1. SUBJECT CHOICES FOR AS AND A LEVEL INFORMATION EVENING FOR PARENTS AND PUPILS 10 th February 2016

2. Parental Influence Parents are main influence on pupils’ career decisions. 78% of influence comes from parents.

3. Good advice…?!

4. Programme for this Evening 1.Choosing AS and A levels for university entry (Ulster University) 2. Subject choices for AS/A level in BHS (JR)

5. Key Dates 26 th January : Mock results day Individual careers guidance interviews. 27 th January : Careers Convention 5th Dec. : consultation with subject teachers. 10th February : subject choice information evening. 8th March : return of subject choice form. 25th August : GCSE results and advice day.

6. Support for pupils Careers programme once per week since early October. 4 careers talks from choice of 12. Careers convention Individual careers guidance interview Careers teacher attached to each form class. Mock interviews : 5 th April

7. Importance of GCSE Results A growing number of institutions are using the results that children achieve at 16 as a “crude preliminary filter” as competition for higher education places hits unprecedented levels”

8. The Entitlement Framework Aim: to offer a wide range of courses to all post-primary pupils. Delivered through Area Learning Communities. 27 A level courses on offer in BHS.

9. New Specifications Subject choice booklet. Subject content may differ from the past. Some subject specifications yet to be accredited so content could change.

10. New Subjects Subjects not offered at GCSE level : Health and Social Care*, Moving Image Art*, Accounting*, Applied Science* and Politics. * with BSS – numbers limited. Speak to a careers teacher if interested in Applied Science or Accounting.

11. ‘Discontinued’ GCSE Subjects Child Development. Journalism.

12. Changes of Name Drama ( Theatre Studies at A level) Home Economics : Nutrition & Food Science Computer Science : Software Systems Development ICT : Digital Technology

13. Choosing Subjects Select 4 subjects at AS level. Most reduce to 3 at A2 level. Free choice, subject to constraints of timetable. Possibility of change in August, depending on timetable. GCSE in subject needed for AS level.

14. Choosing Subjects Less flexibility than in past. Budget cuts – staffing cuts – limited places Best possible grades – competition for places.

15. Choosing Subjects Subjects you are good at. Subjects needed for H.E. or career/keep options open. ROI universities : general rather than applied A levels. 25 extra points for Maths or Further Maths.

16. Choosing Subjects At least 2 ‘facilitating subjects’ for Russell Group universities, plus max. of one other (24/165 H.E. Institutions in UK). QUB exception: all A levels accepted. Medicine and Dentistry only 1 Applied AS/A level.

17. Choosing Subjects Subjects which combine well. Preferred forms of assessment, eg. coursework vs exams. Teaching methods which suited to your learning styles, eg. practical vs theory. A manageable workload, eg. coursework.

18. Which? University www.university.which.co.uk Six things you need to know before making your A level choices: 1. A levels are a lot tougher than GCSEs.

19. 6 Guidelines for A level choices 2. Many universities and courses will consider you whatever subjects you choose. 3. Know myth from reality.

20. 6 Guidelines for A level choices 4. Certain university courses will be looking for specific A levels. Some examples : Pharmacy : chemistry + 1 from biology, maths and physics. Economics : maths ( sometimes) English : English Literature.

21. 6 guidelines for A level choices 5. Taking certain A levels will open up more course options Russell Group list of ‘facilitating subjects’ 6. Some courses and universities have lists of subjects they don’t accept. Examples : Edinburgh, Sheffield, L.S.E.

22. Entry Requirements for H.E. Vary from institution to institution for the same course – booklet gives guidelines. Need to look at both grades and subjects which are desirable or essential. Look at GCSE requirements as well as A level. A level grades and/or UCAS or CAO tariff points. Entry profiles list other entry requirements. Very competitive situation for most courses.

23. Degrees with no Subject Requirements Law, Criminology & Politics. Accountancy (sometimes Maths). Business-related degrees (sometimes Maths Film Studies. Hotel & Hospitality Management. Psychology ( Sciences &/or Geography preferred).

24. Degrees with no Subject Requirements Social Work, Sociology & Social Policy. Surveying, including Quantity Surveying. Theology. About 50% of graduate careers are open to graduates from any discipline.

25. New UCAS Tariff Points For September 2017 entry. Lower numbers eg. 56 points for A* not 140. AS points worth 40% (not 50%) of A level. Reformed A levels : AS worth 40%.

26. New UCAS Tariff Points A level GradeTariff Points A*56 A48 B40 C32 D24 E16 AS level GradeTariff Points A20 B16 C12 D10 E6

27. Subjects for Careers What can I do with a degree in…? See www.prospects.ac.uk : careers for which your degree is essential, careers for which your degree is useful; careers which will accept any degree.www.prospects.ac.uk www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers : careers with subjectswww.nidirect.gov.uk/careers Employability skills ; employing the person, not the degree. Non-vocational degrees: uncharted career paths, but there are career opportunities.

28. Useful websites School careers intranet site for pupils. www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers : NI LMIwww.nidirect.gov.uk/careers www.ucas.com : all UK H.E. courseswww.ucas.com www.cao.ie: all ROI H.E. and F.E. courseswww.cao.ie www.qub.ac.uk www.ulster.ac.ukwww.qub.ac.ukwww.ulster.ac.uk www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide www.unistats.com KISwww.unistats.com

29. Higher Ideas & Heap Online www.careersoft.co.uk/ Higher Ideas BHS licence : rbdkma38 www.heaponline.co.uk BHS licence : IDNXVNBP Register – password sent

30. NI Skills Barometer Launched in November 2015. Updated annually. Predicts areas of over- and under-supply in labour market 2015-2025.

31. NQF L6+ Supply Gap – Broad subject area

32. NQF L4-5 Supply Gap – Broad subject area

33. Prospects by degree subject (6 months after graduation)

34. Graduate Demand ( UU) Built Environment: surveying, project management; engineering. Agri-food : supply chain management; food science, quality assurance; research.

35. Graduate Demand ( UU) IT & Technology : software engineering; web development; business analytics; consulting. Creative Arts : designers; media professionals; community arts; digital art and design.

36. The Graduate Labour Market For approx. 50% of graduate careers, any degree is acceptable. Employing the person, not the degree: employability skills should be developed. Skills gained through work placements, extra-curricular activities and subjects.

37. Graduate Recruitment Most of all, employers want skills. 2015 graduate recruitment : highest for a decade. Leading graduate employers expanding recruitment & targeting NI universities.

38. STEM Too few STEM graduates in UK in general and in NI in particular. STEM: high % of graduate employment in NI. Reduction in public sector jobs – civil service (admin), health service, education.

39. Maths and/or Physics Engineering: A level Maths & Physics or Technology (Physics preferred). Architecture : Maths &/or Physics with Art & Design. Finance-related careers : Maths &/or Physics valued. Research careers in government, industry and universities.

40. Two Sciences/STEM Subjects Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science /Medicine sometimes 3 sciences. Dietetics ( incl. Home Economics) Forensic Science. Pharmacy (incl. Geography) Physiotherapy, radiography & other Allied Health Professions

41. English Literature English Literature to AS or A2 level at some universities is a requirement for health-related courses eg. Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy. A modern foreign language can be an alternative.

42. Modern Languages Strong competition for graduate jobs. Compete in European or global market. Many universities thus seek to develop an international dimensions to courses. Undergraduates encouraged to build up language skills, even if not linguists.

43. Modern Languages (2) Employers (banks, law firms) often require graduates who can apply their linguistic skills. Engineering, Maths, Law or International Business with a language. Language competency is a vital ‘extra’ component of a graduate’s CV. 25% loss of business in NI through inability to communicate in a foreign language.

44. German At QUB German was discontinued at QUB a few years ago. German will be offered from 2015 as one of the language options with International Business.

45. Routes Other Than A level Is sixth form for you? If borderline in terms of points score, need to plan an alternative to BHS now. Alternatives can be competitive too. www.nrc.ac.uk www.bmc.ac.uk www.cafre.ac.ukwww.nrc.ac.ukwww.bmc.ac.uk www.cafre.ac.uk

46. Alternatives to BHS Another school. Colleges of FE Apprenticeships Armed forces Employment

47. Key Messages Be the best at whatever you do! Core, transferable skills are key Beware, boom, busts and ‘trends’ International business will be key –Languages, markets, selling, interaction skills Specialism vs generalist Do not stigmatise courses (computer games, agri- food, and elderly care are examples)

48. Conclusion Importance of good GCSE results. Importance of good AS level results. Student number controls (ABB+ in England) Make an informed decision based on thorough research into both Higher Education courses and careers.