Backwell Post-18 Evening

• Term 6 and Year 13

• The Week Ahead

• Options

• The University Application Cycle

• School Support and Next Steps

THIS WEEK

Monday

Bristol University trip – Looking at HE

Tuesday Post -18 Options (non HE) day

Apprenticeships and employment, gap years, making career decisions

Wednesday or Thursday ‘Starting the process’

Money and CV workshops, Starting UCAS applications/CV writing, Unifrog research

Friday Future plans activities (Independent)

Tuesday 12th June

Non-university and post-university options - 8:50am to 2:45pm

8:45: 6th Form Theatre

Q&A sessions with former students who are undertaking

apprenticeships

Employer talks on engineering, law, apprenticeships and

a talk on taking a gap year

• Lunch: Weston college and Bridgewater and Taunton

college

IT Based research on your possible career path

‘Making decisions’ – How to make well-informed career

choices

Dan Jones – Dick Lovett, Parts Sales and Mechanics

Andrew Fear – MJ Patch Engineering, Draughtsman

Herbie Dyer – Bevan Brittan, Law

Millie Duerden – Uniliver, Project Management

Mia Boucher – Atkins, Project Management

Will O’Mally – KPMG, Finance

This year so far, students have gained apprenticeships

at Airbus, Heat recruitment as well as in Hairdressing

and Accountancy.

BACKWELL ALUMNI – WHO WENT WHERE?

Wednesday 13th or Thursday 14th June

‘Starting the decision-making process’

8.45 Sixth Form Theatre

An industry expert will give guidance on what employers are

looking for in an application and CV

The Money Charity will give guidance on the financial implications

of student finance, apprenticeships and getting a job. They will also

give advice on understanding the cost of living independently and

how to budget for this

Research into potential post-18 choices

Start the process of writing a CV

Start the application process for UCAS (This does NOT bind them to

applying to University)

FRIDAY

Students should have told their tutor their plan. It doesn’t have to be a full-day activity but we will expect to see it logged on Unifrog.

Work experience (developing skills/experience) This could be with a parent or friend

Volunteer in a local school or charity shop? Fundraise?

www.do-it.org https://www.vansweb.org.uk/

Opportunities through school:

Working with the Avon Wildlife Trust in the afternoon

Help teach sport to primary school students

FRIDAY

University College Weston (Business, Art and Graphics, Film and photography)

MOOC (see Unifrog)

University Open day or visit

POST -18 OPTIONS

• Apprenticeships

• Employment

• Further/Higher Education (non-UCAS)

• Study abroad

• Higher Education through UCAS

• Gap year

LEVELS – QUALIFICATIONS

Level 3 – Advanced

Equivalent to A Levels

4/5 GCSEs required

Level 4/5/6 – Higher/Degree

Equivalent to FdA degree, Degree

A Levels usually required

APPRENTICESHIPS

Work, Earn and Gain Qualifications and Experience

• Engineering – Airbus, Rolls Royce, MOD, GKN…

• Finance and Accountancy – Deloitte, KPMG, RSM, EY, RBS

• Law – Bevan Brittan, Burges Salmon, RPC

• Creative Media – BBC, Mason Zimbler, Bray Leino

• Business – Civil Service Management, Health Trusts, County

Councils

• Retail – Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, Sainsburys, Tesco

• Plus Health, Education, ICT, Surveying ….

Students should keep their options open – they can apply for uniand other opportunities and should give themselves time to find out

more. No commitment until next August!

Over 41 Careers at Higher Level

FURTHER/HIGHER EDUCATION

College courses

Foundation degrees (Art Foundation)

Drama/Music/Dance Schools

Open University

Overseas study

Future career and financial

success (degree requirement?)

The cost of Higher Education

Transferable skills

Social aspects and independence

Is University the Right Choice?

UNIVERSITY FINANCE

What will you need to pay for?

Tuition fees and living expenses

Where will the money come from?

Government loans, further loans

(means tested) and university

bursaries or scholarships (some of

which are means tested)

• June/July 2019 – Research and begin application

• September 2019 – Finalise choices and complete

personal statement

• 15 October 2019 – UCAS deadline for “Early Bird”

students

• End of Term 1 2019 – School deadline for all

applications

• January 2019 – UCAS deadline for applications

• March 2020 – Apply for Student Finance

• May 2020 – Deadline for university replies –

students select firm and insurance choice

• March 2020 – August 2020 – ‘Extra’ and ‘Clearing’

The UCAS Timetable

TOP TIPS: BEFORE APPLYING

Research thoroughly:

- Unifrog

- UCAS Course Search

- Then check university website for

specific information

Apply as early as possible

Investigate financial implications

- Costs (e.g. accommodation, fees, etc)

- Benefits (scholarships, bursaries, etc)

Get relevant experience NOW

TOP TIPS: WHEN APPLYING

Narrow down to one subject if possible

Get a full range of likely offers within the five

choices

Discuss likely predicted grades with teachers

and listen to their advice – they are

experienced!

NHS courses are extremely competitive and

require good evidence of relevant work

experience

Keep Tutor/Sixth Form Team “in the loop”

TOP TIPS: AFTER APPLYING

Only narrow down to a firm and insurance

choice when you have taken advice from the

Sixth Form Team: the deadline is May

It is usually sensible to choose an insurance

choice that is at least 2 grades lower than your

firm choice

Be available on A Level results day (13 August

2020) so that you can contact universities and, if necessary, get started early with clearing

DEFERRED ENTRY

(STARTING IN 2021, NOT 2020)

Apply to UCAS in Year 13 (September 2019) and put Y in answer to the “Defer?” question for your chosen courses.

Wait until after A-level results come out and apply to UCAS at the start of your year out (Sept 2020).

TERM 6 AND YEAR 13

5 more weeks of normal lessons

Continuation of A Level courses

Extended Project final hand in 21 June

Head Student applications

Careers opportunities/Open days

Sixth Form Production planning

Trip to Oxford on 4th July for Oxbridge candidates

Is Home Study appropriate for year 13?

Talk to teachers about UCAS grades

APPLICATIONS FOR HEAD STUDENT

This is a really important ambassadorial role in which the

Head Students would work closely with the Headteacher

It is excellent leadership opportunity and can contribute

to University applications

They need to be prepared to attend evening events at

school

Interested students need to collect an application form

from the Sixth Form office and return by Tuesday 18th June

The process involves a written application, speaking in a

lower school assembly and if shortlisted, an interview with

members of the Backwell Senior Leadership team.

Applications from ALL students are welcome

School Support

• Notice boards, bulletins and subject specific

emails

• UCAS booklet

• Tutor time support

• One to one support from Sixth Form Team

• Careers advisor: Mrs Ball (SF4/LB2)

• “Early Bird” sessions and mock interviews

University Open Days

Follow @BackwellCareer

Gap Years –

www.independentgapadvice.org

General –

www.careersadviceforparents.org

Next Steps

www.unifrog.org

The Complete Destinations Platform• Track careers progress, activities and interactions

throughout school. • Find information on subjects and careers that will help to

make KS4 and KS5 options choices• Find and apply for the best post-18 courses and

apprenticeships.

Canadian universities

College/ Sixth Form

Oxbridge

Apprenticeships

European universities

Searching for opportunities

US universities

UK universities

Exploring pathways

Activities

Interactions

Competencies

Recording what you’ve done

CV / Resumé

Personal Statement

Teacher References

Common App Essay

Drafting application materials

Post 16/18 Intentions

Applications list

Making applications

Locker

Sign up

Create an account

Careers library

Know-how library

MOOC

Subjects library

Completing the Signup page is simple.

Put the code: backwellparents

Use an email address and your home postcode. Your email and password will be your login from now on

First time signup www.unifrog.org/code

Access your account at www.unifrog.org

*N.B If you do forget your password, hit this link to reset.

Every time you login to Unifrogfrom now on, sign in here.

Ensure you are signing in as the correct individual (i.e. Parents sign in as students).

QUESTIONS?