1. Planning for life after Year 13….which direction will you take?

2. Just advertised today: Year 12 insight day at Taylor Wessing law firms on Wednesday 6 th July Up to to six Year 12 Uplands students are invited to attend the day. We only have 40 student places up for grabs and they go quick, so please let me know if you’re interested by Friday. A few key details:  Taylor Wessing is a law firm, but they’re keen to get students involved who are interested in other areas (business management, accounting, IT, marketing, legal secretaries, facilities management)  We would ideally like you to select students who would not normally have access to this sort of opportunity. Taylor Wessing, like Future First, are motivated by a wish to improve social mobility. Teachers do not need to accompany students, we can meet them from the station and will be with them all day and provide lunch. I will pass names of interested students into Taylor Wessing and they will call students for a mini interview beforehand.

3. Parents’ evening presentation

4. The role of UCAS UCAS processes applications for full-time courses at higher education providers in the UK. We guide students through the whole process, providing valuable information and supporting services for applicants and their parents.

5. Why higher education? Opportunities whilst studying UCASonline - YouTube UCASonline - YouTube 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. Making lifelong friends.

6. With a degree… The opportunity to follow their career path. Better job prospects. Many employers target graduates. Higher earning potential.

7. Your son or daughter can use the UCAS search tool search.ucas.com Researching courses

8. Other things to consider Finance – course fees, grants, travel and living costs Travel – to and from home Accommodation – uni halls or private residences? Extra curricular activities

9. https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/how-make-most-your-visit-open-day-four-simple-steps https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/how-make-most-your-visit-open-day-four-simple-steps visit, visit, visit …

10. ucas.com/virtual tours

11. Key features of the UCAS Undergraduate scheme One application per admissions cycle. Application fee £24 / £13. Maximum five choices (some restrictions). Nominated access option. Simultaneous consideration. Universities cannot see the other choices.

12. When to apply Mid September Applications can be submitted to UCAS 15 OctoberMedicine, veterinary, and dentistry Oxford or Cambridge 15 January Advisory application deadline 24 March Some art & design courses (check each course) 30 June Applications held for Clearing

13. Completing the application Maximum of five choices Some choice restrictions: Medicine, veterinary, dentistry – max. four Oxford or Cambridge Simple application cost: One choice – £13 Two-five choices – £24 Application is entirely online Simultaneous consideration

14. Teacher References and Predicted Grades These are done by the student’s 3 or 4 subject teachers and are “top and tailed” by their form tutor. We have 4000 characters. I add in any extra information in support of their application, sometimes personal circumstances, personal commendations from teachers that have been passed onto me. I try to endorse their Personal Statement wherever possible. Subject teachers make honest but slightly optimistic predictions. As there are not lots of subjects where AS grades will exist anymore, then predictions are based on both the February and the June/July mocks. We need to see how students perform under pressure and not just in the class to make accurate predictions.

15. The personal statement The only section your son or daughter has control over. Their only chance to market themselves individually. One personal statement for all choices. Max. 4,000 characters, 47 lines Min. 1,000 characters No spelling/grammar check No formatting

16. Where to start Think about what makes them stand out in an exciting and positive way. Show enthusiasm for the course they are applying for and list supporting evidence to back this up. Extra curricular activities and relevant work experience. Skills they can use on the course – leadership, communication, team work for example. Encourage them to ask you for more ideas. Allow plenty of time.

17. Personal statement resources www.ucas.com/personalstatement

18. How do we help students in school write their Personal Statements? Start in tutor time in summer term of Year 12 Models shown of good practice Expect to write between 4 and 6 drafts before you’re fully happy with it Form tutors are first port of call for feedback on how it can be improved Subject teachers relevant to the subject you’re applying for can give excellent feedback Last person to come and see is me once you’ve had all the other feedback

19. Tracking applications Track will allow your son or daughter to: follow the progress of their application online see their choices and personal information see their offers reply to offers online https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/apply-and-track/track- your-application https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/apply-and-track/track- your-application

20. Decisions and replies Once all decisions are received, they can hold up to two offers: One as their firm choice One as their insurance choice (if they want to) All other offers are declined Track will show their reply date. FIRM = where you really want to go INANCE = Provider decisions: Unsuccessful Unconditional offer – there has recently been an increasing number of these …be wary! Conditional offer – qualifications and achievements and/or UCAS Tariff points

21. Other options?? Extra 24 Feb – 4 July If all five choices have been used and they have no offers/rejected all offers. Clearing from early-July If there are no offers, or have applied after 30 June deadline. Adjustment (from A level results day – Thurs 17 th Aug 2017 ) If they’ve gained better results than the conditional offer they hold, they could apply for a different course or university.

22. What your son/daughter should be doing now? Research Extra curricular to enhance personal statement Work experience Volunteering Go beyond the syllabus Focus on this year’s studies

23. How can you as parents support the application process? Use the parents/guardians section of the UCAS website/Parent Guide publication – www.ucas.com/parents and sign up for the newsletter and on Twitterwww.ucas.com/parents Offer to attend open days, you may have a different perspective to them. Don’t book family holidays at key times. Make sure they read everything carefully that is sent to them. Support your son/daughter’s management of their application. Get helpful friends and family to give input including proof reading Personal Statements

24. New videos for parents FIRM = where you really want to go INSURANCE = somewhere you would be happy to get into your FIRM choice INSURANCE = you would be happy to get into your FIRM choice UCAS has developed four videos on key topics: The UCAS process Open days Student finance Clearing www.ucas.com/parents

25. Translate ucas.com – BrowseAloud

26. ucas.com/connect

27. Additional help UCAS Customer Experience Centre 0371 468 0468 Monday to Friday, 08:30 – 18:00 (UK time)

28. What about alternatives to university? University is not the right choice for everyone and as tuition fees stand at around £9000 a year there is a cost to making a choice that you fell pressured to follow Higher level apprenticeships (Level 4) are for students with good A Levels or Level 3 BTECs – so are a great alternative They can provide you with the chance to achieve a degree while working You apply to organisations who advertise their apprenticeship vacancies using this website as a starting point https://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=7IqFUxSLufw https://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=7IqFUxSLufw

29. Apprenticeships come up at different times in the year – there is not one single deadline date like for UCAS…so keep looking throughout Year 13 They can be highly competitive Notgoingtouni.com is another great website that collates lots of different information

30. Main sectors where apprenticeships exist are in: Business and IT, Construction, Creative Media and Arts, Customer Service and Retail, Energy, Engineering, Finance, Health and Care, Hospitality and Travel, Manufacturing, Public Services, Vehicles and Transport Some interesting 18 year olds comments on this article from last year on why they chose not to go to university http://www.theguardian.com/education /2015/aug/17/teenagers-not-going-to- university-fees-debt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IqFUxSLufw