1. Welcome to the Higher Education Evening at SWCHS Helen Cox Director of Sixth Form at SWCHS 5 th May 2015

2. Higher Education Evening - Speakers Amy Wilson – University of Leeds Emma Seward – Anglia Ruskin University Graham Mummery – Grant Thornton Helen Cox – Director of Sixth Form Andrew Fowler – Deputy Director of Sixth Form – responsibility for UCAS

3. The Aims of This Evening To help you support your son/daughter in their coming decision whether or not to apply for university Provide insights into how students should go about choosing universities and courses Provide background information on Student Finance To explain the SWCHS Year 13 process and support

4. How Do Parents Not Help? A poll commissioned for a recent Higher Education campaign shows that many mature students had experienced a range of barriers that prevented them going to university straight from school. 11% said their parents’ influenced their decision not to go 77% regret the missed opportunities and experiences

5. How Can Parents Help? “ … throughout the three years – I learned how to cook, and manage money, too. Did my parents get involved with my choice to study at Cardiff? Yes – they came with me to a couple of open days, and they informed themselves about the whole application process, which helped a lot. The advice they gave me when I left home? ‘Be safe and sensible’!” “I couldn’t have followed the career I wanted without a degree.”

6. APPLY on sale tonight - £5

7. Amy Wilson – University of Leeds

8. Emma Seward – Anglia Ruskin University

9. Graham Mummery – Grant Thornton

10. Their Summer ‘Research Task’ We ask all students to consider whether they would like to make a University/Further Education application prior to returning for Progression on Monday 29 th June… If so, what would they like to study? And where they would like to study (students make 5 applications at up to 5 universities). They are asked to record their findings on the school website for Tutors to monitor

11. The Employment Summer ‘Research Task’ …or whether they are heading for employment, what kind of employment (inc Apprenticeships)? Ideally, form a short list of employers and their requirements

13. Where Do SWCHS Students Go? - 2014 80% of students receive offers from Russell Group universities (national average is 58%) Within our top 10 most successful universities, 87% of our students were made an offer compared to UCAS average of 66%. Our top 1o most successful universities were: NottinghamLeeds BirminghamExeter BristolNottingham Trent ManchesterSouthampton SheffieldYork

14. UCAS Support at SWCHS - Progression Choices and guidance discussions on university applications Offer of 1-to-1 guidance from our careers advisor Logging on to Apply and uploading key data, Student finance talk Speaking to alumni students about their experience Personal statement writing advice from subject specialist teachers

15. Visits at SWCHS - Progression June 24 th – UCAS Convention in Cambridge – 150+ universities, courses and careers (£9 via Wisepay – Deadline May 15th) July 3 rd Visit to UEA – ‘Making a competitive application and student budgeting’ (£13 via Wisepay). We expect all students go on this visit in order to make an informed choice.

16. UCAS Support at SWCHS – Autumn Tutors collate subject-led References and help students to draft Personal Statements Lunchtime ‘UCAS clinics’ with 6 th Form Collegiate We encourage all students to make an application as early as possible: we cannot guarantee to process ‘later’ applicants as quickly

17. Employment Support at SWCHS - Progression Offer of 1-to-1 guidance from our careers advisor Help to improve CVs from an External Expert Day of training and activities with ‘Ready for Work’ Weekly Employment and Apprenticeships Bulletin Events (TBC) o Weekly Careers Lunches, Apprenticeship Roadshow… References written by Tutors

18. Some Key UCAS Dates 13 th August 2015: Results Day – we strongly recommend you are there AS results 10.00am. 15 th October: UCAS deadline for early applicants; applications should be completed Wednesday 30 th September to ensure meeting this. 23 rd October (Half Term): SWCHS deadline for completed applications for all other applicants. 15 th January 2016: UCAS deadline for all applicants

19. Our Advice - Universities Be Aspirational – SWCHS 6 th Form students are high achievers, getting good A Level results: 80% reach their first choice university But also Realistic – They should be optimistic but can they really access that course/university in subject/grade terms? If in doubt… - Begin a UCAS application!

20. Choosing a University Course Future career plans are only one criteria: students’ plans change and, more often than not, graduates end up in a career unrelated to their degree Remember - career prospects improve both by getting a degree and by getting a better degree Conclusion? Choose an interesting course!

21. UCAS Course Search http://search.ucas.com/ Search courses by subject: contains details of required subjects/grade by university

22. Our Advice - Courses Subjects/Courses – Think ‘widely’: students should ask themselves ‘what do I really enjoy studying?’ They have 50,000+ courses to choose from! Animal Behaviour Anthropology Ethical Computer Hacking Management with Tourism Jurisprudence Renewable Energy Urban Planning War Studies French and Politics History and Philosophy Economics and German Maths & Music Chemistry with a Modern Language Fine Art and Psychology English Lit & American Studies

23. Parents’ Section on UCAS Website https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/parents-and- guardians

24. UCAS’ Advice

25. Download 2016 Parent Guide https://www.ucas.com/sites/default/files/uc as-parent-guide-2016-entry_0.pdf Parents can subscribe to receive email alerts of pending UCAS deadlines

26. Independent Advice http://www.parentadviser.co.uk/

27. Other Useful Websites www.ucas.com www.university.which.co.uk www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk www.push.co.uk OPEN DAYS: www.opendays.com FINANCE: www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance