Jon Ryder – Assistant Headteacher Careers’ Master Class Jon Ryder – Assistant Headteacher Starter task – look at the grid on your tables. What does this mean to you?

Outcomes To understand the range of qualifications available to young people after year 11 To make connections between qualifications and careers To identify strategies for supporting your children in their careers choices

AFTER Y11

Year 13 – degree chosen. Choose your passion. Think career Year 11 – A levels chosen. Choose the ones you’re good at. Think degree. Year 9 – GCSEs chosen. Choose the ones you love!

What is your young person’s next step? A levels BTEC Apprenticeship Work Other (please state)

And then…? Work Degree Further other study? Gap year?

What are … A levels? Academic route Level 3 qualification Split into 2 – AS and A2 AS sat in y12, A2 in y13 (normally) Very academic – even for practical subjects like DT and Art

SKHS entry requirements for A levels 5 A*-C including English and Maths B grades in subjects your young person wants to study at A level A grade in Maths To study 2 Sciences students require 2 As at GCSE in Science To study further Maths students require A* in Maths Subjects not studied at GCSE (e.g. Economics, Psychology) normally require a B in English GCSE Other colleges are available!

Your homework Which A levels are you considering? Why have you chosen those ones? What job are you thinking about? How well do your A levels fit in with those aspirations? Do you plan to study 4 A levels? Which one would you consider dropping in year 13? Is Seven Kings the best place for you?

What are … BTECs? Vocational route Less academic, more practical – linked to work BTECs can be studied at Entry Level (pre-GCSE) right through to Level 7 (post-graduate) There are different types of BTECs…

BTEC Firsts Level 2 – the same as a GCSE Normally taken alongside other qualifications like GCSEs Equivalent to 1 or 2 GCSE passes at C grade

BTEC Nationals Level 3 – the same as A Levels Recommended for young people with a strong inclination towards a specific vocational route Can be used to get access to university and attracts UCAS points in the same way as A level More traditionally used as a route into employment These are currently not offered at SKHS

Qualifications compared Level Traditional Vocational 3 Advanced 3 A levels 2 A levels 1 A level 1 AS level BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma BTEC Level 3 Diploma BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma BTEC Level 3 Certificate 2 Intermediate YOU ARE WORKING TO ACHIEVE THIS LEVEL NOW! 5 GCSEs (A*-C) 2 GCSEs (A*-C) 1 GCSE (A*-C) BTEC Level 2 Diploma BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate BTEC Level 2 Certificate 1 Foundation Up to 5 GCSEs (D-G) BTEC Level 1 Awards Certificates and Diplomas Entry Level National Curriculum levels 1-3 BTEC Entry Level Awards Certificates and Diplomas

BTEC at SKHS Sixth Form SKHS offers a limited range of level 2BTEC in the Sixth Form These are normally taken alongside GCSE Maths and/or English retakes Some students also take one or two A levels as well, but only if they meet the entry requirements They are only taken in year 12 – BTEC students have to leave at the end of year 12 Currently we are offering STEM and Business at BTEC Level 2

Your homework Why do you want to study BTEC? Have you got a specific job in mind? Why this job? Is this job going to be around in 15 years? Where is the best place to study this BTEC? If SKHS, why SKHS? Do you want to go to university? Which one? How will BTEC impact on this?

What are … Apprenticeships? Work-based training programmes Trainees receive a NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) at Level 2 or Level 3 Normally trainees spend most of their time in work and are released to do training in college or another setting There are 250 different types of apprenticeship This is a massive growth area – the government LOVE work-based training Trainees get paid a minimum of £2.60 an hour

And there’s more! Entry requirements vary – normally employers want at least 5 A*-Cs including English and Maths but this is not a requirement Trainees must find their own employer There is a website that can help with this

Apprenticeships at Seven Kings We have a link with a local organisation that is funded to match students to apprenticeships Students in year 11 and 12 can go onto this programme – we will run it after Christmas in school You can email me if you’re interested -j.ryder@skhs.net The only rule: your young person MUST want to do an apprenticeship INSTEAD of coming to our Sixth Form

Your homework Why an apprenticeship? Where will you study? How are you going to find a job? Is this job going to exist in 15 years? Why not college then university?

Into University? For individuals For society Achievement matters Increased lifetime salary (13% for a degree) Improved health (half the number of disabled years) Longer life (1.7 years of life per extra year of schooling) Lower criminal justice costs Lower health-care costs Increased economic growth (Hanushek & Wößman, 2010)

Into university? Achievement matters

The Russell Group This is the group of best universities in the UK It includes Oxford, Cambridge, and UCL Over 37% of our students went to Russell Group universities last year 47% of our students got offers from Russell Group universities

Russell Group – Facilitating Subjects Maths and Further Maths English Literature Biology, Chemistry, Physics History Geography Languages (modern and ancient) For Music and Art most Russell Group Universities require these courses Lots of Russell Group universities require Art for Architecture

Choosing the right A Levels Universities will want to see A Levels that make sense for the degree course chosen History degree – History, English, MfL, Social Science, etc Maths degree – Maths, Further Maths, Science, English Science degree – two Sciences, Maths, English Design degree – Design, Art, English, Maths Remember: most students drop one A Level in year 13 All students receive advice and guidance from a senior member of staff about their A Level choices on two occasions in year 11

Did you know? Universities can charge up to £9k a year for degree courses – 14 universities in the top 20 charge the full £9k One university (Buckingham) charges £11,250! 40% of jobs available to graduates do not require a specific degree You do not need a Law degree to be a lawyer (50% of lawyers studied History) ‘Soft skills’ are often as important to recruiters as the degree studied You have to have at least a 2:2 to study to become a teacher

Financial help for going to university Maintenance grant Household income How much? £25,000 or less Full £3,250 grant Between £25,001 and £42,600 Partial grant, depending on your household income More than £42,600 No grant

Maintenance loan – available to all Living with parents Up to £4,375 Studying in London and not living with parents Up to £7,675 Studying outside of London and not living with parents Up to £5,500 Living and studying abroad for at least one academic term Up to £6,535 Anyone can get a loan to pay for tuition fees

Your homework Are you planning to go to university? Do you have any ideas about which university? Which course are you thinking of studying? How does this impact on you’re A level choices? How does this link with your career pathway? What do you know about the entry requirements for the course you want to do? What do you understand about the funding arrangements for university?

Top 5 Growth Industries Engineering Health and Social Care Mechanical Chemical Automotive Health and Social Care Medicine Nursing Pharmaceuticals

Top 5 Growth Industries - continued IT Design Programming Business analysts and data experts Finance and accountancy Credit control Auditing Purchasing Energy Electricity, gas and oil Green, environmental

Conclusions University education matters, despite £27,000 tuition fees Change is afoot, though Best degrees are vocational Sciences Engineering Business, accountancy, economics To be successful you have to be savvy, streetwise and switched on!