1. BEYOND SIXTH FORM A GUIDE TUESDAY 29TH APRIL

2. AIMS Possible routes – employment, apprenticeship, HE or GAP Timeline for Higher Education How do students select courses? How do universities select students? An intro to fees/loans Gaining qualifications while working Apprenticeships Employment Questions

4. CAREERS AT GORDANO http://prezi.com/aeddffz4mmje/me-myself-and-i/

5. PROGRESSION ROUTES

7. Universities & Colleges Application Service A post office and information service – NOT a decision maker Charges students £21 to process their application

8. AN 18 MONTH PROCESS JAN – MAY ’14 All Year 12 Students have a careers interview UCAS Course Search for ‘Apply 2014’ NOW available UCAS Fair UWE JUNE – JULY ‘14 Begin UCAS form. Gain experience: work shadowing / open days Mid-July: Fees information available on UCAS website AUGUST ‘14 Think, read, research AS results/A2 choices SEP - OCT ‘14 complete UCAS form and submit to tutor. (Oxbridge/medics/music by end of Sept; all others by end of Oct). Allow 2 weeks for adding reference & checking.

9. AN 18 TH MONTH PROCESS

10. NOV ‘14- MAR ’15 attend interviews, receive offers (and/or rejections) or use ‘UCAS EXTRA’ BY MAY 15 th 2015 accept a 1 st choice and reserve offer DEC ’14 - JUNE ’15 August ‘15 September ‘15 or ‘16 - apply for accommodation and fees/loans/grants - Receive A Level results, confirm 1 st choice or reserve place, or Clearing! - Finally start course!

12. HOW DO STUDENTS CHOOSE THE COURSES THEY WANT TO STUDY? Graduate recruitment rates The course of study Guardian/Times course tables www.unistats.com Location Campus/Non-campus/Collegiate Financial considerations (esp tuition fees) University websites UCAS site Widening participation initiatives

13. HOW DO STUDENTS APPLY? Via an internet application on UCAS site Personal details, exam results and a personal statement Can select up to 5 different courses – each receives a ‘blind copy. School adds reference and sends to UCAS

14. HOW DO UNIVERSITIES CHOOSE THEIR STUDENTS? GCSE grades AS subjects and results The range of AS/A2 courses studies Predicted final A Level grades Enthusiasm for subject Relevant experience and skills

15. PERSONAL STATEMENTS 47 lines to ‘sell yourself’ Increased competition increases the search for differences between candidates For many universities the statement is the ‘interview’ Beware ‘copying’; it must be ‘personal – plagiarism software

16. IF A UNIVERSITY LIKES YOU… They make either: An unconditional offer A conditional offer (most commonly)… Conditional offers can include Specific A Level grades Specific Subject grades UCAS points Or combinations of the above.

18. ONCE OFFERS ARE RECEIVED… Do nothing until you’ve heard from all 5 Then you must choose… a) a first choice b) a reserve (with lower offer!) and you reject all the others This completed by end of April/ May of Yr 13

19. CHOOSING MY YEAR 13 CURRICULUM 2 full A-levels is usually the absolute minimum entry requirement for universities Most competitive universities expect at least 3 full A- levels (ideally with an extra AS) Check on each course’s subject preferences (email/ring them up!) 4 high-grade A-levels can sometimes be helpful at the most competitive universities The advantages of Critical Thinking AS…….

20. ACTIVITIES WEEK (30 TH JUNE -4 TH JULY 2014) Monday HE Day Tuesday World of Work Wednesday: Specialist Day Thursday – Volunteering/EPQ trip/Research Supervising Lower School Activities Wider reading, research, evidence of ‘intellectual enthusiasm’ in the area.

21. APPRENTICESHIPS & JOBS FOR LEVEL 3 SCHOOL LEAVERS WHERE TO FIND APPRENTICESHIPS HOW TO APPLY HOW TO SECURE THE BEST APPRENTICESHIPS!

23. THINKING THROUGH APPRENTICESHIPS… There are many providers of really excellent progressive and progression focused apprenticeships – many are still advertising vacancies unfilled for this year’s school leavers… Are parents and students concerned about the value of apprenticeship training and education compared with degree level training? Is it because a degree is seen as the only route to a white collar job? We aim to make sure students don’t miss out on the very best debt free career opportunities.

24. WHERE CAN STUDENTS FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT APPRENTICESHIPS? Company Websites http://www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk http://www.getmyfirstjob.co.uk http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk http://www.thebigchoice.com http://www.weston.ac.uk http://www.cityofbristol.ac.uk http://www.notgoingtouni.org http://www.cityofbristol.ac.uk/school-leavers/apprenticeships- /apprenticeship-vacancies.html Connexions advisors/Weston College Business Enterprise Centre/City of Bristol College Personal Advisor Service/Careers guidance advisors/Tutors!

25. WHO OFFERS APPRENTICESHIPS? Deloitte BDO PWC GCHQ National Grid Babcock Carillion Royal Mail MoD Airbus Triumph NHS Bristol & North Somerset Council Spec Savers EDT Aviva 1125 employers currently advertising apprenticeships on the national scheme website Many more employers advertising with recruitment agencies and through colleges

26. LOOKING AT SPECIFIC EXAMPLES: http://mycareer.deloitte.com/uk/en/schools/brightstart http://www.nationalgridcareers.com/Development- Opportunities/Apprenticeship/The-Programme/ http://www.bt4me.co.uk/...Most of the top 100 British Employers are recruiting graduates and the best school leavers and have parallel schemes.

27. EMPLOYMENT Careers Advisor Business Breakfasts Work Experience Electives Interval Sessions A Year in Industry Networking NEETS

28. GETTING PREPARED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtDrASzLzxg

29. HOW AM I IMPROVING MY EMPLOYABILITY? What has a student done during their time in Sixth Form outside of lessons? Intervals Work experience Networking Work visits Specialist lectures Reading Visits Charity/trips/extra-curricular

31. NEXT STEPS