Y12 Information Evening for Parents and Students

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Y12 Information Evening for Parents and
Students

• 17 September 2008

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Welcome

• Format of the evening
• Jane Jenkins making the most of time in the
• 6th form
• Helen Smith ALPS and the new mentoring
• system
• Ruth Mellors (Connexions) the role of the
• Connexions Service at 6th form
  level
• Colin Wylie (University of Sheffield) making
• plans for and applying to
  University

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Getting the grades

• Important beyond university entrance
• No magic formula for success we are all
  different
• Time management/Personal organisation
• Communicate asking for help/advice is not a
  sign of failure
• Realise that it can be very stressful.

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Its not just the grades

• Skills
• Experiences
• Voluntary/Charity work
• Part-time work/Holiday jobs
• Drama, Music, Sport
• Work experience/shadowing
• Duke of Edinburgh/Scouts

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Quote from the Sheffield Star

• When I select prospective employees I always
  look for something on their CV that indicates
  that they have a passion or interest in something
  outside of school
• City centre
  employer

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Application Form/Telephone Interview Questions

• Talk about a time when you had to go out of
  your way to help another person to achieve an
  important goal.
• Give an example of how you have worked in a
  successful team.
• Describe a situation where you have had to
  lead a team.

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• Describe a personal achievement of importance
  to you.
• What is the biggest thing in your life that
  has shaped you?
• Give details of your activities and
  achievements through school, university and
  elsewhere (e.g., charity work, travel).
• What positions of responsibility and/or
  activities did you undertake at school? Why did
  you undertake these?

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On-line application questions(Law)

• Please give an example of a challenge that you
  have set yourself and describe how you have gone
  about achieving it. (200 words)
• Please outline a problem that you have solved by
  offering an alternative solution what steps did
  you take? How did you implement it?. (200 words)
• During a summer job for a major paper
  manufacturer, I was employed to help with a
  project to modernise their communication network.
  However due to staff illness.

A challenge I set myself was completing a four
day, fifty mile group expedition in Scotland for
the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award .
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• Please give an example of when you have
  studied/worked in, what was for you, unusual or
  different circumstances. Describe how you
  adapted, how successful you were and what you
  learnt from this experience. (200 words)
• An example of when I have worked in unusual
  circumstances was
• during my AS-Level French, where I spent a
  week on work experience
• in a bakery in Northern France..

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• Please provide details of any positions of
  responsibility that you have held. (200 words)
• At university, I was heavily involved in
  the History Society.
• For many years, I have been part of the
  Scouting movement and have held several positions
  of responsibility.
• At school, I took part in Young
  Enterprise.

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To sum up

• Get the best grades you can no regrets later
  on.
• Those extra-curricula activities are really
  important. (They dont have to be linked to
  school.)
• Try to get involved with activities that mean you
  work in a team, have responsibility/some
  leadership, are involved in some decision making.

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ALPS and Mentoring

• Mentoring - responding to individual needs

• ALPS gives us and the student a clearly
  identifiable target

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ALPS

• A Level Performance Systems. Shared with the
  student in week 3

• In Year 12 the ALPS targets are based on GCSE
  results and expected progression rates.

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Pastoral care at VI Form

• No registration period. 10 minute 1 to 1
  interviews

• Tutorial. Timetabled lesson (Monday 1115-1220)
  Attendance is essential

• Attendance. In the case of absence contact
  School. Charlotte Chance VI Form attendance
  officer.

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Mentoring Session
Mentoring is carried out in cycles with specific
objectives as well as flexibility. A mentoring
overview (with the time and objective of each
session) is available in the common room for
students.
Were are currently on Mentoring session 1 in the
cycle (week 3 6) Each session is recorded and
kept in a students ILP
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Missed mentoring sessions
Registration every morning with HS/JJ
HS/JJ meet parents in school
Refer to HS/JJ who will send a letter home
Warning by FT. Session rearranged. Recorded by FT
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Pastoral care at VI Form
It is important to us that sixth form students
have an enjoyable and successful experience here
and we aim to prepare them for the future.
The Sixth Form Team Jane Jenkins Head of Sixth
form jj_at_ecgbert.sheffield.sch.uk Helen Smith
Assistant Head of Sixth Form hmi_at_ecgbert.sheffield
.sch.uk Charlotte Chance Sixth form Attendance
and admin cch_at_ecgbert.sheffield.sch.uk Michelle
Donnelly Sixth Form admin and
EMA mm_at_ecgbert.sheffield.sch.uk
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King Ecgbert SchoolY12 ParentsHelp and Support
Available from Connexions at KES 6th Form
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What is Connexions?

• A guidance service for 13-19 year olds
• Connexions Advisers (Careers Adviser Ruth
  Mellors) available in school to 6th formers to
  provide information, advice and guidance
• Impartial we are NOT employed by school
• Connexions services can also be accessed in
  other locations (in the community, Star House
  etc..)

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What help do Connexions provide?

• We can help by
• Careers Advisers can provide information, advice
  and guidance on jobs, courses and training
  opportunities, and Higher Education (University)
• Helping to draw up a plan of action outlining
  what needs to done, and when
• Personal Advisers can provide help with issues
  you may be having in or out of school (money,
  housing, health, home life, relationships etc..).
• We are available in school for careers
  interviews, informal drop-ins and group sessions
  to help with the above

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And finally............

• PARENTS AND CARERS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
  INFLUENCE IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE
• Please contact me in school, or Star House if I
  can be of any help

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Careers Interviews

• A careers interview is an opportunity for
  students to talk to a Careers Adviser about their
  options
• We are interested in how that individual is
  matching their skills, abilities and interests to
  the education, training and employment
  opportunities that are available after Year
  12/13.
• We may suggest new ideas and challenge ideas if
  they appear unrealistic
• We actively encourage people to make their own
  decisions and choices

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• To contact us in school
• Students can speak to Connexions Advisers
  throughout Y12-13
• We are available in school all week (except Tues)
  so students can arrange appointments and make
  enquiries (in the office in the library)
  Lunchtime drop-ins
• We are available at Parents Evenings, and welcome
  enquiries from parents/carers

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Visit the Connexions Centre (Star House)

• Open during term time, school holidays and on
  Saturday mornings (Mon-Thurs 9-5pm, Fri
  10-430pm, Sat 10-1230pm)
• Use information available in the careers library
  and on computers
• You can talk to trained, friendly staff who can
  provide careers interviews, information, advice
  and guidance outside school
• Sheffield Connexions Centre
• Star House
• 43 Division St.
• Sheffield S1 4SL
• Tel [phone]
• Freephone information line 0800 652 9900
• Connexions Direct 080 0800 13 2 19
• www.connexionsinsheffield.org.uk
• www.connexions-direct.com

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Higher Education Information Session

• Presentation for King Ecgbert School
• by Colin Wylie

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The session

• Why Higher Education (HE)?
• When and how to apply
• What universities look for
• Costs and student funding
• Choices where and what to study
• Information sources and action plan

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Why HE?
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Career

• Need a degree e.g. for professions
• 50 of graduate jobs non-subject related
• Exciting, enjoyable, rewarding career
• Promotion prospects
• Earning potential 50 / 120k

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Personal development

• Enjoy studying
• Chance to leave home and gain independence
• Life Skills
• New friends and interests
• Student life employability CV

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How and when to apply?
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Application procedure

• Single electronic application through UCAS
• Sept 1st Jan 15th (most courses) / Oct 15th
• Each University receives application
• Up to five choices
• Qualifications
• Personal statement
• Reference

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Application procedure

• Admissions Tutors decide
• Interview
• Offer place (conditional)
• Reject
• UCAS inform applicant of decision
• Firm and insurance choice
• UCAS Extra and Clearing

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What qualifications are needed?

• Depends on course and institution
• GCSE requirements
• Subject specific requirements
• Grades / UCAS tariff points typical offer
• Predicted grades

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What Admission Tutors look for

• Knowledge of subject
• Evidence of interest in subject
• Career aspirations
• Extra-curricular activities
• Transferable skills
• Not just what you do, but what you get out of it

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Y12 is important!

• AS is
• Qualification in own right
• May affect choice of A2
• Part of final A2 grade
• Will affect predicted grades
• Think ahead re work shadowing etc

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Costs and money
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Two main types of costs

• Tuition fees
• Living costs
• No money needed up front
• Study first- pay back later
• Grants, loans and bursaries available
• Assessed by LEA (household income)

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Student Loans

• Not compulsory
• Borrowed from Student Loan Company
• Interest set at rate of inflation
• Repay only when earning over 15,000 pa
• Fee Loan (direct to institution)
• Maintenance Loan (for living costs)

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University an investment

• 20,000 student loan on graduation
• Graduates earn an average of 50 (up to 400,000
  more during working life)
• Only repay when benefiting from decent salary
• Important to choose right course and Institution!
  Student Life worth every penny

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Other sources of funding

• Sponsorship
• Gap year job
• Access to Learning Funds
• Part time / vacation work
• University based job shops / Students Unions

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Start thinking / researching

• This next year will fly by!
• Over 50,000 courses and 340 Institutions
• Start thinking early next year
• Motivation for current studies
• Focus to improve grades / A2 choices
• What else can you be doing?

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Choices What and Where to study
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What subject

• Professional e.g. Dentistry, Medicine, Teaching
• Current subject or related
• Vocational subject area
• Hobby or interest
• Something completely new

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Unusual courses

• Brewing and Distilling / Wine Studies
• Acupuncture
• Business Economics with Gambling Studies
• Pig and Poultry Production
• Surf and Beach Management

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Where to study

• Stay at home?
• Move away?
• How far away?
• Somewhere you have always wanted to live London?
  Scotland? The seaside?
• Campus or City University?

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How parents can help

• Encourage thorough research of all the options
• Dont let them apply their own preferences
• Open Days transport and 2nd opinion
• Help / suggestions for work shadowing
• Help with personal statement
• Life Skills!

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Action Plan

• THINK about what interests you
• EXPLORE the opportunities
• RESEARCH the courses, universities and entry
  requirements
• START THINKING about your personal statement

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Its a big decision!

• Choosing new home as well as a course
• More info better informed choice
• Start early next year
• Have a target to aim for motivation
• Uni should be best 3 years of life

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Any Questions?
We are available at the end of the session.