1. Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College
Higher Education Information Evening
for Parents
Thursday 27th April 2017
Welcome, outline of the evening, aims and objectives of the event.
University stalls in the common room/canteen will be available until 7.30pm if any questions.

2. Destination data 2016 statistics
74 % of Students progressed to Higher Education
8% Employment
6% Gap Year
4% Apprenticeship
Tutorial Programme, Tutor reviews, UCAS reminders, 121 support from Careers and visiting universities.
Extremely proud of the relationships with have with not only local but nationwide Universities.
Russell Group Universities – top universities in the UK high academic standard and they are research intensive.
17% Russell group universities – normally 30%
Higher education is not the only route
All staff offer IMPARTIAL information advice and guidance, the decision has to be the right decision for the student not the college.
Partnership agreements with Leeds Trinity and Huddersfield University
Offer OCRE programme
Those students not progressing HE have careers guidance support and opportunity to join Employment tutor group in U6.
Over 600 students applying through UCAS each year.
22% students progress into STEM subjects
2 students Oxbridge [2016 leavers]
4 students MEDEVS [2016 leavers]
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
Students apply ONLINE via UCAS website ‘Apply 2018’
Students pick 1 course & can apply 5 universities
Students must check and meet University entry requirements including GCSE, A-level/UCAS points also check Work experience requirements.
Students must write a Personal statement
Student may be invited to attend a HE interview
Students can monitor their UCAS offers ONLINE via UCAS TRACK - The can only accept 2 offers [Firm & Insurance]
Careers offer Personal statement clinics and HE mock interviews.
Personal tutor is key in checking Personal statement, UCAS from and college reference.
Important students collect results early on A-level results day and also have a plan B

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.
Key dates
Students need to be researching NOW and finding out about entry requirements e.g. pre entry tests, Gcse grades, portfolio required?
Students need to be proactive at researching HE courses now and attending open days, taster days, summer schools. This is a good insight as to whether university is right for them.
Numerous lunch time workshops held at ND e.g student finance + personal statement clinics,

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.
The earlier the application is sent the better – shows organised and proactive.
Student should work on UCAS application over the Summer period particularly on PERSONAL STATEMENT
Expected students will have visited ALL universities they are applying for prior to sending UCAS application.
Work experience must be completed before UCAS application is sent.

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.
Ucas application form needs to be accurate and include all qualifications including GCSE’s, BTEC’s, and A2 pending grades.
Tutors will provide PREDICTED grades in the reference.

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.
Students have 5 choices on their UCAS form, these 5 choices need to chosen carefully with a range of entry requirements – need a safety net/back up plan.
University open days are advertised now – on university websites, posters around college or visit website
This allows students the opportunity to visit the campus, look at accommodation, speak to academic staff and meet current undergraduate students and gain a feel for the course and facilities available. Also good to visit the town – could be a small campus university in the middle of nowhere vs a big city like Leeds. Open days and tasters days can help to confirm if it is the right institution/course before starting university. Need to book on in advance as some get booked up.

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.
Compulsory day for all L6 students, there will be more than 50 different universities visiting Notre Dame. The day is split into compulsory workshops on HE Finance, Personal statement writing and How to Choose a HE Course, there is a HE Fair to attend with university stalls and there are optional subject workshops to attend. ALL students register on the UCAS website and start filling out their online application form.
Other ND Careers events
Lunch time workshops from different universities throughout the year
HE personal statement clinics – Oct 2017
HE mock interviews – throughout the year
One to one Careers Guidance interviews
Tutor review meetings

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.
Aims and objectives

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.
15 days work experience needed for Teaching – option to do this as extended placement (every Wednesday afternoon)
Vet science 8-10 weeks
Work Experience open to ALL students at Notre Dame –majority complete this during Enhancement week. (3rd-7th July 2017)
Need to STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
Also how do you know you want to be an Architect, Physiotherapist, Engineer or Biologist if you have never tried it before?
Good insight into the industry and networking opportunity.

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.
Access scheme for students based on things like - house hold income, post code, free school meals, first generation progress HE
Aspire to Achieve Cohort IDENTIFIED at start of the year. E.g. Access to Leeds, Reach for Excellence, Next Step York.
Students from WP backgrounds or who may have faced difficulties/parents not been to HE are offered additional support throughout the year – lunch time workshops, access schemes and summer schools.

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
Disability, Mental Health, Learning Difficulties.
This will NOT jeopardise students chances of gaining a place at university
Universities need to know as soon as possible to FLAG IT up and put things in place for September.

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.
Be cautious: Unconditional Offers
Increase in unconditional offers and bursaries attached to these. You would have to accept the unconditional offer as your firm offer.
Importance of choosing firm and insurance offers. Insurance offer should be lower.

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.
Foundation degree: 2 year degree programme taught in colleges and universities. Often lower entry requirements and smaller class sizes. Leeds City College are here today in u6 common room to talk to you about these in more detail.
Information is available from Careers stall today on alternative progression routes including Apprenticeships & School Leaver Programmes.
Leeds Apprenticeship Hub are present today and delivering a presentation in room 84 if you wish to attend.

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