Engaging Higher Education

Aston University

January 2016

∗ Craig Fleming, Assistant Head at The Skinners’ School, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. 26 years’ experience – Director of Studies, Head of Pastoral Care, Head of Department, Head of Careers.

∗ Traditional selective boys’ grammar school with over 900 students. Circa 250+ in the Sixth Form, with a small number of girls who share classes from Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School. Large catchment area stretching from SE London to the south coast of East Sussex. Predominantly middle class with high expectations.

∗ Retention rate from Year 11 to Year 12 is over 98.8%. Small number of external students – no more than 20.

∗ Almost every student will eventually go on to Higher Education , with the majority applying for what might be described as “competitive” courses.

Background

∗ Over 90% of applicants gain either their firm or insurance choice. (Ranked =4th by the Sunday Times destination of school leavers for state school)

∗ Around 10% go to Oxbridge, with 70%+ going to a Russell Group institution. We have 35 Oxbridge applicants for 2016, with 32 gaining an interview. In 2014-2015, the most popular destinations were Exeter, Leeds, Bath and Cambridge.

∗ Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale and Princeton, and a number Dutch universities. St. Andrew’s, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Queen’s, Belfast.

∗ 6 or 7 apply each year for medicine – 100% success rate for the last two years.

∗ Geography has been the single most popular course for the last three years, but Engineering, Sciences, History and English are also popular.

Background

University subject destinations 2014-15

University destinations

∗ Introduction to UCAS process and university life in general through assemblies from Year 9 onwards. Helps to focus choices at GCSE and then again in Year 11 for A/AS Levels. Year 10 and 11 are shown how to search for courses and given a brief introduction to league tables, National Student Survey amongst others.

∗ Annual Higher Education Fair in September – 40 universities and careers services attend. Open to all local schools in the area –around 1000 students and parents attend. Year 10-13 attend.

∗ All Year 11 undertake two weeks’ work experience placement. (July)

∗ Year 11 attend Oxbridge conferences and many visit institutions after the end of their GCSE exams.

Early engagement

∗ All Year 11 students have a careers interview and have an individual meeting with a member of the Leadership Group in January after their mock examinations – UCAS is an important part of this as it helps to inform choice of subjects and acts as an incentive to work harder. University entry also mentioned in our Options Evenings and we encourage subject staff to discuss this with parents and students during consultation meetings.

∗ Junior Prefect team being developed in Year 11 and 10, as well as leadership opportunities with our CCF, DofE and in subject areas. This is developed further in the Sixth Form with a Senior Prefect team, Subject Prefects, Form mentoring Prefects and community work with mentors working with a local Pupil Referral Unit, a “sister” academy and local Primary schools.

Early engagement

∗ Speakers from the first week of term in Year 12. Visitors from UEA, Oxford, Cambridge, Nottingham, UCL, Harvard, Arizona, Queen’s Belfast and Glasgow universities throughout the year. Student Finance talk for students and parents.

∗ Updates of “tutorial record sheets” which act as a formal record of achievement for references and early framework for personal statements – ongoing throughout the Sixth Form.

∗ HE fair in September and UCAS evening in Feb of Year 12.

Sixth Form UCAS Timetable

∗ Personal statement workshops from January of Year 12 –external trainers, tutors, Leadership Group. All students registered and personal details etc completed.

∗ Good draft of personal statements for all by end of Year 12.∗ Reference writing workshop for tutors in July of Year 12 – early

drafts written before the end of the summer. Meet the students forum where ex-pupils presently at university come and share their experiences.

∗ September/October Year 13 all personal statements completed and checked by tutors/subject teachers/LG.

∗ All applications completed by end of term 1 of Year 13 (half-term October)

Sixth Form UCAS Timetable

∗ Students increasingly being identified in Year 11. This year we will have a Year 11 Oxbridge group up and running. We have an open-door policy – 48 students started in the present Year 13…..this is naturally selective.

∗ We do look at GCSE results and we gently discourage those who do not have at least 5A* at GCSE (unless there are exceptional circumstances).

∗ September annual Oxbridge Evening for Year 11/12 – open to surrounding schools.

∗ Weekly meetings with discussions on latest news in subject areas, problem solving from academic staff in their fields of study, discussions on extended work, talks given by previous year group on their experiences, talk by past students at Oxbridge Colleges, visits to the universities/colleges throughout the year. Masterclasses, summer schools.

∗ Mock interviews, external interviews, exam preparations, YASS, Moocs, extended work, lectures, visits, regional and local conferences.

Oxbridge Programme

∗ Medics are identified early through discussions with tutors, science subject teachers and assemblies. (Open door policy)

∗ Year 11 ensure work experience placements are in place. We encourage students to keep a diary and reflect on what they learn from the experience.

∗ Year 11 and 12 students ( and parents for evening events) attend talks given by local practitioners and students presently at medical schools; Medlink and external lectures also encouraged.

∗ Year 12 medics group meet weekly for discussions on latest medical issues, share good ideas, subscribe to the Student BMJ and preparation for UKCAT, BMAT and beginning their personal statement (Completed in September of Year 13). Work experience ongoing throughout this period. Visits to universities take place throughout the year and students share their experiences about different medical schools.

∗ Mock interviews are held and observed by the rest of the group; critical friend approach which provides mutual support for the students. Mock interviews are also held with external visitors from the medical profession and other schools.

Medical applications

∗ Don’t be slow about asking universities/departments for advice or inviting them in to talk to you and your students.

∗ Encourage your academic staff to make contacts with university departments in their subject areas.

∗ Don’t be slow at asking why X didn’t get an offer or how can you ensure your students are more likely to get an offer in the future.

∗ Do email separately if there is something you want to say about a student but can’t on their reference.

∗ Visit as many universities as you can – you get a lot from these visits which you can’t from a website or through second-hand conversations. Don’t be afraid to ask for a visit for you and your students…….get some contact names!

General advice

∗ All students start with four subjects (GSHA latest questionnaire indicates over 80% are doing this)

∗ No AS examinations in the summer of Year 12 except for those which are unreformed

∗ AS mocks at end of April for modular subjects. Mocks for Linear exams in June (second week back after half-term)

∗ Unreformed AS examinations declared in UCAS form. Mock exams will be listed in reference, including details of marks and ranking in a subject where we think this might advantage a candidate.

Changes to reflect Reformed A Levels