Life After Sixth Form
We have a Sixth Form team dedicated to helping students with their university applications and finding great work-related opportunities.
We can provide advice and resources about careers, university, UCAS applications and writing your personal statement. You can also get help with career plans, finding an apprenticeship or internship, as well as book onto a range of talks, events and summer programmes.
See below for a variety of career and university opportunities.
What do you need to do?
- Choose which courses you want to apply to at which institutions - details of university open days can be found here
- Complete your personal statement
- Fill in the online ‘Apply’ form and send it off.
- Apply to local authority for financial support
Where can you get information and support?
- CLC Building Futures (previously named Connexions)
- Careers office in School
- UCAS website
- Your tutor
UCAS
Universities and Colleges Admission Service. www.ucas.com - this is the first place to search for the different types of courses available. You do not need a login or password to search for courses. Please see this here for info regarding how and when to apply.
Route A Applications
Route A applications are for all the degree courses, including Art courses. Students can apply for up to FIVE different courses.
Course choices
Use the five choices wisely. By this point, you should know the specific area of which you wish to study. Therefore, your course selections should all be within a similar field of subject matter. Your respective selections should read similar to:
- English - University of Bath
- English & Theatre Studies - University of Exeter
- English with Film - King's College London
- Creative Writing - University of Winchester
- English & History - Royal Holloway
Rather than:
- Chemistry - University of St Andrews
- Law - Durham University
- Fashion Design - Falmouth University
- Nursing - University of Southampton
- Drama - Queen Mary University of London
Course research must be done thoroughly. Course research is your responsibility as there are so many different courses to choose from.
Look carefully at the subject's entry requirements. If your grade predictions are 3Cs, you should not go for courses that require 3As, or vice versa. Please see here for more information on the UCAS points system.
It is, however, common to pick at least one 'insurance' course/university, that has slightly lower entry requirements - just in case you don't quite get your predicted grades. For example, if you are predicted CBB, your insurance choice should be asking for something similar to CCC.
The Personal Statement
The most important part of the application process for the student to complete as it's an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.
Students have been given one-to-one interviews to help them start the process. They should have a first draft completed by the time they return in September
What makes a good application?
- Good results and predicted grades
- A personal statement is well written – well structured, with correct grammar, etc.
- Tips on how to write an exemplary personal statement -
- Courses have been demonstrably well researched.
- Work experience, hobbies, etc.
- Wider reading, listening, interest in cinema, museums, art, etc. outside the specification
Application sent - what happens next?
Once we have sent off the application, students will receive either:
- An unconditional offer
- A conditional offer
- Unsuccessful application
Accepting offers
Once all offers have been received you will then have to select one firm course and one as an insurance.
Insurance - A fall back option in the event that you don't reach your predicted grades.
Clearing - If students do not make it into their first or second choice university, they will automatically go through to clearing. The Independent and other newspapers produce lists of courses that have not been filled. Visit the UCAS site for more information on clearing.
What we do in school
We have been visiting speakers on gap years, career opportunities and employers from January onwards. We also use our school creative days to start searching for courses and beginning the UCAS statement.
We also conduct career interviews to help students ascertain where it is they see their future heading. On top of this, there are individual sessions with form tutors and the head of year during our higher education week. Students also receive a higher education pack on how to write their UCAS statement.
How can parents support their children?
- Note the deadline and make sure they stick to it.
- Help them research courses and institutions - UCAS Applications for parents
- Discuss their choices with them and make sure they have thought them through and are choosing courses, institutions, etc. for the ‘right’ reasons.
- Proofread their supporting statement.
- Encourage them to have high but realistic expectations.
- Make sure they keep working hard throughout the year - they will need to get the grades to get in.
Our Sixth Form team will help you find an apprenticeship suited to you.
Here are some links to websites that give information about apprenticeships in London.
Government apprenticeship Guidance
https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch
Essex school leaver jobs
https://www.facebook.com/essexapprentice
Milkround website – a specific website for school leavers
https://schoolleavers.milkround.com/
Not going to University website of apprenticeships
https://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/apprenticeships-223/filter/subcats/higher-apprenticeship-228
UCAS website – jobs available in South East of England
https://careerfinder.ucas.com/jobs/south-east-england/#browsing
UCAS website – school leaver jobs
https://careerfinder.ucas.com/jobs/apprenticeship/#browsing
UCAS website – careers advice
https://careerfinder.ucas.com/careers/
Prospects website – school leaver jobs
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/apprenticeships
Parent/Carer’s Guide to Apprenticeships for post-16 students
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/415789/Apprenticeship_
self-development.pdf
Civil Service
https://civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk
Hospitality
http://hospitalityguild.co.uk
Countryside
https://countryside-jobs.com
Law
http://lawcareers.net/MoreLaw/LegalApprenticeships
IT Apprenticeships
https://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/it
Business
https://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/business
Science
https://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/science-and-research
