Aim Higher 2018 Realising Potential IAG Officer: Mrs Butler [ j.butler@kingsmeadschool.net]

Welcome! The purpose of tonight is to help raise the aspirations of our students. Every student in the room now has potential. Our focus tonight is about providing a starting point for the future doctors, business leaders, lawyers, teachers and nurses...

Plan for this evening… Part 1 Aspirations and Potential Part 2 Follow your choice of workshops How to get ahead Careers options The UCAS/GCSE/apprenticeship experience My bit on how we have chosen the students here. Show A* film Matt’s bit on 6th form and aspirations My bit on University visits

Every Grade Matters Looking ahead to… … tomorrow… … next term… … next year… … Sixth Form… … and beyond… Every Grade Matters…

At Kingsmead… Resilient Driven Independent Curious Challenging

University Ranking Lists There are lots of university rankings… for overall university… the best courses… employability… nightlife… that come out each year. They are a bit like football league tables…. so do you want a university like Manchester United… or Wolves… or Walsall… You are paying for your university course and its benefit will have a major influence on your later life. University (Overall) Cambridge Warwick Birmingham Nottingham Sheffield Aston Keele Birmingham City Derby Staffordshire Check them Source: www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk

Why are GCSES so important? So what…you know you could have done better, you did what you had to… So… you will not have the basic skills needed for A level - it is hard to catch up… So what… you get a lower GCSE average point score… So… this will potentially block certain ‘hard’ A-Levels (less so at Kingsmead)… So what… you get lower Sixth Form target grades which are based on all GCSE grades… So… this will make you less appealing to higher ranked universities who have the very best to choose from… And… your GCSE grades are increasingly checked by the top universities… So… the higher ranked universities are looking at all GCSE grades (more than ever) and the English Baccalaureate is likely to become a bigger deal…

All three pathways have rigorous entry requirements Looking to Sixth Form Kingsmead Sixth Form is an academic Sixth Form which offers a range of courses: Academic subjects - linear A levels (2 year courses – no AS levels) Vocational courses - Btec Qualifications (these subjects now have exams which means they are becoming more rigorous) A combination of both Academic and Vocational All three pathways have rigorous entry requirements

To access Academic courses students MUST have APS of 5.5 APS explained….. To access Academic courses students MUST have APS of 5.5 To access Vocational courses students MUST have APS 4 For a combination course students MUST have APS of 5.5 To study Maths/Chemistry/Physics/Biology students MUST have a 7 or A/A* in Maths and Science as well as the APS of 5.5 Students must pass English and Maths at GCSE level preferably at grade 5 Grade Point Score 9 A* 8.5 8 7/A 7 6 B 5.5 5 4/C 4 3/D 3 2/E 2 1

Making the Right Steps Now… What subjects do you want to study in Sixth Form? You now know what grades you need to get Start this journey right now ! The gap between year 11 and 12 is BIG so get into good study habits NOW I EXPECT Year 12 and 13 students to be working EVERY week night for at least 1 ½ - 2 hours Success at GCSE really does open up opportunities for your future Start writing your success story today…

Alternative routes Students wanting to take a known vocational route – local colleges Walsall, Stafford, South Staffs College, Lichfield, Rodbaston Cover whole range of courses: Entry to Level 3. Ideally Level 2 / 3. Cater for students with slightly lower grades. Offer Hair beauty, trade, more practical courses. Again ideally Level 2 / 3. The importance of English and Maths here at Kingsmead now! Can lead onto apprenticeships, university, into employment. This is quite an individual route – do take advantage of our IAG now! Start writing your success story today…

It’s getting harder out there… “I only started revising at the end of Year 11. I did ok, but I know I could have done better.” “I didn’t think there would be jobs out there, there are, I am just competing with others for them.” “I was the first to go to University from my family – they were proud of me.” “My apprenticeship meant I was learning and earning. It was right for me.”

Part two of the evening You should have a personalised programme from the tables at the entrance to this room. This has... A timetable for this evening with your choices of workshops Your first workshop will start in just a few minutes. Each session will last 20 minutes. If you haven’t got a programme please see the staff just outside the this room at the end. If you have not signed up to workshops we can do this here for you.