1. Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College
Higher Education Information Evening
for Parents
Thursday 27th April 2017

2. Destination data 2016 statistics
74 % of Students progressed to Higher Education
8% Employment
6% Gap Year
4% Apprenticeship
Intensive support provided by Tutors, Pastoral Managers, Vice Principal and Careers Advisers throughout the UCAS process.

3. Benefits of higher education
Opportunities whilst studying
Chance to study a subject they are passionate about.
Achieve a qualification that will lead to their chosen career.
Gain confidence, independence, and important life skills that will widen their prospects.
Make lifelong friends.
With a degree
The opportunity to follow their career path.
Better job prospects.
Many employers target graduates.
Higher earning potential.

4. Summary of the UCAS process
Researching HE courses & entry requirements
Online application UCAS website [opens 23rd May 2017 for Sept 2018 entry]
1 course – 5 universities
Personal statement
Possible HE interview
Student monitors offers on UCAS Track
Replying to offers – Firm & Conditional
A-level results day - 23rd August 2018
Personal Tutor Support
PAM Support
Careers Support

5. ND schedule for UCAS When? What happens? Jan 2017 onwards
Students research university courses, visit university open days, and check entry requirements.
June 2017
Higher Education Day Thurs 22nd June (compulsory)
UCAS application started. Form includes:
Personal details
Qualifications
Courses/universities applied to (up to 5)
Personal statement
Academic reference written by college
July and August
2017
Students enhance application with work experience or volunteering. Students attend university open days, taster events and summer schools. Work Experience Week 3-7th July 2017.

6. The UCAS process When? What happens? From September 2017
Students continue to work on UCAS application in tutorials
Applications will be submitted online to UCAS
Students may be asked to interview
Sept 22nd
Early deadline for certain applications:
Oxford and Cambridge universities
Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science
October 6th
ND internal deadline for competitive courses requiring A/B grades and subjects such as health related, teaching, social work applications.
November 17th
Final date for all other UCAS applications to be sent.
N.B.
Places are offered from October so early application is best, especially for popular courses.

7. Students need to do their best.
Universities base their offers on GCSE performance and A2 estimated grades.
MOCK exams must be taken seriously. This helps tutors with estimated grades.
College attendance and punctuality is key.
Some universities check how many times students have re-taken modules and some consider only the result at first sitting.

8. Research and realistic aspirations.
Mock exam results are good predictors for final A level results, so choose courses accordingly. Students should start researching their course options now. Please encourage students to attend university open days before they apply – local events are listed on Moodle Careers. All students should have a Plan B.

9. Notre Dame HE Day Thursday 22nd June 2017
Over 50 universities attending offer HE advice.
Lectures on Choosing your HE Course, Student Finance and Personal Statement Writing.
Students register on UCAS and begin their application in June.
Specialist workshops.
Students find out about alternatives e.g. school leaver programmes /apprenticeships.
Tutor support.

10. U6 enrolment day
23rd June 2017
One to one consultations for all students with their personal tutors.
Information, advice and guidance on most appropriate options, subject choice and progression routes.
Careers support available.

11. Work experience and volunteering
ESSENTIAL for:
Healthcare subjects e.g. medicine, physiotherapy, dentistry, radiography, nursing, midwifery.
Social work degrees.
Teaching: must be classroom-related at the right key stage level. [3 weeks required].
Competitive courses
Experience should be completed BEFORE applying.
The more experience an applicant has, the better.
Get it organised now for the summer! Students should consult careers staff.
Work Experience Week for L6 3rd – 7th July 2017
Students should have completed ‘Work Experience request form’ and submitted to Careers.

12. University access schemes
Available for students who meet certain criteria
Offered by Leeds University, York, Sheffield Hallam, Leeds Trinity, Northumbria and Newcastle.
May result in special consideration for courses or possibly a reduced offer.
Students to contact Careers for details.
Please encourage students to speak to their PAM if there are any personal circumstances which may have affected their academic performance and which staff need to be aware of for reference purposes.

13. Support for students with disabilities.
Academic support
Special arrangements in examinations
University accommodation
Disabilities must be declared on UCAS form
Apply for Disabled Students Allowance

14. University offers
Once your son or daughter has submitted their UCAS application, they will hopefully receive offers from the universities.
Students can monitor their offers online via UCAS TRACK.
These may be conditional or unconditional.
Your son or daughter will need to choose one firm and one insurance offer and decline the others.
Students taking a gap year may wish to DEFER an offer.

15. Alternatives to university
Gap year
Foundation degrees
Apprenticeships
School leaver programmes
Information and resources for students are available on Moodle Careers
Speak to the Apprenticeship Hub today – new degree level apprenticeships are available.
Also find out about the different routes into the legal profession at the law workshop.
Students have the opportunity to join an upper sixth employment tutor group.

16. Useful resources for parents
UCAS website (parent section/newsletter)
Complete University Guide
Student Finance England
Individual university websites
Open Days
Parent Advisor
College Careers team
Anna Dickinson, Liz Crick & Vicky Pointing