Grey Court Post 16 pathways booklet

Welcome

Dear Parent/Carer, The aim of tonight’s session is to give you a flavour of the exciting opportunities open to your child when they finish year 11. We are fortunate to live in a key city in the world’s global economy. We hope that Grey Court students will leave our school with the skills, ambition, drive and resilience to thrive and adapt in it. However, adapting to change can be very daunting for both parent and child alike. Hopefully, tonight’s programme will provide you with the knowledge, reassurance and advice for you to start your journey with confidence. Please let us know at the end of the session if we have succeeded in our goal. The Sixth Form team

So where to next?

L2 & L3 vocational courses at College

A-Levels/L3 Btecs/ (Generally 5GCSE

A-C grades or above)

Apprenticeships/

Employment

A-Levels or Vocational?

Both can lead to Higher Education but which is right for you? What are A/AS Levels? • A Levels are academic, or study-based courses.

Assessment is mainly by examination, with some coursework. Exams are taken in May/June. A Levels are a traditional route into Higher Education. Students can choose up to four subjects in the first year, which are studied to AS Level. In the second year students usually continue to A2 level in three of their subjects. The government has recently de-coupled A-level from AS level so they are now separate “stand alone” qualifications.

• Students They often choose a combination of subjects they have studied at GCSE along with new subjects.

Desirable A-level skills

There is more work to do alone than at GCSE, but it will be in subjects students have chosen and therefore have an interest in. To do well at A Level students need to develop study skills and self-discipline – the students who do best are those who put in extra study, such as wider reading, as well as homework and class work.

A Level Reforms

• AS and A2 qualifications to be uncoupled. The AS will now be a stand alone qualification

• A levels will become more linear rather than modular – this means examinations will be taken at the end of the two year course rather than at intervals throughout it.

• Sciences – strengthened mathematical and quantitative content and an increased emphasis on practical skills with a minimum of 12 practical activities.

• English literature - the inclusion of an unseen text and Shakespeare. • History – a requirement to study topics from a chronological range of 200 years to

ensure that students study history from more than one century, and a reduction in the proportion of British history.

• Subjects to be reformed from 2015: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Psychology, Art and Design, Sociology, Business Studies, Economics, Computer Science

• Subjects to be reformed from 2016: Drama and Theatre, French, Geography, German, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies and Spanish.

What is a vocational course? • Vocational courses are more closely related to the world of work with a

practical slant, but there will still be some study-based learning; the amount varies according to the course taken. Assessment can be by practical assessment, portfolio assessment (coursework), and examination.

Vocational Courses

• Vocational courses tend to be quite structured, with more of the work taking place in class or on placement and perhaps less in your own time – although you will still have homework and coursework assignments to complete.

• Vocational courses at Level 3 are equivalent to 3 A levels and also lead to university

• What if I don’t achieve the GCSEs needed for A levels or a vocational course at Level 3? Vocational courses are available at Levels 1 and 2 and you can progress to Level 3 from these courses.

Art, Design and Creative Industries Auto Engineering Beauty Therapy Business Business - Contact Centre, retail, business admin, sales, team leading, customer services Carpentry and Joinery Childcare Computing Construction Electrical/Electronic Engineering Engineering - mechanical and maintenance operations Fashion and Clothing Hairdressing Health and Caring Hospitality and Catering Logistics, driving goods, warehouse and storage Management Performing Arts Public Services Science Sports and Recreation Travel and Tourism

TYPES OF VOCATIONAL

COURSE

Apprenticeships Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to work for a real employer, earn a real salary and gain a real qualification whilst gaining valuable workplace skills and experience. Anyone living in England, over 16 years old and not in full-time education can apply to be an apprentice. Earn while you learn. All apprentices must receive the appropriate national minimum wage. Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage rate does not apply to Higher Apprenticeships. A real job. All apprentices should work for at least 30 hours a week

Apprenticeships are available at Intermediate, Advanced and Higher (degree) level, covering more than 170 industries and 1500 job roles, from advertising to youth work via environmental engineering and nuclear decommissioning. A real qualification. Quality is key to Apprenticeships. All Apprenticeships must be at least 12 months long and lead to a national qualification that is respected by employers around the world. After finishing, the majority of apprentices (85%) will stay in employment, with two-thirds (64%) staying with the same employer. A third (32%) of all former apprentices had received a promotion within 12 months of finishing, and of those in work, three quarters (75%) reported taking on more responsibility in their job. Employers think that qualified apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications.

EPQ

Mock Interviews

UCAS References

College Visits GC Alumni

Monthly meetings

Extended Learning

opportunities

Oxbridge Programme

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

September:

Introduction to Oxbridge and EPQ opportunities

July: Year 11 High achieving students attend Churchill College Cambridge residential

Autumn Working

with mentor on EPQ

July Focus on personal statements and bespoke references

October Deadline for Oxbridge applications

December Interviews

Year 12: Monthly meeting to develop Oxbridge Profile; links made with subject specific alumni

August Results and Confirmation of places

June Beginning of EPQ programme; College visits and summer schools

From September: Interview and Admission Test support.

November Oxford Admission tests

January Offers received and completion of EPQ

Oxbridge Entrance time-line Year 12-13

DO

• Write a CV

• Use the words passion or enthusiasm.

• List all your extra-curricular activities (especially Bronze DofE).

• Lie

• Be cliché

DON’T

• Love your subject. • Demonstrate

independent reading.

• Find relevant work experience.

• Sell your ACADEMIC skills.

• Use “studential” for personal statement examples.

Top Tips for Oxbridge Candidates

This is a useful reference book that provides an insight into the Oxbridge application process – we will have a copy in the new sixth form library. It is called – “Oxbridge entrance: the Real Rules” by Elfi Pallis

According to UCAS figures for 2014 entry, there were 97,185 applications to medical courses for

only 8,765 places. What are they looking for ?

• Outstanding grades – A*/As at A-Level and GCSE

• Commitment and enthusiasm – Work experience - UK and abroad – Volunteering – Competitions and projects – University taster sessions

• BMAT/UKCAT - Admissions tests

Applying for Medicine, Dentistry & Veterinary Science

How will Grey Court support you?

Year Support

10 & 11 Career advice Help finding appropriate work experience and volunteering opportunities Workshop information Competition entries

11 Applying for summer university programmes Fundraising for work experience abroad

12 Monthly meetings – university advice, course selection BMAT/UKCAT support sessions Guidance on writing medical school personal statements

13 Finalising your UCAS personal statement BMAT/UKCAT exam preparation Mock interviews

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Year 7 & 8 – Prospective medical students attend Science workshops, university visits.

Year 10 – prospective medics attend Oxbridge/ Russell group raising expectations conference

September of Year 12 – medical students given a Science tutor skilled in the medical application process as a mentor

November of Year 12 – prospective medics attend Pixl medical conference

March of Year 12 – Visits to St George’s university hospital/talks from St George’s students

July of Year 12: Students engage in a relevant medicine related work placement.

Year 9 - options evening and follow up interviews – prospective medics advised as to relevant GCSE choices

Sixth form interview – advised on necessary A-level choices

October of Year 12 – CAS activities selected by student to embellish a medical application: e.g First aid This is an example text. Go ahead an replace it with your own text.

Dec – Feb of Year 12: prospective medical students helped to find suitable work experience through founders evening and Grey Court alumni network.

June of Year 12: School sixth form info evening based around medical interviews and BMAT tests. Higher ed officer/tutor helps student prepare Personal statement

Year 13: Oct – Dec: UCAS applications/BMAT tests?medicine interviews – support, practise and guidance via teachers and mentors and higher ed staff.

Grey Court Pathways into Medicine

School library has a student subscription to British Medical Journal so prospective medics have access to wide reading/resources used to support a medical application.

Types of University

This is a group of self-styled “elite” “research” universities that we want our students to aspire to attend - if they so wish. (We have specialist advisors and programmes to facilitate these aspirations.)

Year 11 students at the Russell Group University Trip in

April 2014

“We were amazed to learn how much our GCSE results would influence which uni we would be accepted into.” (Tom and Ollie) “We didn’t know that there were such a variety of degrees – there are many obscure ones including brewing and knit-ware.” (Amelia and Molly C) “We started to recognise how important it is for universities to see your passion for the subject.” (Ciara and Tia) “We were very surprised at the number of ‘super-curricular’ opportunities (such as debating club and critical thinking) that our school runs that will help us gain access to Russell group universities.” (Ella and Lauren) “I have learnt how truly competitive it is to get into the top universities and that top GCSEs, A-levels and a passion for the subject you want to study are essential ingredients of successful applications.” (Tariq)

Non-Russell group universities

Many Non-Russell group universities actually score higher in league tables published by “The Times” and “The Guardian” than their Russell group counterparts. For example, Surrey university is no 4 in the Guardian’s rankings. Choose a university that feels right for you and check the reputation of the course you want to study in the rankings. For example, our own Kingston university has produced some very distinguished alumni: the special effects manger of the Oscar winning film below.

Richmond College

Esher College

Tiffin

Strouds Coombe

Christs

Kingston College

GREY COURT SIXTH FORM: TEMPLE OF LEARNING

- An outstanding school - Skilled Sixth Form team - outstanding learning experiences - A wide breadth of subjects to choose from. - £5 million, 21st century block built exclusively for sixth form education. - Many enrichment and advancement opportunities - Small ‘tutor groups’ with a dedicated and experienced sixth form tutor - tutorial programme based on the “philosophy for children ideology” - regular one-to-one academic mentoring meetings. - focused intervention, tracking and personalised planning. - skilled counsellor to provide for your well-being - specialist higher education advisor - Wide sporting portfolio - Community Action programme - Exciting range of international trips

OUR OFFER

OUR FACILITIES

- Four ICT rooms - 10 classrooms - three science laboratories - seminar rooms - a Mac suite - a library specially tailored to post- 16 needs - studio space for visual performing arts - brand new drama studio - a modern fitness centre - Wifi and free internet access - Bring Your Own Device learning aim

University year 12 induction programme

• Study skills seminars

• Talks from the university’s career’s officers

• Research skills opportunities

• Science teaching links with GC Sixth form

• Subject specific visits

Networking evening – Dec 2015

• In December of Year 12 we intend to hold an annual networking evening where we will invite, parents, students and local employers into our sixth form. The idea is that students will get to network with people from a whole host of professions and occupations who might pass on contacts and advice that will increase the employment prospects and social mobility of our students.

• If you are interested in helping please put your name and occupation on the feedback sheet at the end of the session.

Apprentice Day

This day takes place in June of Year 12 and forms part of our PSHE programme. Students work in teams to complete a series of entrepreneurial challenges around London. Sample task: Organise an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and pitch a Business idea to him in one minute. (1000 points)

Work Experience at the end of Year 12

It is a requirement that all sixth formers take part in relevant work experience or voluntary work in July of Year 12. We hope to help students organise work experience that will help them in their chosen careers. So prospective teachers need to volunteer in a primary school and doctors must shadow a medical professional. So it is important you start to research your chosen career and looks for contacts, networks and job opportunities NOW…

ART & DESIGN

BIOLOGY

BUSINESS STUDIES

CHEMISTRY

COMPUTING

DRAMA AND THEATRE STUDIES

ECONOMICS

ENGLISH LITERATURE

DESIGN TECHNOLOGY (PRODUCT DESIGN)

ECONOMICS

FRENCH

GEOGRAPHY

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

HISTORY

MATHS

MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

FASHION & TEXTILES

FOOD TECHNOLOGY

FURTHER MATHS

MEDIA STUDIES

MUSIC

P.E

PHILOSOPHY & ETHICS

PHYSICS

PHOTOGRAPHY

PSYCHOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY

SPANISH

BTEC L3 BUSINESS

BTEC L3 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

MATHS (Compulsory retake)

ENGLISH (Compulsory retake)

OUR COURSE OFFERS

The Year 10 careers progression interview

The post 16 journey starts at the end of year 10 with a personalised interview from a member of the Sixth Form Team/ Senior management team. Here’s the six question that

we ask. It would help us if you discussed these questions with your child BEFORE they attended the interview.

1. What is your current career path? (This helps us ascertain if the student has a specific path in mind, in which case we can give them specific career advice OR whether we need to try to help them decide upon a goal through a more general careers interview.)

2. Are you aware of the skills, courses and grades needed to pursue a career in this field? (This question will give us the opportunity to provide general advice on subject combinations/ desirable skills/work experience e.g media – experience working with a film company or hospital radio etc)

3. Will you consider coming to Grey Court sixth form? (This helps us to get an idea of student numbers and aspirations so that we can recruit the necessary professionals and design the relevant curriculum to meet their needs.)

4. Do you know what your current predicted grades are? (This helps us to give students a clear idea of the standards required for them to gain entry into a specific career or profession. Hopefully, it will inspire them to reach that standard).

5. What do you consider is your “point of difference?” This question is designed to build self-esteem. We believe that every child at Grey Court has a “point of difference.” If they can identify a talent, sate of mind or quality that they consider to be outstanding, then that will enable us to identify pathways that will build on that talent.

6. Do you have any questions or worries? (This will give us a chance to respond to student feedback.)

Please work through the choices outlined in the chart below before your post 16 interview so you can get an idea of which pathway might be for you:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

May - Post 16 pathway assembly

April: prospective students attend Oxbridge/ Russell group raising expectations conference & Kingston uni apprentice day

Oct/Nov: Attend College and sixth

form open evenings

November: Year 11 parents/student GC6th Quiz night/ Attend your 6th form interview

April: take part in the: Are you smarter than Boris PSHE taster

July: High achieving students

attend Churchill College Cambridge

residential

June – Parents post-16 info evening

June/July Sixth SLT form interview – advised on necessary post-16 options./Meet careers advisors

Sept- Nov: Apply to GC Sixth/ other destinations

February – attend GC enrichment fayre/ clarify subject choices

May/June: take GCSE examinations/ Attend GC6th induction day

August: GCSE results and 6th form enrolment

Grey Court Year 10/11 Post -16 time-line

Mr Ali/Mr Clements/Mr Page/ Ms Fincham/ Mr Poole/ Miss Corrigan are on hand at all times to provide help and advice.

Progression Evening Quiz:

Can you identify the occupation from the object in the picture?

The point is: all of these occupations, and more besides, are open to your child. However, the decisions they make now will influence which career paths they can follow. At Grey Court we do not value one career path over another. However, we do know that the acquisition of skills and knowledge through the right training is essential for any career ambition to be fulfilled. Our goal is to ensure that ALL of our students are in some form of education or employment when they leave us at the end of year 11.

Post 16 Progression Evening - Feedback Form

At Grey Court we are committed to a “Kaizen” strategy – that is a path of continuous improvement. Your feedback would therefore be appreciated. In addition, if you would be willing to take part in our Sixth form networking evening, please fill in your name and occupation at the bottom of the slip.

• WWW (What went well?) • EBI (Even better if…)

Networking Evening (December) Name: Email: Occupation: