1. Year 12 Parents Information Evening An Introduction to Sixth Form
September 2018
An Introduction to Sixth Form

2. Aims Supporting your son/daughter to be successful
Introduction to Oldbury Wells School Sixth Form – Our policies, procedures and other key information
Changes to A-Levels and what this means
Study Programmes
Beyond Sixth Form

3. Points of contact
Mrs Bishell -Head of Sixth Form Mrs Fyfe & Mrs Wellings - Sixth form support

4. Supporting your child

5. How can you help? Show an interest
Ask them to explain what and how they are doing
Try to provide the right environment at home for study
Discuss future career / university goals
Revision guides can be useful
Stay in touch
Be sympathetic
Encourage them to aim high

6. How well are they working? Signs to look out for
Are they working well?
Have they put their phones away?
Are they doing work at the same time as responding to texts and social media?

7. Learning to Learn – The Challenge
Transition GCSE to A-level
Learning to Learn – The Challenge
Academic Enquiry
Increased depth of knowledge and understanding
More abstract concepts
Sophisticated analysis and evaluation
Longer answers
Analytical ability
Organisational Ability
Research and reading
Extended tasks, longer deadlines
Paper overload
Study periods
Revision of a lot of content

8. Changes to A-Levels

9. A-Level Reform Now linear examinations
All examinations will be taken for the A-Level at the end of two years.

10. BTEC Reform
Now includes at least one unit which is externally assessed through an exam unit
At least one unit which is controlled assessment under high-level control

11. What does this mean for my son/daughter?
Assessment will be predominantly external through external examinations.
There will be a reduction in the amount of coursework, from 40% to 20% in English and History, for example
The practical work in Science will be a practical endorsement, which must be passed but will not contribute to the final A-Level grades awarded
Question types will be improved – there will be more focus on synoptic questions which explore students’ overall knowledge on a subject rather than just focus on individual elements

12. What does this mean for my son/daughter?
AS qualifications will no longer count towards the final A-Level grades – they are separate qualifications in their own right
There will therefore be three distinct qualifications: GCSE, AS and A-Level – grades given for each will be separate
Grade systems will remain as present: A* to E for A-Level
A*-E is pass at A-Level, not A*-C.

13. What makes a successful post 16 student?
Attitudes
Organisation
Time management
Balance between academic work, leisure and part-time work
Excellent attendance

14. What should my son/daughter be doing?
Prepare revision summaries
Read appropriate sections of textbooks
Read around your subjects generally
Supplement your notes from lessons
Revise as you go along; make note summaries or postcards
Learn–as-you-go
Look at past examination papers to see how questions relate to the topics you learn
Identify weaker areas and take positive steps to conquer them
Use libraries and watch suitable and relevant TV programmes as well as reading quality, broadsheet newspapers

15. Being a Sixth Form Student is a full time job
Should treat time in school as such
They should be using time in school to complete homework
Time at home to do some additional independent study
Aim for an hour in addition to every hour in lesson time as a minimum at home.

16. Paid Work Important and often useful
However… research shows that students working over 10 hours per week are likely to under perform by 1 grade per subject

17. Level 3 students must write!
Note taking is essential to successful outcomes
Students should supplement their learning by making their own notes
They should be reading widely around their subjects

18. Study Programmes

19. Individual Study Programme
Students will be requested to sign their study programme
Students have allocated study sessions on their timetable. We require them to be in school
These are registered. They can study in the library, the quiet room, Art room

20. Introduction to OWS Sixth Form

21. The role of the Form Tutor/Mentor
All students are allocated a form tutor
The form tutor is their mentor in school who will aim to:
monitor progress
offer tailored support and guidance
work closely with parents, if required
oversee their reference for University or employment
attendance in registration

22. CORE – Enrichment Every Monday
Team building activities
Charity work
Careers advice and guidance
Outside speakers from Universities, Apprenticeship providers, Year in Industry local employers and Businesses, the armed forces.
Personal and Health issues

23. Work Experience Last week of the summer term
Essential for all medical courses, veterinary medicine, teaching
Desirable for many like engineering or accountancy
Students to organise and give information of placements to Jen Brown
Sets them apart on their references

24. My son/daughter has a day without lessons, can they study at home?
NO - not in year 12
Year 13 – on an individual basis

25. Attendance Good attendance is vital to success
Book appointments outside school time where possible.
Driving lessons should not be booked in the school day.
If your son/daughter is absent please ring to let the school know
Students should or see teachers to collect work missed straight away

26. Important Dates
January Mock Internal examinations – First 2 weeks after Christmas. Revision for these should begin at least 6 weeks before.
Should be revising throughout the year
Results will be reported in the full report issued early February
Mock results will be given to students
Really important that they work hard

27. Tracking and Monitoring Progress
Targets will be set shortly– discussed and negotiated with teachers
Based on GCSE Point Average – Minimum Expected Progress.
In class assessments – Very important
Data capture – monitoring each half term
Discussions with form tutors/mentors
Intervention – through teachers/tutors/mentors/Sixth Form support team

28. Beyond Sixth Form

29. What next? University Apprenticeship Employment College Gap year
Internship

30. University Applications through UCAS Choices of universities
Personal statement
Reference written by subject teachers and form tutors
On-line

31. University Expectations
What are your expectations?
What are the expectations of universities?
What should you be doing now?

32. Russell Group Universities 24 leading universities committed to the best research and teaching
Birmingham
Bristol
Cambridge
Cardiff
Durham
Edinburgh
Exeter
Glasgow
Imperial - London
King’s – London
Leeds
Liverpool
LSE – London
Manchester
Newcastle
Nottingham
Oxford
Queen Mary’s – London
Belfast
Sheffield
Southampton
UCL – London
Warwick
York

33. https://www.timeshighereducation.com UK Rank 2018
World University Rank 2018
Institution
City/Town 1
University of Oxford
Oxford 2
University of Cambridge
Cambridge 3 8
Imperial College London
London 4 16
UCL 5
=25
London School of Economics and Political Science 6
=27
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh 7 36
King’s College London
=54
University of Manchester
Manchester 9 76
University of Bristol
Bristol 10
=80
University of Glasgow
Glasgow 11 91
University of Warwick
Coventry 12 97
Durham University
Durham 13
104
University of Sheffield
Sheffield 14
121
Queen Mary University of London 15
=126
University of Southampton
Southampton
=130
University of Exeter
Exeter 17
=137
University of York
York 18
139
University of Leeds
Leeds 19
=141
University of Birmingham
Birmingham 20
=143
University of St Andrews
Fife

35. Universities
Its a ‘good’ university if it offers the right course for you

36. University Start research into potential courses now Book on open days
Oxbridge Candidates – Cambridge Shadowing Scheme
Oxbridge Conference
Start looking at undergraduate reading list – do additional reading to supplement and develop knowledge beyond level 3.

37. Further Education at college
Art and Design Foundation Degree
NVQs
University qualifications

38. Apprenticeships

39. Successful Apprentices
Luke: BBC
Belinda: Ricoh

40. Gap Year – Year in Industry

41. Careers

42. Some useful websites www.notgoingtouni.com www.opendays.com

43. Common Goal Happy Confident Academically successful
Equipped to take the next step
We always welcome parents input!

44. Thank you for your time
Any Questions…….?