1. WELCOME to YEAR 12 NEXT STEPS EVENING

2. Miss Foreman (Careers) Mr Huckle (Head of Sixth Form)
SPEAKERS:
Miss Foreman (Careers)
Mrs Hoad (Head of Year 12)
Mr Huckle (Head of Sixth Form)

3. OPTIONS AFTER YEAR 13
There are many options available to you – do your research now
University – including Foundation degrees
Higher & Advanced Apprenticeships
Sponsored degrees – need to research now and get work experience to support
School leaver programme (works along the same lines as H&A apprenticeships/Sponsored Degrees)
Gap Year
Work

4. POST A LEVEL OPTIONS APPRENTICESHIPS? UNIVERSITY? EMPLOYMENT?
70% of our students apply to uni, the other 30% apply to apprenticeships or employment.

5. OPTIONS OTHER
THAN UNIVERSITY
Miss Foreman

6. Higher & Degree Level Apprenticeships
The Higher and Degree Apprenticeships are showcasing vacancies from over 40 employers starting this year.
You can apply for many of these apprenticeships and a place at university at the same time.
Higher & Degree Level apprenticeships are available at levels 4-7. They combine work with study and may include a work-based, academic or combined qualification; or a professional qualification relevant to the industry.

7. WORK PLACEMENTS The benefits Soft skills
Differentiate yourself & make yourself more employable
Enhance your application forms & interviews
Road test a company/sector/role
Placement to be undertaken in your own time.
Look for sponsored programmes like Nuffield Research Placements:
Work Experience needs to be carried out during your own time outside of term time.
Write, , phone or even better a personal visit to the company asking them if they would offer you a placement.

8. GAP YEAR
a period, typically an academic year, taken by a student as a break between school and university or college education.
Experience a different culture
Learn a new language
Develop new life skills
Discover a hidden passion
Prep for college/University/Life
Improve yourself
Live life to the fullest
Boost your job prospects
Breakdown classroom walls
Have fun and make long lasting friendships.

9. GAP YEAR
Mention your intentions on your UCAS application and discuss with your chosen university – some courses may not be suitable for doing this – talk to the University Tutors. Any offers can then be deferred (subject to discussion with the uni admission team)
Do your research when selecting an organisation to go with – there’s plenty of choice

10. NCS/VOLUNTEERING
Another way of developing skills that will put you at an advantage when applying for apprenticeships / work / university etc
Universities don’t just look at your school grades, but what else you do outside of school!

11. INDEPENDENT CAREERS ADVICE & GUIDANCE
Independent Career Advice and Guidance appointments are available with Rose Birmingham from 4YP
Appointments are available – meetings happen in room 910 (in the library)
Rose is able to give advice and guidance on:
Career path exploration
Information, Advice and Guidance
Options, next steps, future plans, alternatives etc.
Book through the Parent Review Evening Booking System on the website, or through Mrs McMillan in room 902.
Parents do not need to attend...

12. COMMUNICATION www.samuelwhitbread.org.uk/careers/
Your student account – check it regularly – you could be missing out on valuable information
SWA Website – careers page – new information being added regularly

13. Work experience
Medical consent AND parental consent forms return by 31st January – room 902 Mrs McMillan
Spare copies at the front of the hall if you would like to fill in and give in tonight
Placement deadline by 28th February
Questions – please ask Miss Foreman tonight or

14. BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSITY APPLICATION PROCESS (UCAS) Mrs Hoad

15. UNIVERSITY? Entry into university (those who applied) 2014/15 – 97%
2015/16 – 98%
2016/17 – 98%
2017/18 – 98%
2018 – applications made = 149
2013 *First Oxford Student – Ian McFarlane(Maths)

16. THE RUSSELL GROUP OF UNIVERSITIES
The Russell group consists of 24 universities who consider themselves to be the ‘top’ universities in the UK. They have specific requirements for both GCSE and ‘A’ Levels. The universities that belong in the Russell Group are: University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, Cardiff University, Durham University, University of Edinburgh, University of Exeter, University of Glasgow, Imperial College London, King's College London, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, London School of Economics & Political Science, University of Manchester, Newcastle University, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, Queen Mary - University of London, Queen's University Belfast, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University College London, University of Warwick, University of York

17. GCSES & ‘A’ LEVELS AT THE RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSITIES
Universities may ask for a specific number of GCSEs (or their equivalent). For example, a number of medical courses ask for five (sometimes more) A* grades.
GCSE English or another standard level equivalent is very often required at Grade C at least. At many universities, this is a universal entry requirement for any course. Mathematics is only slightly less commonly asked for.
The Russell Group have identified the facilitating ‘A’ Levels and sometimes require 2 of these:
English Literature, Maths or Further Maths, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, History, Geography, MFL
Long story short. Different uni’s will require different requirements depending on your course of study. Important to note Facilitating subjects

18. APPLYING TO OXFORD OR CAMBRIDGE, Medicine etc. (OXBRIDGE SOCIETY)
Meet regularly to go through:
- entry requirements (GCSE and AS grades)
- resources to purchase/read and access
- what to do in order to stand out
2016/2017 – 5 applications, 4 interviews, 3 offers
2017/2018 – 10 applications, 4 interviews, 1 offer
2018/2019 – 12 interviews, 3 offers so far
Deadline for UCAS application, if including Oxford or Cambridge, or medicine, veterinary science, dentistry: 15th October 2019

19. …Please don’t forget there are 140 universities in the UK!
WORLD RANKING
In total three UK universities make the top ten in the world; Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London.

20. SETTING THE SCENE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGES ADMISSIONS SERVICE (UCAS)
Central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to full-time higher education (HE) courses in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
They operate on behalf of all full-time higher education courses at member institutions

21. THE UCAS JOURNEY
Potential applicant researches and finds a course, goes to Open Days
Registers online with UCAS Apply – in school during June 2019
Completes form and processes payment £24– e.g. October 2019
Academic reference added by school / college
School sends electronically to UCAS – deadline Jan 2020
UCAS processes form and forwards to chosen universities
Universities submit decisions (offer or unsuccessful)
Applicant views decisions on Track
Applicant replies to offers on Track (Firm / Insurance) e.g. April 2020
(Might choose accommodation with firm choice university)
Student and parents apply for Student Finance e.g. May 2020
Universities confirm places when results are released August 2020

22. What can we do now? RESEARCH
Obtain a real ‘feel’ for the institution, subject, course, career:
University Conventions
UCAS fair – March 26th
Open Days
Visit the town/city
Taster Courses
Subject specific events
Career Fairs
HIGHER EDUCATION FAIR - Visit to Excel Centre in London

24. Foundation degrees Not just for art and design courses
Many subject degrees now offer a foundation year
‘Year 0’ rather than Year 1
Extra year to prepare you for undergraduate study
Different entry requirements to the degree – ideal if you have lower A level grades
Can apply for a mixture of courses in your five choices

25. UCAS Tariffs (points) UCAS points A level (2 years)
AS level (one year)
EPQ
BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate (single) 56 A*
Distinction* 48 A
Distinction 40 B 32 C
Merit 28 24 D 20 16 E
Pass 12 10 8 6

26. Filling out the application online…
…. don’t panic!
June 2019 – we will help you!

27. KEY FEATURES OF ADMISSIONS SCHEME
Maximum of 5 choices
4000 character personal statement
Some choice restrictions:
Medicine, Veterinary, Dentistry – max 4 choices
Oxford or Cambridge – you cannot apply to both
‘Invisibility’ (blind – universities can’t see your other choices)
Fee - £24 (£18 if only one choice is used)

28. Personal statement What can you do to help?
Encourage participation – e.g. helping at scouts; sports teams; hobbies and spare time activities
Part-time jobs
Extra reading in interesting topic areas
MOOCs – Massive Open Online Courses
Research and visiting universities for open days

29. UCAS KEY DATES
Completed applications, including our reference, should be sent to UCAS by the following dates:
15th October 2019 for dentistry, medicine, veterinary science and veterinary medicine and for all courses at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.
Conservatoires – e.g. music performance – have their own early deadline e.g. 1st October 2019
15th January 2020 for all other courses. SWA has a December deadline for all applications to be sent to UCAS
24th March 2020 for Art and Design courses except those listed with a 15th January deadline.

30. UNIVERSITY & COLLEGE DECISIONS
Admissions tutors can make one of three decisions:
Conditional Offer
Unconditional Offer
Unsuccessful
April/May 2020: Applicants then keep a maximum of two offers:
Firm
Insurance
Any remaining offers must be declined

31. CONFIRMING YOUR PLACE – AUGUST 2020
Exam results are issued to applicant
Admissions staff check if you have matched the conditions of their offer
If yes, you will be sent an official confirmation of your place on UCAS and via . Well done!
If no – speak to the sixth form team straight away

32. Unconditional Offers
Several institutions are making unconditional offers. Some have decided not to.
Some will promise to change a grade offer to unconditional if the student chooses them as their firm choice.
Poor/failed A levels can cause problems in the future with employment – e.g. competition for jobs or further qualifications.
Many unconditional offers are not ‘unconditional’ – and may require you to pass the A levels that are on your application.

33. Other incentives …. Some universities are also offering:- Free laptop
Cash
Cash for EPQ A grades
First choice of accommodation for early firm choice
Reduced grade offers
It is important to choose a university on the basis of the quality of the degree and teaching, and future employment prospects.

34. STUDENT FINANCE Tuition Fees loan Living costs loan

35. Worried about borrowing so much money?
Pay 9% over £25,000 e.g. if you earn £30,000 – you pay 9% of £5,000 which is £450 = £38 per month, taken from your payslip.

36. We should rename it a ‘tax’:

37. What is best for me?
Please consider which University, Apprenticeship or job that you are applying for based on your:
Academic ability (Degree/Foundation Degree)
Employability (post degree)
Passion!

38. QUESTIONS? See any of the Sixth Form Team or us Key upcoming dates: 21st March – Reports Predict 2 26th March – UCAS Fair 4th April – Parents Evening (subjects) 19th June – Next steps days 24th June – Year 12 Internal Progression exams start 8th July – Work experience week

39. lhuckle shoad eforeman
CONTACT US
Sixth Form office direct line:
addresses:
lhuckle shoad eforeman
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