Year 12 Parents Information Evening An Introduction to Sixth Form September 2018 An Introduction to Sixth Form

Aims Supporting your son/daughter to be successful Introduction to Oldbury Wells School Sixth Form – Our policies, procedures and other key information Changes to A-Levels and what this means Study Programmes Beyond Sixth Form

Points of contact Mrs Bishell -Head of Sixth Form Mrs Fyfe & Mrs Wellings - Sixth form support April.Bishell@oldburywells.com Sarah.Wellings@oldburywells.com

Supporting your child

How can you help? Show an interest Ask them to explain what and how they are doing Try to provide the right environment at home for study Discuss future career / university goals Revision guides can be useful Stay in touch Be sympathetic Encourage them to aim high

How well are they working? Signs to look out for Are they working well? Have they put their phones away? Are they doing work at the same time as responding to texts and social media?

Learning to Learn – The Challenge Transition GCSE to A-level Learning to Learn – The Challenge Academic Enquiry Increased depth of knowledge and understanding More abstract concepts Sophisticated analysis and evaluation Longer answers Analytical ability Organisational Ability Research and reading Extended tasks, longer deadlines Paper overload Study periods Revision of a lot of content

Changes to A-Levels

A-Level Reform Now linear examinations All examinations will be taken for the A-Level at the end of two years.

BTEC Reform Now includes at least one unit which is externally assessed through an exam unit At least one unit which is controlled assessment under high-level control

What does this mean for my son/daughter? Assessment will be predominantly external through external examinations. There will be a reduction in the amount of coursework, from 40% to 20% in English and History, for example The practical work in Science will be a practical endorsement, which must be passed but will not contribute to the final A-Level grades awarded Question types will be improved – there will be more focus on synoptic questions which explore students’ overall knowledge on a subject rather than just focus on individual elements

What does this mean for my son/daughter? AS qualifications will no longer count towards the final A-Level grades – they are separate qualifications in their own right There will therefore be three distinct qualifications: GCSE, AS and A-Level – grades given for each will be separate Grade systems will remain as present: A* to E for A-Level A*-E is pass at A-Level, not A*-C.

What makes a successful post 16 student? Attitudes Organisation Time management Balance between academic work, leisure and part-time work Excellent attendance

What should my son/daughter be doing? Prepare revision summaries Read appropriate sections of textbooks Read around your subjects generally Supplement your notes from lessons Revise as you go along; make note summaries or postcards Learn–as-you-go Look at past examination papers to see how questions relate to the topics you learn Identify weaker areas and take positive steps to conquer them Use libraries and watch suitable and relevant TV programmes as well as reading quality, broadsheet newspapers

Being a Sixth Form Student is a full time job Should treat time in school as such They should be using time in school to complete homework Time at home to do some additional independent study Aim for an hour in addition to every hour in lesson time as a minimum at home.

Paid Work Important and often useful However… research shows that students working over 10 hours per week are likely to under perform by 1 grade per subject

Level 3 students must write! Note taking is essential to successful outcomes Students should supplement their learning by making their own notes They should be reading widely around their subjects

Study Programmes

Individual Study Programme Students will be requested to sign their study programme Students have allocated study sessions on their timetable. We require them to be in school These are registered. They can study in the library, the quiet room, Art room

Introduction to OWS Sixth Form

The role of the Form Tutor/Mentor All students are allocated a form tutor The form tutor is their mentor in school who will aim to: monitor progress offer tailored support and guidance work closely with parents, if required oversee their reference for University or employment attendance in registration

CORE – Enrichment Every Monday Team building activities Charity work Careers advice and guidance Outside speakers from Universities, Apprenticeship providers, Year in Industry local employers and Businesses, the armed forces. Personal and Health issues

Work Experience Last week of the summer term Essential for all medical courses, veterinary medicine, teaching Desirable for many like engineering or accountancy Students to organise and give information of placements to Jen Brown Sets them apart on their references

My son/daughter has a day without lessons, can they study at home? NO - not in year 12 Year 13 – on an individual basis

Attendance Good attendance is vital to success Book appointments outside school time where possible. Driving lessons should not be booked in the school day. If your son/daughter is absent please ring to let the school know Students should email or see teachers to collect work missed straight away

Important Dates January Mock Internal examinations – First 2 weeks after Christmas. Revision for these should begin at least 6 weeks before. Should be revising throughout the year Results will be reported in the full report issued early February Mock results will be given to students Really important that they work hard

Tracking and Monitoring Progress Targets will be set shortly– discussed and negotiated with teachers Based on GCSE Point Average – Minimum Expected Progress. In class assessments – Very important Data capture – monitoring each half term Discussions with form tutors/mentors Intervention – through teachers/tutors/mentors/Sixth Form support team

Beyond Sixth Form

What next? University Apprenticeship Employment College Gap year Internship

University Applications through UCAS Choices of universities Personal statement Reference written by subject teachers and form tutors On-line

University Expectations What are your expectations? What are the expectations of universities? What should you be doing now?

Russell Group Universities 24 leading universities committed to the best research and teaching Birmingham Bristol Cambridge Cardiff Durham Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow Imperial - London King’s – London Leeds Liverpool LSE – London Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Oxford Queen Mary’s – London Belfast Sheffield Southampton UCL – London Warwick York

https://www.timeshighereducation.com UK Rank 2018 World University Rank 2018 Institution City/Town 1 University of Oxford Oxford 2 University of Cambridge Cambridge 3 8 Imperial College London London 4 16 UCL 5 =25 London School of Economics and Political Science 6 =27 University of Edinburgh Edinburgh 7 36 King’s College London =54 University of Manchester Manchester 9 76 University of Bristol Bristol 10 =80 University of Glasgow Glasgow 11 91 University of Warwick Coventry 12 97 Durham University Durham 13 104 University of Sheffield Sheffield 14 121 Queen Mary University of London 15 =126 University of Southampton Southampton =130 University of Exeter Exeter 17 =137 University of York York 18 139 University of Leeds Leeds 19 =141 University of Birmingham Birmingham 20 =143 University of St Andrews Fife https://www.timeshighereducation.com

Universities Its a ‘good’ university if it offers the right course for you

University Start research into potential courses now Book on open days Oxbridge Candidates – Cambridge Shadowing Scheme Oxbridge Conference Start looking at undergraduate reading list – do additional reading to supplement and develop knowledge beyond level 3.

Further Education at college Art and Design Foundation Degree NVQs University qualifications

Apprenticeships

Successful Apprentices Luke: BBC Belinda: Ricoh

Gap Year – Year in Industry

Careers www.Icould.com

Some useful websites www.notgoingtouni.com www.opendays.com http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings www.push.co.uk www.studential.com www.thestudentroom.co.uk www.ucas.com www.ucasconnect.com www.uni4me.com www.notgoingtouni.com www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeship http://new.shropshire.gov.uk/county-training/ http://icould.com/ www.cascaid.co.uk

Common Goal Happy Confident Academically successful Equipped to take the next step We always welcome parents input!

Thank you for your time Any Questions…….?