The University of Sheffield: Admissions & Access Heather Macleod Jones : Senior Admissions Officer (Access) email: access@sheffield.ac.uk

What we’ll cover… Qualification Updates General Admissions Updates Sheffield Admissions Access Sheffield Access+ Disrupted Studies SHU Progress How you can help! Q&A

Qualifications Reform GCSE/AS & A Level Reform now at an end – all new qualifications are in place & unreformed qualification in their final exam phase Roll out of T Levels – new technical qualification route – each equivalent to three A Levels Design, Surveying & Planning Education Digital production, Design & Development DfE consultation & review of all remaining qualifications at Level 3 in England (BTEC etc)

Expected to be graded Pass, Merit, Distinction (Distinction Expected to be graded Pass, Merit, Distinction (Distinction*?) for the technical qualification element Expected to be assigned UCAS tariff points More engagement with awarding bodies and providers needed

Admissions in General Relatively stable Universities are still feeling the impact of the demographic dip – it’s a buyers market & competition for students is rife Increase in ‘direct to clearing’ applications – “one & gone”

Admissions in General UCAS delayed the role out of their new UG application system Now expected in May 2020 for 2021 entry With this will come suite of ‘new’ questions around applicants with individual needs Disability & Care Experience Carers Students with parenting responsibilities Estranged students Refugees & Asylum Seekers Students from military families

Every University is likely to be handling this in different way(s): Some asking at the point of application Some asking at the point of an accommodation application Some asking at the point of registration/enrolment Some not asking at all Less transparent, more confusing, UCAS can no longer provide universal support & took an option away from Universities before their rationale for having/using this information was adequately explored. 05/08/2019 © The University of Sheffield

Admissions in General Academic Suitability + Potential to Succeed Entry Requirements Qualifications achieved Predicted Grades & subject pre-requisites The Personal Statement: Motivation, commitment, personal experiences and extenuating circumstances The Reference: Providing additional key context

Academic Suitability + Potential to Succeed Admissions at TUoS Academic Suitability + Potential to Succeed Contextual Information LPN – Polar3/4 quintile 1: Submitted via UCAS Care Experience – Answer to UCAS Care question will trigger request for Access+ eligibility declaration Estrangement, Caring Responsibilities: additional information in reference, personal statement or other correspondence will trigger request for Access+ eligibility declaration Disrupted Studies: additional information in reference, personal statement or other correspondence will trigger request for disrupted studies form We also hope applicants will identify Access+ and Disrupted Studies themselves before our triggers 05/08/2019 © The University of Sheffield

Access Sheffield www.sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/access-sheffield 05/08/2019 © The University of Sheffield

Access+ Big change for contextual admissions at TUoS – clearer, fairer and more transparent Formalises additional consideration always afforded to care leavers, carers and estranged applicants into an alternative offer Usually one grade below the standard A Level or equivalent requirements for their course – conditional on making Sheffield their firm choice In the interim between now & new UCAS system we rely on self-declaration via personal statement, reference and/or Access+ eligibility declaration – we also don’t want to lose sight of other/related Disrupted Studies 05/08/2019 © The University of Sheffield

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/study/policies/disrupted-studies 05/08/2019

Support for students whose personal circumstances might mean that they face barriers to going to university. Support is provided in the year of their application and beyond by linking students to post-enrolment teams. shu-progress@shu.ac.uk www.shu.ac.uk/shuprogress

Support with making the best application At offer making and confirmation stage Take student's circumstances into context - recognise their potential to achieve Offered on SHU Progress only for students who are: care Leavers carers estranged homeless from a refugee background experiencing extenuating circumstances Forward extenuating circumstances to admissions@shu.ac.uk

Special Consideration during the admissions process Advice on the UCAS Process and Personal Statement writing for students and their supporters Subject specific interview IAG for: Architecture Art and Design Health and Social Care Photography Teacher Education Online, individual chats or group applicant support sessions Admissions referring students with WP indicators in their personal statement / reference to SHU Progress Second review of WP students with mandatory preparation sessions and invite to interview

How you can help? Support applicants to declare their circumstances via UCAS (personal statements or additional questions) or via other means (additional correspondence, disrupted studies, Access+ eligibility declaration, SHU Progress) Use the UCAS resources and signpost young people to these https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/undergraduate-individual-needs https://www.ucas.com/advisers/guides-resources-and-training/guides-and-resources Encourage Open Day attendance Encourage open lines of communication with Admissions service, Department contact, transition support teams and welfare & guidance services once at University Keep in touch

Thank You & Any Questions?