1. Parents’ Information Evening
2019 Entry

2. Welcome and Introductions
Mr Oliver, Head of Sixth Form
Ms Sullivan, Head of Year 13
Catherine Young, Careers Adviser
There are parent and student guides available (details at the end)

4. Destinations Last year 90 students made successful applications
Most students went to a ‘top ranking’ (70%) university
Offers accepted from, Kings College, London Birmingham, Durham, Exeter, Leeds, Nottingham, Southampton, St George’s, London, Sussex and York
Studies include medicine, nursing/midwifery, law, psychology, teaching and business

5. Pathways post A-Level

6. Different stages
Your daughter knows what she wants to do and it’s realistic
Your daughter knows what she wants to do but it’s not realistic
Your daughter doesn’t know what they want to do but is doing something about it
Your daughter doesn’t know what they want to do and doesn’t know where to start . . .

7. Framework

8. Research
What has already been done and further support

9. Research is key!
For competitive courses university applications can be rejected if your daughter’s course research is not evidenced
According to UCAS analysis the single biggest reason for students leaving university in year 1 is that they didn’t research the course/university enough

10. What has been done. . . The journey should have already started . . .
YEAR 12
Speakers
Assemblies
Research tips
1-to-1 Careers Guidance
Work experience

11. What next . . . Higher Ideas Higher Ideas:
A research tool provided by the school
Access code: be8h45s8

12. UCAS and Which? University

13. Narrowing choices – Which Course?
Continue with a subject (Maths, English, Psychology)
Study something new (Marine Biology, Social Policy, Linguistics)
A Vocational Degree (Medicine, Teaching)
A foundation degree (Art & Design)
A Sandwich Course (A year in industry or aboard)

14. Narrowing choices – Which Course?
Things to consider
Example
What are the entry requirements?
BBB
How is the course taught?
Lectures and Seminars
How much contact time is there?
8 hours per week
What do the assessments look like? (coursework vs exams)
Exam and Coursework (weighted year 2 and 3)
Student : Staff ratio
15:8

15. Narrowing choices – Which Uni?
How far from home? – Where will your daughter live?
Where is the uni located – town or country?
A small or large uni/campus or not?
Study/Course Facilities
Extra curricular activities/facilities
Employment rates after graduating

16. Tools to use – Comparing unis and courses

17. League Tables:
There are many ways to measure and rate a university and course – decide what is important to you!

18. Putting research into practice
Visit – ‘try before you buy!’
Open Days
Taster Courses
Summer Schools

19. Support – Guides Available
We are here to support your daughter
Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance
Guides Produced

20. The Application
The Process and Timeline

21. UCAS Registration We support all students to register
Your daughter will choose up to 5 universities
If thinking about Oxbridge (can only apply to either Oxford or Cambridge)
If thinking about Medicine, Veterinary Science or Dentistry you have 4 choices (plus one)
Predicted Grades – your daughter’s Year 12 mock results will be used
Cost = £24

22. UCAS Personal Statement
This is the most important part of the application!
Started exercises to think about how to start before half-term
Deadline for 1st draft is 5th July

23. What is it? - UCAS Personal Statement
The reason why your daughter is applying to her chosen course and why the university should offer her a place.
It has to be 47 lines or 4000 characters
It should convey;
Passion for the course
Suitability
Personality
What they can offer the university

24. A suggested model

25. Support and Guidance
There are models available, but be aware of plagiarism
Tutors, Head of Year, Head of Sixth Form and the Careers Adviser are here to help
Draft and re-draft – 3/4 times with tutor

26. References
The school provide a reference to support your daughter’s application (with predicted grades)
It is shown to your daughter
School submits all applications

27. Timeline UCAS deadline 15th Oct – Oxbridge/Medicine/Dentistry/Vet
UCAS deadline 15th Jan – for majority of applications
UCAS deadline 24th March – Art & Design (if not 15th Jan)
End of June: applications entered into clearing
School deadline: End of November
School deadline: End of February
School deadline: End of September

28. An offer and UCAS Tariff
Conditional
Unconditional
Invite to interview
Grade
A-Level Points
BTEC Points
Extended Project A* 56
56 (Distinction) 28 A 48
48 (Distinction) 24 B 40 20 C 32
32 (Merit) 16 D 12 E
16 (Pass) 8
Example offer:
Essex University, International Relations BBB or
120 points (including an A grade)

29. Firm and Insurance Choice
Accepting offers – a contract between your daughter and the university
Firm Choice (the course your daughter really wants to study and their chosen university)
Insurance Choice (an offer with lesser entry requirements than the firm, but still a course and university where your daughter wants to study)

30. UCAS - Extra
If all five choices originally applied for do not result in an offer – your daughter could still find a place using Extra – (no additional cost)
Extra opens at the end of February
Add one choice at a time until an offer is made
Deadline is the end of June (then entering clearing)

31. Results Day – 16th August Your daughter will be fully supported
The Head of Sixth Form, Head of Year 13, Careers Adviser and other members of staff will be at school from 8
Clearing – if your daughter doesn’t get an offer
Adjustment – if your daughter has exceeded her predicted grades

32. Student Finance
What is on offer and what can be claimed?

33. UCAS and Finance
Your daughter must tick the box on the UCAS application form confirming they wish to be considered for financial support
They will receive information on what to do from the Students Loan Company
The application can start before any offers are received

34. Finance Tuition Fee Loan Maintenance Loan Household Income
Everyone can apply (not means tested)
For the full cost of the tuition fees
Up to £9,250 per year for most costs
Paid directly to the university
Repayment after earnings are over £21,000pa (taken via salary)
Repayments stop after 30 years regardless of how much of the student loan has been paid back
Does not effect credit rating
Maintenance Loan
Based on current household income
For students that study outside of London
There are some differences for courses such as medicine
Household Income
Amount per annum
£25,000
£8,700
£35,000
£7,452
£45,000
£6,204
£62,180 and above
£4,054

35. How to apply https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

36. Apprenticeships
A very brief guide

37. Support Provided Apprenticeship Talks
Apprenticeship Workshops held in the Autumn term
Advice about registering for updates

38. Apprenticeship Levels
Foundation
Higher
Degree

39. Apprenticeship

40. What now?
Next steps

41. Students need to be proactive
Which courses?
Which unis?
Open Days
Taster Days
Wider reading
Free on-line courses
UCAS Application and Finance
Personal Statement

42. Guides to help you

43. Guides and Tools to support your daughter
Higher Ideas:
School log-on: be8h45s8
Resources:
UCAS
Which? University
Unistats

44. Thank you for your time Questions