni.com And get to some university open days (opendays.com)

Choosing the Right Course Career aspirations Personal preferences and interests Achievement at AS Level and GCSE Targets for A level Points /Grades needed Research: UCAS site (Entry profiles) www.ucas.com Unistats www.direct.gov.uk/unistats http://universitycompare.com Sandwich course / Fast track degree Costs / Popularity

Choosing a Choosing a University Home or away? / Travelling costs? City or rural? Accommodation / Facilities League tables (Guardian university guide / Unistats UCAS Website (www.ucas.com) Open days – Mostly Saturdays / 2 school days max.

The Higher Education Journey Education Journey Step 1: Choosing the Right Course Step 2: Applying Step 3: Offers Step 4: Finance / Accommodation Step 5: Results

Our support programme RT SO FAR Future Pathways programme UCAS Convention in June Higher Education Presentations Question time - 1st year university students Personal Statement Preparation workshop Interviews with employers Regular briefings / Updates Guidance from Sixth Form team / Tutors

Thinking about the future How you as parents can help? Talk to them about : What they want to do for a career What courses they have found What they are putting in their personal statement Get them to: Talk to as many people as they can to find out about their experiences of work Do some research and keep a record of what they have found out Arrange some work experience Try some volunteering, part-time work Attend university open days

UCAS On LineUCAS Application Application Cost: 5 choices £24 or £13 for a single choice £24 for UCAS Conservatoires + audition fees Personal details University choice(s) Qualifications (GCSE/AS/A2/BTEC) Personal Statement Reference: Targets, Academic & Personal achievements

UCAS Conservatoires (Previously CUKAS) The service is designed to provide the facilities to research and apply for practice-based music, dance and drama courses at the following UK conservatoires: Birmingham Conservatoire Leeds College of Music Royal Academy of Music Royal College of Music Royal Northern College of Music Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

UCAS Application Calendar Spring term: Introduction to UCAS & UCAS Conservatoires / Guidance & Information presentations Completion of first draft personal statement Summer term: Careers & Higher Education information days / Open days Check & Register for Admission / Aptitude tests (BMAT / ELAT / UKCAT / LNAT / TSA / Auditions / Other entrance tests Completion of 2nd draft personal statement Completion of online application week commencing 11th July Autumn Term: Reference – Discussion with tutor / Payment & Hand in completed application paperwork / Admission test(s)

UCAS Cycle Offers: From October Extra: February 2017 – July 2017 Clearing: July 2017 - August 2017 UCAS WEBSITE: http://www.ucas.com Home page / 16-18 choices/Parent and Carers Parents guide - Information about the UCAS applicant journey

GAP YEAR(S) Paid gap year schemes (like Year in Industry, Deloitte Scholars, IBM Futures, Arup Pre-Uni Trainee) Paid employment Volunteering worldwide (gapyear.com) Volunteering UK (www.do-it.org.uk) Re-sits ‘Paid’ gap year schemes (like BUNAC, Camp America, Camp Counsellors) Ski season or Au pair agencies Travelling

EMPLOYER/UNI PARTNERSHIPS EMPLOYMENT & APPRENTICESHIPS “54% of graduate employers are now hunting for school-leavers as well as graduates”

HIGHER APPRENTICESHIPS Accredited & salaried work-based programmes with part time university level study BBC Technology Apprenticeships: Broadcast Technology; London/Salford/Birmingham Boots: 2-year Future Leaders programme; Nottingham; £15,000pa; 240pts Capgemini: Software Engineering; 5 years; numerous locations Jaguar Land Rover: Engineering, leads to Production/Manufacturing/Finance/Buying PwC: Assurance/Consulting/Deals/Tax; numerous locations

Questions Contact : mtrollins@speters. org. uk lrthomas@speters. org Questions Contact : mtrollins@speters.org.uk lrthomas@speters.org.uk Thank you for your attention

Marie-Therese Rollins 07/11/2013

Marie-Therese Rollins 07/11/2013