Year 13
Parent Engagement Group
Getting on at A2
7 October 2015
Cotham Learning Community
Our Results
North Bristol Post 16
A2 Results
A*
9%
National Averages
A*
8.2%
A* - A 28%
A*- A 25.9%
A*- B 58%
A* - B 55.5%
A* - E
A* - E 98.1%
99.2%
Where Did They Go?
• 45% of university places are at Russell
Group institutions
• 87% of UCAS applicants got their first
choice place
• 5 students are going to Oxford or
Cambridge
• 7 successful applications for medicine
• A significant uptake in apprenticeships
and internships.
• 1 in 10 leavers are entering a firm, nonHE pathway into the arts.
Positive Start
• Talk to subject staff and agree any
retake AS modules and when they are
going to take them (Deadline 30th
January)
• Plan the year ahead
• Sort out regular work slots using their
free time effectively
• Read around class topics – be ahead of
the game!
• Extended Project completion.
Upgrade
Supervised study area. Academic Mentors
are on hand to help students with work.
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Organisation and time
management
Revision tips
Research skills
Proof reading
strategies
Support with retakes
Access to computers and desk space.
Compulsory for some
Drop in offer
Teacher and/or self referral
Post 18 Pathways
Employment
University
Apprenticeships
Gap Year
UCAS
Decision time – apply for
2016/apply deferred entry 2017/ no
application
We can help – but students HAVE to
research and make their own
decisions
Factors to Consider
• Which University?
• Which subject?
• Which course?
• Entrance requirements and how
competitive
• Funding
• Be realistic!
Although practical considerations can make a big
difference to your university years, you’re going
away to study, and ultimately the content of the
course should be your guiding principle, no
matter how long the bar at Manchester is!
Unistats.com
Key Dates
• Completed applications to UCAS by Oct
15th for Oxford / Cambridge / Medicine
/ Vet / Dentistry (We need it earlier!)
• Post 16 centre would like all other UCAS
applications to be completed and sent
to tutors for references and checking by
October half term.
• Submission by 1 December guarantees
we will hit 15th Jan deadline
• UCAS deadline is Jan 15th – too late for
competitive courses
The UCAS Process
Early Autumn term
Apply for 5 realistic choices of university/course
Students will have their UCAS predicted grades
as well as their AS grades
Late Autumn/Spring term
Conditional offers
Interview (some)
Rejection
Early Summer term
Decision to keep 2 offers – a contractual
obligation
Firm Acceptance
Insurance Acceptance
Personal Statement
1. Why this course?
Use the first section of your
statement to say:
- Why you want to do this course
- What you think the course is about
- What options within it interest you
Personal Statement
2. Relevant experience
in this field
• IF you have done anything directly relevant
discuss it next:
• architecture, engineering, medicine, nursing,
teaching
• explain what you gained from this experience
and how it has strengthened your view that
this is the right field for you
• give specific examples of what you did and
what you learned from your experience
Personal Statement
3. Why I’m academically
suited to this course
- If you already do the subject – what you have
enjoyed so far and why
- If it’s new to you, which of your current subjects
have helped you develop the necessary SKILLS
- If it’s an arts/humanities subject – what have
you read that’s relevant, beyond the A level
spec?
- If it’s maths/science/engineering/business –
what recent articles have you read? What
controversies/news article have interested you?
Personal Statement
4. The rest of your life…
By now you will only have about ¼ of
your statement space left
• Start with your achievements
• Describe leadership and team working
experiences – talk about YOUR role
• Say what skills you have developed in
your part time employment
• Mention your interests/hobbies
Getting Advice
• Make a draft
• Share with tutor
• Redraft
• Share with teachers/ parents
• Agree final version
Completing the
Application
• Online application form
• Apply via school (buzzword required)
• Students work with tutors to complete
application and finalise personal statement
• Make sure the fee code is 02,… Bristol*.
• Make sure AS subjects are separate from
A2
• Make sure resits are entered as pending
• Payment is by card only - £23 (2 – 5
choices); £12 (1 choice)
• Submit form
* Unless NHS funded
References
• Tutor compiles the reference,
using subject staff comments
and predicted grades.
• They will start the reference
with an explanation of North
Bristol Post 16 Centre and
previous school.
• The end of the reference will
include some comments about
time at the centre and activities
students have been involved in.
• Student should inform tutor if
there is something important
that they wish to be included in
your reference.
• Attendance and punctuality!
After it is Sent
• Student will get
confirmation that
UCAS has received
their form and will be
sending it off to your
university choices.
Keep ID number safe.
• Get a folder/file
together to keep all
paperwork from UCAS
and Universities
• Record tracker details
Offers / Rejections
• By end of March student will have
received either offers or rejections
• At this point students will be asked to
select one firm offer as a first choice
and a second (lower offer) as an
insurance offer
Results Day
• THURSDAY 18TH AUGUST
(provisional)
• Please be in Bristol on this
day
• Results are not emailed or
given out over the phone
• Universities want to speak to
students and will not speak
to parents!
Be Successful
• Work hard
• Plan time effectively / job/ social life/ school
work
• Plan future
• Apply to UCAS
• Gap year – plan
• If they don’t want to apply to uni, work on
an excellent CV for future job opportunities
• Some apprenticeship schemes have
deadlines
• Use tutor, post 16 team, teachers, parents
• Careers advice
20 key facts on university fees, loans & grants
everyone should know!
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/student-loans-tuition-fees-changes
Contact Us
RGS
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
0117 353 3433
COTHAM
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
0117 919 8100
www.NBP16c.org.uk
Parent surgery: Every Wednesday
3.30 – 4.30 Appointment only