1. Year 13 The Year Ahead 2013-2014 Maiden Erlegh Sixth Form

2. Key Dates - Autumn September: Friday 20thUCAS grades sent home October: Friday 4 th Year 13 Settling in Reviews sent home Monday 15 th UCAS Early Entry deadline for Medics,Dentists,Vets Monday 21st Tutor Reviews (all week) November: Monday 4 th Home Study Begins Monday 4 th UCAS Personal Statement (Internal Deadline) Friday 15 th Year 13 Full Report sent home Tuesday 26 th Year 13 Parents Evening December: Monday 16thTutor Reviews (all week)

3. Key Dates – Spring & Summer January: Monday 7 th UCAS Application to have been completed online Monday 13 th Mock Examinations (all week) Tuesday 15 th UCAS Application Official Deadline February Thursday 6 th Year 13 Mock Results sent home Wednesday 12 th Year 12/13 Parents Evening (invitation) Monday 10th EPQ presentations (all week) Monday 10 th Tutor Reviews (all week) April: Monday 28 th Tutor Reviews (all week) May:Year 13 Study Leave June:A2 Examinations

4. What is Home Study? If a Year 13 student has a non-contact lesson at the start and/or the end of the day, they do not need to sign in at school until their first lesson or after their last lesson. They should be studying at home where they are well resourced. This should prepare them for their next phase of education where they will need to be independent learners and self-starters! Students who are embarking on their yr 13 studies having significantly under-achieved will be monitored closely this term. For the majority of students Home study will begin on Monday 5 th November provided that: Attendance, punctuality and deadlines are ‘excellent’ UCAS/Employment portfolio up to date Home Study

5. Home Study will be withdrawn if: Attendance falls below 90% A student truants a lesson. Two deadlines are missed in one subject per half term. Late to lessons or tutor sessions more than four times in a half term. Failure to attend a Tutor Review appointment. Bringing the school into disrepute when leaving or entering the site. Failure to bring a note explaining an absence within 5 days. Home Study

6. Changes to Resits 2014 There are no opportunities in January to resit AS modules Students can opt to retake modules in which they have underperformed even if they have already re-taken a module in May 2013 Candidates wishing to resit A2 modules will have to wait until June 2015 Why have these changes been introduced? During December and January student doing AS resits lose focus on their A2 studies Mr Gove wishes to address the perceived “resit culture”

7. Re-sits What to consider? Most students can cope with one or two re-sits in May without significant loss of focus in their A2 subjects. The majority of AS exams are before the May half-term break and therefore will not directly clash with A2 exams. When discussing re-sits with your son/daughter it would be useful to consider the following :  How many re-sits they are planning?  How realistic is their chance of improvement? (refer to ALPS predictions)  The extent to which their A2 studies will revisit material covered in Year 12.

8. “I just scraped a B” It is unlikely that a student at the bottom of the grade will maintain that grade at A2. It is much more likely that they will “drop a grade”. It is likely that a re-sit will improve the position of the student within that grade and make it less likely that they will “lose” a grade. If a student scores 210 UMS marks in Biology they will be awarded a B grade. Unless they replicate or exceed this mark they will slip to an C grade at A2. Re-sits

9. “I am really close to a B” Resitting modules will improve the A2 grade. There is little point in resitting a module to improve the AS grade. If a student scores 209 UMS marks in Biology they will be awarded a C grade at AS. If they score 211 or more UMS marks at A2, they will get a B at A2. Without resitting one or more modules this is unlikely! Remember, AS marks contribute equally to the overall A2 grade and are easier to get……especially as a more mature student! Re-sits

10. What to consider: Is there an opportunity to “revisit” AS work during A2 lessons? Is there a need for additional revision material? What grade does the student need for their chosen course? Does the student have unrealistic ambitions? Are they complacent? Although applications for resits do not have to be made this term, it is more important for students to decide soon and start a planned programme of revision. They have more “free” time in Year 13 – they should use it wisely! Re-sits

11. An Explanation: The requirements for the award of an A* grade is: 80% overall and 90% at A2 Any student with an A grade at AS is on track for an A* grade, however, only exceptional students will manage 90% at A2. An A* Grade

12. A Gap Year? Why take a gap Year? To earn money before going to university To retake exams in order to attend a more prestigious course or institution To gain work experience in order to enhance an application for a vocational course To apply for courses with A2 results known Advantages: Can improve a poor set of AS grades or lack of work experience Can return to study refreshed Disadvantages: Can get used to higher income Can get out of the habit of studying

13. An important year….. Some of the decisions that students make this year will have a profound effect on their future. Mr Haddrell, Mrs Davies and I will be supporting them at every stage. Their tutors will also be on hand to advise them on their study habits, personal statements, CVs and also monitor their punctuality and attendance. Communication is vital if we are to give your children the best chance of securing the university/college places or apprenticeships that will set them on the road to a successful future.

14. Staff codes: Head of 6 th Form HLHead of Year 13 BWUCAS co- ordinator DA FormTutorCodeFormTutorCode 13E1Mr M Smith SM13M1Mr A SmithSX 13E2Miss Rafferty RF13M2Mrs L Barker BZ 13E3Mrs N Roberts RR13M3Mrs P Horsell HO 13E4Mr N Denham DN13M4Mrs V Cripps CS 13E5Mrs S PoynterMrs J Smith PY/13M5Mrs S Jones JO 13E6Mrs S Jayne- Coupe JY13M6Miss S Allen AN