1. What to do After Aquinas Understanding the jargon

2. Your Options University – full time Employment – university part time Apprenticeship/Employment Gap Year

3. Support in College Subject Teachers Senior Tutors Career Advisers Tutorials – After Feb half term After Aquinas Day – 19 th March Careers Day – 25 th June Applications Day 1 st July

4. What is UCAS? UCAS stands for the 'Universities and Colleges Admissions Service'. You apply through UCAS for a University place. They forward your application to the universities. There are approximately 340 UK universities and colleges.

5. Thinking about University? Why do you want to go? What do you want to do? Where do you want to study?

6. University The type of University you can go to will depend on what you want to study. Academic subject Vocational subject

7. A Russell Group University? Represents 24 leading UK universities which are committed to maintaining the very best research, an outstanding teaching and learning experience and unrivalled links with business and the public sector. Examples include The University of Manchester The University of Sheffield The University of Leeds Newcastle University Oxford University These usually offer a place based on grades e.g. AAA - AAB

8. New Universities Universities that were originally Polytechnics, Further Education Colleges, Teacher Training Colleges, University Colleges, that were granted full University status as part of the Education reforms of the 1980s and 1990s. Examples Manchester Metropolitan University Liverpool John Moores University of Derby Nottingham Trent University Offers usually made based on points e.g. 300 points

9. Campus or City University City University – as suggested based in a city, numerous buildings, halls of residence may be a few miles away. Campus University - the university owned buildings and spaces e.g. lecture theatres, halls of residence sports facilities are situated in one place.

10. Selective Universities Selective – means the University usually receives more applications than places. Many interview and/or have additional tests. Grades usually high AAA- ABB

11. How do you apply Attend open days from June Complete application via UCAS Application sent to UCAS from September 2015 Can choose up to five universities Costs approx £23 Write a personal statement College write a reference

12. Grades or UCAS Tariff Points Universities can make you an offer either Conditional – based on you gaining certain grades or UCAS Points Unconditional –students already have their A levels Usually require 3 A levels – some request specific subjects and some specific grades in subjects Some employers also request certain points at A level May also request certain grades at GCSE especially in English and Maths.

13. UCAS Tariff Points You will be the last year under the current system. Don’t double count A LevelAS Level A*140- A12060 B10050 C8040 D6030 E4020

14. Find out more

15. Competitive courses - which ones are they? Can also depend on the University Medicine Biomedical research Veterinary Medicine Dentistry Physiotherapy Primary school teaching Law History English Maths Geography Economics Psychology

16. Apprenticeships –a job with training Many large companies take on apprentices IBM, Laing O’Rourke, Siemens, Airbus, BBC, ITV, PwC, Deloitte, British Gas, Barclays, Lloyds, GHQ, Police, Sainsbury’s, BAE Systems, Honda, Ferrari, Ryanair, Network Rail, Nestle, EDF.

17. How to apply Either direct to the company Through a training provider On the National Apprenticeship Service website.

18. E-mail from a student’s mother I have been meaning to write to you guys about XXXX ! He is doing great.... He is doing an apprenticeship in logistics and looking to become a transport co -ordinator next year... This has been so good for him... He struggled with studying for A levels and didn’t really know what he wanted to do... University didn't feel like it was meant for XXXX... This apprenticeship has changed him so much already... He has got responsibility and respect from his employers and has grown so much in confidence and people skills... We are really proud of him... I would really recommend apprenticeships as an option for those students not wishing to go to Uni... XXXX has high ambitions and this seems to be a door for him which will lead to opportunities we couldn't have thought of

19. Any Questions