Year 13

Higher Education

Information Evening

September 2013

Results

• Attainment in terms of A-B higher than the national average and higher than 2012

• A-E pass rate is higher than the national average. • The majority of subjects have a significantly positive value added (VA)

score • Overall VA score at AS is significantly positive and higher than 2012.

• 4th Oct: Internal early deadline • 15th Oct: External early deadline • 4th Nov: Internal all UCAS deadline • 15th Jan: External all UCAS deadline • 24th March: Art courses

Key dates

• 25th Feb: UCAS Extra begins • 7th May: If all decisions have been received by 31st March then the student must

respond by this deadline• 5th June: If applied prior to January but you only receive all your decisions by 8th

May then this is your response deadline• 26th June: If you received your decisions before the 5th June then this is your

response deadline• 30th June: The last day of applying direct to Universities otherwise you go into

clearing• 2nd July: The last day to apply to Extra • 14th Aug: Results’ day• 24th July: Deadline to respond to Extra offers• 31st Aug: Deadline for Universities to decide on places, this is for those who may

have not met the initial offer request but are still being considered for the place.

Key dates

UCAS Process• All students are registered with UCAS, this happened in June 2013.• Students complete their application form as follows;• Personal details• Additional information• Education• Choices• Employment• Personal statement• A2 Predicted Grades• Reference –we expect our tutors to turn this around in 2 weeks

Personal Statements:

• Personal!

• They can be the starting point for discussion at interview

• Reflective, not lists

• Focus on chosen course

• Care and attention to detail

• “Why you should choose me”

Personal statements

• ¾ Academic to ¼ Extracurricular• What drives your interest in the subject both in and out of the

classroom• What has influenced your choice of course • What you hope to get out of the course, career wise (Vocational & Non

Vocational) • How work related learning has helped develop key skills and

knowledge • How you can relate your course choice to the wider world. • Knowledge of practical applications• Courses attended, G&T Programmes, Masterclasses, Experience

days, Medlink, EPQ

Application Completed

• Once the application is complete the student must PAY & SEND (£22)• The application comes directly to the Sixth form office • We request the reference from the tutor• The complete form is checked by at least two members of the Sixth form

team• If any changes are required the application will be sent back to the students

with notes attached

Guidance

• Many Universities visited us during Year 12• Assembly input from the Sixth form team –Guidance from

Tutors• UCAS information via Frog• Google documents – see example• UCAS intention documents – see example

Choices

• 5 Choices • Encourage a range of course/grade requirements• 2 in line with aspirations• 1 or 2 less than in line with AS results• 1 below AS results

Choices

• For example if a student achieved ABC at AS the most they will be predicted is 1 grade higher in each subject. Although this depends on how close each grade is to the next boundary so there can be negotiation.

• Choice 1 AAB• Choice 2 same/similar• Choice 3/4 ABC • Choice 5 BCD

Choices

• Are the choices a mixture of institutions that require grades or points.

• Points Universities will often allow the total points to be made up by the 4th AS subject and the General studies AS points.

Choices

• Typical offer

• Bath: AAA Sunderland: 260

• A in each A2 subject Points made up from no 4th subject or any combination but at general studies least 100 must come allowed from 2 A2 subjects.

Choices

• Approximately 40 students rely on their 4th subject or general studies to secure their University place.

• Already 30 students have requested A2 general studies be added to their timetables.

Replying to HE offers – what do the letters mean?

• U = Unconditional offer (no further qualifications are needed)

• C = Conditional offer (a place is waiting as long as the right grades are achieved);

• R = Unsuccessful (no offer).

• Deadline 7th May 2014

Replying to HE offers

• The insurance choice should have lower grades/points requirements than the firm choice.

• The insurance should be a viable insurance in terms of the grade offer; it should be a place where the applicant actually wants to go and must not be considered lightly.

What do you need to do next?

• A maximum of two offers may be held after final decisions have been received from UCAS;

• There are three replies that can be made:– F = Firm Acceptance– I = Insurance Acceptance– D = Decline

[If an unconditional offer is firmly accepted, no other offers may be held]

UCAS “Extra”

• UCAS Extra opens on 25th February 2014;

• Extra is available for:

– any student that has not received any offers;

– Any student that has declined all offers.

Please note: students can only apply to one course at a time.

Results’ Day

• 14th August 2014• Please ensure that your son/daughter is at school to collect his/her results

• Only the applicant can contact UCAS if there is a problem with the university or course choices

• Students can use ‘track’ to check the final decision. Some applicants will still be offered a place even if they fail to meet the original requirements;

• There is a possibility of changed course offers for applicants who have not met their conditions;

Newcastle University: Finance TalkTo find out more information call 0191 222 6094 and visit

www.ncl.ac.uk/partners/realdeal.htm to book a place.

Students and parents are invited to ‘Student Finance - the Real Deal’ taking place at Newcastle University on 26 September from 6.00pm – 7.00pm (refreshments available from 5.30pm).

This event is aimed at parents and carers of students in Years 11, 12 and 13 or currently at college.

This event will help parents and students to understand how the student finance package works by providing relevant information about Higher Education funding. It will enable them to make an informed decision about going to university.

Parents will be able to find out about the range of financial support available to students; including tuition fee loans, living cost loans, non repayable grants, scholarships and bursaries. There will also be an opportunity to put questions to a panel of student finance experts from Newcastle University and recent graduates.

Students will learn about the range of financial support available to students through our interactive “Who wants to be a Student Finance Guru” session. This session will be facilitated by current students and recent graduates from Newcastle University.

This event is free to attend but it is necessary to book a place

Further Opportunities

Newcastle University Partners Scheme: Wednesday 25th Sept extended assembly USH. Discussing the guaranteed offer scheme & the supported entry route

North East Engineering Careers Event – Wednesday 25 September (10am-2:45pm) – Nissan Sunderland 

 http://semta.org.uk/events/future/entry/1364

A successful Nursing application: Thursday 3rd Oct extended registration in the Wolfson suite

Mock Medical interviews: Monday 21st Oct periods 4 & 5 Wolfson suite

Proctor & Gamble Finance & Accountancy apprenticeships see JMG

Further Opportunities

• Finance Event for State School Sixth Formers• The event takes place in London during the Autumn Half Term on Thursday, October

31st 2013. We have just 250 places at PP: Finance 2013 and will be allocating places to those students that fit the following criteria: 

 Achieved / predicted ABB at AS-Level or equivalent (not including General Studies or Critical Thinking)

Attend a state school or college (non-fee paying)

In Year 12 or Year 13

 Students can apply by completing our short online application form. Applications will close at 5pm on Monday, 30th September 2013. We will inform all applicants of our decision by Wednesday, 2nd October.

• See Pure Potential website for the application form

Results’ Day – Final Reminder

• Applicants require their UCAS personal ID in order to contact UCAS or the universities directly.

Clearing

• If applicants do not get the grades required for their insurance university, then they will be eligible for Clearing;

• Clearing will list all of the courses left at the different universities (it is worth looking at UCAS course search near to the time to see what is still available in Extra).

• Clearing vacancies are available through the UCAS website, and usually in the following newspapers:– The Independent – The Independent on Sunday– Daily Mirror

Adjustment

• Adjustment is for students who have achieved higher grades than they required for their course choice;

• Adjustment is optional.

Results’ Day

• Staff are in school on Results Day, and the day after if needed;

• Applicants require their UCAS personal ID in order to contact UCAS or the universities directly.

Results’ Day - Clearing

• If applicants are eligible for Clearing an 'Add Clearing choice' button will appear on their Track 'choices' screen which they use to apply for a course;

• Applicants should check vacancy information and contact institutions via telephone or e-mail using their individual Clearing Number which is displayed on their 'welcome' page and 'choices' page in ‘Track’.

Results’ Day - Clearing

• Applicants should only enter a Clearing choice if the university or college has provisionally offered them a place on the course and they want to accept it;

• If a Clearing choice is entered without discussing it with the university or college, this may delay the application progress.