11 Strathearn School Belfast L6 Information Evening 2014

22 PROGRAMME FOR THE EVENING Introduction Mr Manning Pastoral Mrs Myers (Head of 6 th Form) CurriculumMrs Connery (VP) Careers Mrs Hearst (Careers Adviser) Conclusion Mr Manning

33 AIMS OF L6 INFORMATION EVENING  To give parents an understanding of the 6th form experience  To help parents offer practical support to their daughters  To strengthen the home school partnership

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55 The differences Forms 4 & 5Form 6 9 GCSEs All timetabled Directed study Homework 4 / 3 AS Levels & 3 A2 Careers & IT classes 75% timetabled Independent Study –Supervised Study –Homework Privileges –Common room –Lunch time

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11 The differences Forms 4 & 5Form 6 9 GCSEs All timetabled Directed study Homework 4 / 3 AS Levels & 3 A2 Careers & IT classes 75% timetabled Independent Study –Supervised Study –Homework Privileges –Common room –Lunch time

12 PASTORAL – MRS MYERS Support for Girls:  Form tutor  Head of sixth form:  essentially a supportive role  pastoral and academic  Learning support – Mrs Atkinson  Personal study support – Ms Stevenson  Careers staff  Vice Principal (Pastoral)

13 BEING IN SIXTH FORM Privileges and opportunities:  Volunteering opportunities  ‘Study’ periods  lunchtime flexibility  Leadership opportunities  Relationship with teachers  Common room

14 Responsibilities  Attendance and punctuality (monitored and reported)  Use of personal study time in school (crucial for success!)  Management of deadlines  Role models for younger girls  The Sixth form Agreement  Positive Behaviour Policy  The Common Room

15 HOW TO SUCCEED  Good attendance and punctuality  Personal discipline and good organisation  Proactive approach  Watch for early warning signs

16 EARLY WARNING SIGNS  ‘Coasting’  Missed deadlines  Disappointing marks  Loss of control

17 Curriculum Mrs Connery

18 AS and A Level Courses TimingName of exam Number of exams Qualification May/June of L6 (2015) AS (1 st half of full A-level) 2/3 modules per subject AS Level A May/June of U6 (2016) A2 (2 nd half of full A-level) 2/3 modules per subject level

AS / A2 Results AS Examination – June 2015 Module 1 Score = 89 (a) Module 2 Score = 79 (b) TOTAL – = 168 Overall AS Grade = A (August 2015) A2 Examination – June 2016 AS Score = 168 (A) Module 3 Score = 85 (a) Module 4 Score = 72 (b) TOTAL = 325 Overall A2 Grade – A (August 2016) 19

Grade Boundaries AS /A2 4 Unit Specification Maximum Mark possible AS = 200 marks Maximum Mark possible A2 = 200 marks Maximum Overall A Level score = 400 marks 20 ASA2 A*n/a320 overall (total of 180 across the A2 units) A B C D E80160

21 Coursework Guides For pupilsFor parents 21 Authenticating coursework Coursework - A guide for parents

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23 Results AS and A2 Thursday 13 August 2015

24 Useful Curriculum Contacts

25 SIXTH FORM CAREERS PROGRAMME MRS HEARST Careers Adviser

26 CAREERS CLASSES IN 6 TH FORM  1 period per week over almost 4 terms ▪ Careers teacher allocated to each Form Class

27 PREPARATION FOR WORLD OF WORK  Job advertisements  CV preparation  Completing an application form  Introduction to interview skills  Appropriate behaviour in the workplace  Work experience (12-16 Jan 2015) (including debriefing & evaluation)

28 OPTIONS AT 18+  Further education  Direct employment  Gap year  Higher education

29 U6 LEAVERS’ DESTINATIONS 2014 girls, of which  girlsHigher Education  girlsOxbridge  girlsRussell Group universities  girlsOther universities  girlsNI universities  girlRepublic of Ireland  girlsUSA Universities (Texas and New York)

30 HIGHER EDUCATION PREPARATION  Guest Speakers  Talks and courses by professional organisations  Databases on school computers

31 CHOOSING UNIVERSITIES Pupils are encouraged to make use of: Open Days visits to local universities Visits to other Open/Information days (attendance on an individual basis) H E Convention (March 2015)  Prospectuses,  DVDs, CD Roms  Websites especially  Careers Library  University speakers

32 AIMS FOR SEPT AUG 2015 DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS Pupils should:  Discuss options with parents.  Visit universities where courses of interest to them offered BY THE END OF L6 Each pupil should have:  A list of 6 – 10 possible courses  A Personal Statement (first draft)

33 U6 TIMETABLE  UCAS U6 Information Evening  Individual interview with careers teacher – list of choices finalised  QUB Open Day (early Sept)  MCB Options XXII Careers Convention (early Sept)  Strathearn deadline for early applicants (16 Sept) [Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, vet sci / med]  Strathearn deadline for other UCAS applicants (15 Oct)  UCAS deadline: early applicants (10 Oct)  Girls confirm firm and insurance offers  Student finance presentation

34 Checklist for choosing Universities  Does the subject material in the degree match your daughter’s strengths?  Is the degree structure and content interesting to your daughter?  Is the degree of a high quality? QAA – Quality Assurance Agency / Times Good Uni Guide / Guardian / HESA – Higher Education Statistics Agency / Complete University guide  How any hours teaching does she receive ? (Ring Uni department and ask)

35 Checklist for choosing Universities cont’d  Are the academics teaching on the programme engaged in high quality teaching and research? (as previous slide)  Are the students studying the degree satisfied with the course ? Unistats  Are the students employable and in rewarding careers? See all websites already mentioned and Prospects  What financial support is available?  Home / Away / Campus / City  (All websites are listed on Careers Section of Strathearn School Website- Studying at Strathearn, Careers, Useful Careers websites)

36 APPLYING TO UNIVERSITIES in Republic of Ireland through CAO [Central Applications Office] Applications dealt with separately. Have much later deadline than UCAS

37 Mock Interview Evening Current U6 Monday 24 November 2014

38 WORK EXPERIENCE  Initial contact (by students and parents) by mid Oct.  Existing databank to assist  Personal contacts more successful  Some exceptions – e.g. medical placements (coordinated centrally through Charter).  Formal correspondence - insurance forms etc  Help with placements? - contact Mrs Hearst

39 CONCLUSION  Each girl is different  Strong peer pressure  Maintain the work-relaxation balance