Welcome to St Aidans and St John Fisher

Welcome to St Aidan’s and St John Fisher Associated Sixth Form Year 13 Pastoral Parents’ Evening 2018

Expectations, support and monitoring Applications and Planning for Post-18 options

The story so far… Year 12 September: induction, settling in. October: ‘Driving Test’ November: Senior Tutor review December - January: formal assessments in subject lessons (grades reported) • February: Year 12 Parents’ Evening • February to April: tutorial periods focus on Careers, university, apprenticeships, gap years • May: external assessments for Applied courses and ‘mock’ exams in school (grades reported) • •

The story so far…. Year 12 cont. • June: Careers Conference: presentations and workshops from employers and universities • Personal Statement workshops, research and drafting • June/July: review of Year 12 and plans for progression with Senior Tutors • July: Enrichment trips, Open Day visits and work experience • August: results for externally assessed Applied courses

What happens in Year 13? • Study becomes even more challenging • Planning for Post-18 options is a focus alongside academic work • Applications and offers for university, apprenticeships, gap year programmes • Expectations of independent study increase: need to review Year 12 work continuously alongside new content

Support Structures for Students and Parents • September/October: UCAS Grade predictions and application • October: Parents’ Evening • December: ‘mock’ exams • January: Applied General course exams in some subjects • February: Report home to parents • March: Progress Review/final grade projections • March-April: final NEA/Coursework deadlines • May/June: A Level and final Applied course examinations • August: Results and guidance on destinations

Responsibilities and Expectations • To value one another at all times – dignity of everyone • Commitment to studies • Communication: with peers, teachers, Senior Tutor, parents • Behaviour and appearance in school: setting an example • Behaviour and appearance in the local community: representing the Association (e. g. not smoking, vaping, littering) • Driving and parking responsibly • Punctuality and Attendance

Attendance • • Affects achievement Affects well-being Is essential for safeguarding Is required throughout the school day – from 8. 45 am to 12. 30 pm and from 1. 30 pm to 3. 35 pm Should be punctual in registration and lessons Is closely monitored If concerns arise, these will result in home-school dialogue, formal warnings and contracts Ultimately, students may be withdrawn from courses or from the Sixth Form.

Private Study • Students will have Private Study on their timetable to support study habits and attitude to learning. During these sessions students must swipe in to register and work in the Library or Sixth Form Study Centre. There is an expectation that students will bring to these sessions work which they can do independently. • Students have other opportunities during the school day to see staff or work in department areas.

Home Study Leave After UCAS applications/ October half term Depending on record of attendance, effort, reliability Positive attitude and study habits established One half-day session per week Formal agreement between student, parent and Senior Tutor Student to sign in or out (safeguarding) May be rescinded

• • • How to achieve your potential Learn from mistakes of Year 12 Organisation and time management Independent study, extended learning and consolidation Work consistently: don’t leave it too late! Effort: attendance and deadlines Work with teachers and Senior Tutors; involve your parents/carers Review targets and performance regularly Identify active learning and revision strategies; practise, practise! Be resilient Look ahead: aim high

Destinations 2018 In the Association: • 73% of Year 13 went on to Further or Higher Education • 17% to Gap Year • 10% to Employment/ Apprenticeships Of those going to university: • 74% gained a place at their first choice institution • 15% were accepted for their second choice • 11% were made offers through Clearing • 46% obtained a place at a Russell Group/1994 university

The students should now have… • Attended the careers tutorials in year 12. • Visited a University and had the University application process explained • Decided what they want to study. • Know what grades are required for the course they have chosen.

The choice of university. Do they teach the course you want. Research specifics. How is the course taught. Contact time/coursework/exam based Close/far away from home? Campus/City University? How is the university rated? How is the course rated? What grade/points tariff are they asking for? What grades are you predicted? You are allowed 5 choices.

Predicted grades. Subject teachers decide on the predicted grades. This is based on prior attainment, performance and effort. Students who have been predicted a BCC should look for courses that require similar grades. Why not predict all students A*A*A*? If students are not at this level, we are giving them an unrealistic expectation. Universities like evidence that the student is capable of these grades. One of the 5 measures. How many are successfully getting to university? Discredit the school Teachers are always instructed to be as positive as possible.

UCAS Application • Students should have logged on – sheet provided. • They will now be producing their personal Statement. • A Personal statement is: • A 4000 character description of the student’s achievements and experiences. It is the most important aspect of the application.

What to include: • A reason why you have chosen this particular course. • A reflection on what you have studied and the skills acquired in each subject. 60/70% of personal statement. • A section explaining any roles or responsibilities in school. • A section explaining any roles or responsibilities outside of school. • A brief conclusion outlining the contribution you can make to the chosen university.

Other applicants Medics/Dentists/Vets/Lawyers Universities like the majority of the statement to link to relevant experience. Quantification and reflection. Where was your placement? How long? What did you observe – procedures/how staff interact with each other and with patients/clients. What did the student get from the experience? Oxbridge Candidates need to demonstrate wider reading and demonstrate that they are moving beyond the curriculum.

Deadlines • 27 th September. Oxbridge/Medics/Dentists/Vets • 18 th October. All other UCAS applications

If you have applied… You can view your application in Track. You will be sent an e-mail alert if there is any movement. Some Universities and colleges may contact you to tell you that they are considering your application. Not all of them do this, so don't worry if you don't hear from some of your choices. The time it takes to reply can vary – don’t worry!

If you have offers. Hopefully you will receive 5 offers and you will soon begin the process of replying to them. If you have your offers, the ball is in your court! Universities will be chasing you to accept them as firm choice – do not feel pressurised into accepting offers. Guarantee accommodation. What does this mean? Post applicant days. Informal interviews - a way of reselling the course to them

You should be able to answer these Qs. Why this course? Why this subject/career area? Ask about personal statement Academic interests - wider reading? Subject specific questions - there are quite good examples in the Heap guide Why this university? Extra curricular? Career plans?

Replying to Offers letter - sent to you when you have received decisions from all your choices and have received at least one offer. It asks you to reply to your offer(s) by a given date. Check the date. Universities have to have made a decision by 2 rd May. If so, reply by 6 th June Think carefully before you decide which offers to accept because once you accept an offer, including an insurance offer, you are committed to that course (or courses).

Firm Acceptance: • Your firm acceptance is your first choice - this is your preferred choice out of all the offers you have received. You can only have one firm acceptance. This can come in the form of: Unconditional offer • you are agreeing that you will attend the course at that university or college, so you must decline any other offers. Conditional offer • you are agreeing that you will attend the course at that university or college if you meet the required grades. You can accept another offer as an insurance choice. Most will be this type of offer.

Insurance acceptance: • If your firm choice is a conditional offer, you can accept another offer as an insurance choice. Your insurance choice can be conditional or unconditional and acts as a back-up. • MAKE SURE THAT YOUR INSURANCE CHOICE IS LOWER THAN YOUR FIRM CHOICE!!! • Do you really want to attend the insurance choice?

Decline Once you have decided which offer to accept firmly, and which (if any) to accept as an insurance, you must decline all other offers. If you don't want to accept any of the offers, you can decline them all. You will then be eligible to use Extra or Clearing depending upon your circumstances.

What if I change my mind or receive no offers? • If you have not received any offers or if you do not want to accept your offers then all is not lost! You can still apply for more choices using Extra from 25 th February • EXTRA Am I eligible: Yes if : – You have already made five choices – Received decisions from all these choices. – Either had no offers or declined all the offers you have received.

How to use UCAS EXTRA • If you are eligible for EXTRA a button will appear on your TRACK screen. • EXTRA opens 25 th of February. • Course search will tell you which courses still have vacancies. • Before you apply try to contact the university to see if they will consider you. • Choose a course and enter the details in TRACK – the application will then be sent.

UCAS EXTRA • If you are offered a place you can choose whether or not to accept it. • If you accept an offer you are then committed to it so research your choices carefully. • If you decline an offer or your application is unsuccessful then you can apply for a different choice through EXTRA • One at a time.

Results day! • If you do not meet the required grade for your Firm or Insurance choice you can find a course through clearing. • What is clearing? • All courses with spaces will be advertised. • I will be in the careers department helping you with this. • Also quite a lot of students often do better in A Level than expected (its true!) and so they can also trade up using adjustment.

Contact details St Aidan’s and St John Fisher Associated Sixth Form Tel: 01423 818516 E-mail: associatedsixthform@staidans. co. uk 6 thform@sjfchs. org. uk Website: www. sjfchs. org. uk Weekly notices will be emailed to parents and students every week @staidansandstjohnfisherassociatedsixthform @stjohnfishercatholichighschool @SASJFSixth. Form @sjfchs sasjfsixthform