Strathearn School Belfast L 6 Information Evening 2015

Strathearn School Belfast L 6 Information Evening 2015 1

PROGRAMME FOR THE EVENING • Introduction Mr Manning • Pastoral Mrs Mc. Cracken (Head of 6 th Form) • Curriculum Mrs Quinn (VP) • Careers Mrs Hearst (Careers Adviser) • Conclusion Mr Manning 2

AIMS OF L 6 INFORMATION EVENING Ø To give parents an understanding of the 6 th form experience Ø To help parents offer practical support to their daughters Ø To strengthen the home school partnership 3

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The differences Forms 4 & 5 • 9 GCSEs • All timetabled • Directed study Homework Form 6 • 4 / 3 AS Levels & 3 A 2 • Careers & IT classes • 75% timetabled • Independent Study – Supervised Study – Homework • Privileges – Common room – Lunch time 5

Pastoral Mrs Mc. Cracken 6

Support for Girls: § Form tutor § Head of Sixth Form: Ø supportive role Ø pastoral and academic § Learning support – Mrs Atkinson § Personal study support – Ms Stevenson § Careers staff § Vice Principal (Pastoral) 7

BEING IN SIXTH FORM Privileges and opportunities: §Volunteering opportunities §‘Study’ periods §Lunchtime flexibility §Leadership opportunities §Relationship with teachers §Common room 8

Responsibilities § Attendance and punctuality (monitored and reported) § Use of personal study time in school (crucial for success!) § Management of deadlines § Role models for younger girls § The Sixth Form Agreement § Positive Behaviour Policy § The Common Room 9

HOW TO SUCCEED § Good attendance and punctuality § Personal discipline and good organisation § Proactive approach § Watch for early warning signs 10

EARLY WARNING SIGNS § ‘Coasting’ § Missed deadlines § Disappointing marks § Loss of control 11

Curriculum Mrs Quinn 12

AS and A Level Courses Timing Name of exam Number of exams May/June of L 6 (2016) AS (1 st half of full A-level) 2/3 modules per subject May/June of U 6 (2017) A 2 (2 nd half of full A-level) Qualification AS Level A 2/3 modules per subject level 13

AS / A 2 Results • AS Examination – June 2016 • Module 1 Score = 89 (a) • Module 2 Score = 79 (b) • TOTAL – 89 + 79 = 168 • Overall AS Grade = A (August 2016) • A 2 Examination – June 2017 • AS Score = 168 (A) • Module 3 Score = 85 (a) • Module 4 Score = 72 (b) • TOTAL - 168 +85 +72= 325 • Overall A 2 Grade – A (August 2017) 14

Grade Boundaries AS /A 2 4 Unit Specification Maximum Mark possible AS = 200 marks Maximum Mark possible A 2 = 200 marks Maximum Overall A Level score = 400 marks A* AS A 2 n/a 320 overall (total of 180 across the A 2 units) A 160 320 B 140 280 C 120 240 D 100 200 E 80 160 15

Grade Boundaries AS /A 2 6 Unit Specification (Mathematics) Maximum Mark possible AS = 300 marks Maximum Mark possible A 2 = 300 marks Maximum Overall A Level score = 600 marks A* AS A 2 n/a 480 overall (total of 180 across the A 2 units) A 240 480 B 210 420 C 180 360 D 150 300 E 120 240 16

Coursework Guides For pupils Authenticating coursework www. ccea. org. uk For parents Coursework - A guide for parents www. jcq. org. uk 17

www. ccea. og. uk 18

Results AS and A 2 Thursday 16 August 2016 19

Useful Curriculum Contacts www. ccea. org. uk www. jcq. org. uk 20

SIXTH FORM CAREERS PROGRAMME 2015 -16 MRS HEARST Careers Adviser 21

CAREERS CLASSES IN 6 TH FORM § 1 period per week over almost 4 terms ▪ Careers teacher allocated to each Form Class 22

PREPARATION FOR WORLD OF WORK § Job advertisements § CV preparation § Completing an application form § Introduction to interview skills § Appropriate behaviour in the workplace § Work experience (11 -15 Jan 2015) (including debriefing & evaluation) 23

OPTIONS AT 18+ § Further education § Direct employment § Gap year § Higher education 24

U 6 LEAVERS’ DESTINATIONS 2015 102 girls, of which § 85 girls Higher Education § 1 girl Oxbridge § 43 girls Russell Group universities § 42 girls Other universities § 29 girls NI universities § 21 Girls Scottish universities § 34 girls English universities § 1 girl European University 25

HIGHER EDUCATION PREPARATION § Guest Speakers § Talks and courses by professional organisations § Databases on school computers 26

CHOOSING UNIVERSITIES Pupils are encouraged to make use of: § Prospectuses, § DVDs, CD Roms • Open Days visits to local universities • Visits to other Open/Information days www. ucas. com (attendance on an individual basis) www. russellgroup. ac. uk • H E Convention (March 2015) § Careers Library § Websites especially § University speakers 27

AIMS FOR SEPT 2015 - AUG 2016 BY THE END OF L 6 DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS Each pupil should have: Pupils should: v A list of 6 – 10 possible courses v A Personal Statement (first draft) v Discuss options with parents. v Visit universities where courses of interest to them offered 28

U 6 TIMETABLE § UCAS U 6 Information Evening § Individual interview with careers teacher – list of choices finalised § QUB Open Day (early Sept) § MCB Options XXII Careers Convention (early Sept) § Strathearn deadline for early applicants (16 Sept) [Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, vet sci / med] § Strathearn deadline for other UCAS applicants (15 Oct) § UCAS deadline: early applicants (10 Oct) § Girls confirm and insurance offers § Student finance presentation 29

Checklist for choosing Universities § Does the subject material in the degree match your daughter’s strengths? § Is the degree structure and content interesting to your daughter? § Is the degree of a high quality? QAA – Quality Assurance Agency / Times Good Uni Guide / Guardian / HESA – Higher Education Statistics Agency / Complete University guide § How many hours teaching does she receive ? (Ring Uni department and ask) 30

Checklist for choosing Universities cont’d § Are the academics teaching on the programme engaged in high quality teaching and research? (as previous slide) § Are the students studying the degree satisfied with the course ? Unistats § Are the students employable and in rewarding careers? See all websites already mentioned and Prospects § What financial support is available? § Home / Away / Campus / City (All websites are listed on Careers Section of Strathearn School Website) 31

APPLYING TO UNIVERSITIES in Republic of Ireland through CAO [Central Applications Office] Applications dealt with separately. Have much later deadline than UCAS 32

Mock Interview Evening Current U 6 Monday 23 November 2015 33

WORK EXPERIENCE § Initial contact (by students and parents) by mid Oct. § Existing databank to assist § Personal contacts more successful § Some exceptions – e. g. medical placements (coordinated centrally through Charter). § Formal correspondence - insurance forms etc § Help with placements? - contact Mrs Hearst 34

CONCLUSION Ø Each girl is different Ø Strong peer pressure Ø Maintain the work-relaxation balance 35