1. Sixth Form Subject Choice

2. What to choose? Subjects you will enjoy Subjects you will be good at Subjects that make sense

3. Points To Bear In Mind EVERYONE who passes 2 A2s can go to ‘University’. You can study almost any subject combination if you don’t mind where you end up studying Where you go to University is as important as what you study!

4. SO… We want to give you the best possible chance of getting to a university with a good academic reputation and status, to study the most competitive courses.

5. Russell Group Birmingham Bristol Cambridge Cardiff Edinburgh Glasgow Imperial Kings, London Leeds Liverpool LSE Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Oxford Sheffield Southampton UCL Warwick

6. It’s Very Tough Nineteen of the country’s leading 20 universities have quietly increased the A-level grades required to study some popular courses in an attempt to restrict student numbers.

7. Reports This Week Say The Russell Group - which represents the top 20 universities and takes in about 75,000 first year students annually - said yesterday that “nine or 10” teenagers were now chasing every place on its courses compared with about eight applicants in previous years

8. For Highly Competitive Courses They will now need all As, including one A* grade, the new higher grade being introduced this year.

9. What you Need Must end up with at least 3 A2s and 1 AS and/or an extended project. This is what universities will be looking for. Quality not quantity No university asks for or expects 4 A levels Art & Photography only count once Business Studies/Economics only count once Subjects must make sense – Economics, Biology, Physics for example does not

10. The University Experience… Develops Knowledge, skills and personality Establishes Values, passions & networks Writing, analysis, problem-solving and presentation skills

11. Employment ‘Leaving university with a good degree is a pre-requisite in the graduate employment market, but this alone is not enough to secure your first graduate job.’

12. What do Employers Want High academic achievement Employability skills Work experience

13. High Academic Achievement GOOD GCSES –a good range of subjects, as many A*, A grades as poss. Good A/Pre U results – module results on UCAS form Good degree – 1 st or 2i Post grad/Profession qualification

14. Employability Self Reliance – self awareness, pro-activity, willingness to learn, self-promotion, networking, planning action People skills – team working, leadership, foreign language General employment skills – problem solving, flexibility, IT literate, numeracy, commitment Specialist skills – special occupational Eg languages, IT, technical skills e.g. journalism, engineering, accounting, sales

15. Skills Can Be Developed & Evidenced Through Duke of Edinburgh Award Orchestra/Choir/School productions Sport/CCF Thursday afternoon activities Holiday jobs/Voluntary work Fundraising for charities ECDL/web design Contributing to school publications

16. Work Experience Practical experience Knowledge of the world of work Survey by Association of Graduate Recruiters ‘Internship, industrial placement, work experience remains the royal road to the improvement of soft skills for graduates’

17. What Have You Got To Look Forward To… Jan 22nd Parents’ Meeting Jan 29th Deadline for A level Choices March 13 th Careers Convention Speech Day 29th May GAP and HE Fair Post GCSE programme – work experience 24th August. Results day

18. A Wealth of… Futurewise Profile and report Futurewise Website – log in, keep track. Careers’ Department website on intranet – see Sixth Form subject choice