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Bridging 2019 Lesson Resources Folder
Hard to believe that Bridging has been and gone and we’re now all waiting with great anticipation and possibly a little trepidation the August results! All course offers that students currently hold from Sixth Form at King Edward’s are conditional upon confirmation of GCSE results.
Those that attended Bridging made such a positive impression on the Sixth Form team and the teaching staff. Many teachers commented on the enthusiasm with which students approached their lessons and learning, and are very much looking forward to new cohorts of students starting in September. Particular mention to the large number students who have applied for a place with us who did not study their GCSE’s at King Edward’s. Making the decision to change schools is a tough one, often bound together with lots of emotions. These students from other schools approached Bridging wholeheartedly and really integrated into our Sixth Form community. We look forward to getting to you know better in the coming months.
We very much hope that Bridging allowed students to get familiar with their new surroundings, making the Advanced Study Centre their new base and taking full advantage of our exclusive Cafe VI. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to connect with new students and witness burgeoning friendships, watching them try out A Level subjects that will help them on their way to realising their ambition. The aim of Bridging is to begin that journey of development, increasing self awareness and making informed decisions about futures.
During the week we partnered with Live-n-Learn, who spoke to students about developing their A Level Mindset. The aim of these sessions, was to give an indication of the breadth and depth of our Enrichment and Personal Development Programme, which is unique to King Edward’s. At the same time offering practical tips, strategies and advice on managing the transition and the differences between school and Sixth Form. We will continue this with our VESPA programme of learning in the new term
Year on year, comments from both students and staff relate to the transitional phase between Year 11 and Year 12 and how ‘big’ the jump is from GCSE to A Level. This is is not just restricted to lessons and learning, but also the increased freedoms and responsibilities Post 16 students are afforded. The enrichment sessions on Wednesday, demonstrated by being fully informed and prepared, as well as adopting a motivated and positive mindset, there is no jump. Instead there are a plethora of opportunities and possibilities to be grasped, used and exploited to ensure that dreams, goals and accomplishments are all realised within Sixth Form at King Edward’s.
Students, please follow the link below to provide your thoughts on the week:
Student Feedback
We firmly believe that our Sixth Form students are role models for students in the Lower School and should fully embrace and embody our core values of integrity, inclusion and innovation. One aspect of Sixth Form life that is fundamental to the success and accomplishment of our Post 16 students is relationships. Positive, mature, supportive but challenging,helps students grow and mature into productive adults.
Positive and inspiring relationships can only be formed if there is an ethos of working together rather than against. We expect all of our students to work with us as a Sixth Form team and represent the Sixth Form and the wider school community to a high standard. It has to be said in a Sixth Form that is pushing upwards of 450 young people, the vast majority do. However, in time for the forthcoming academic year we have to pull together all of our systems, procedures and expectations in one place, in order to fully communicate to students, current and prospective, exactly what is required to study and be successful within Sixth Form at The King Edward VI School.
Code of Conduct
We are immensely proud of our students and all of their achievements. We are passionate about offering a superb Post 16 experience and we hope that by communicating our expectations openly, students make an informed positive choice to work with us, without compromise or exception.
‘Team Emily’ has been set up by Emily’s parents to oversee all of the different fundraising activities that are happening over the next few months in memory of Emily Pattison. Team Emily plans to gather together to remember Emily and the way she lived her life as well as raising awareness of, and funds for, Scott House and the work of the Sick Children’s Trust. Scott House can support up to 19 families a night, 365 days a year, keeping them close to their seriously ill children whilst undergoing treatment at the Freeman Hospital. Over the last year, this Home from Home has supported more than 400 families.
On 8 June, three of our students – Sam Yates, Adam Herne and Lewis Eke – successfully completed the Great North Swim-Run-Swim for Team Emily. Miss O’Neill also completed the Great North Swim, Great North 10km and the Great North Run for Team Emily. If you would like to make a post-event donation please visit the Just Giving page:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teamemilyswimrun
A group of 14 cyclists are taking part in the Coast to Coast challenge on 22 June. To sponsor them please visit the Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/coast2coast-team
There will be an end-of-summer party at Craik Park, the home of Morpeth Town Football Club where Emily played football, on 30 August for Emily’s friends and family. This will act as a fundraiser for the 20 runners taking part in the Great North Run for Team Emily. The Great North Run takes place on 8 September.
If you would like to support Team Emily and make a general donation please do so on the Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teamemilygnr
At this stage in the academic year, you will hear a lot about university as the UCAS application process begins. But what should you do if you don’t think you want to go to uni? Or you think you’re not 100% sure either way? Here are a few ideas of alternatives that are out there to explore:
Apprenticeships
Work while you study – an apprenticeship is a way to gain the skills, knowledge and experience you need to get into many careers. They combine work, training, and study, letting you ‘earn while you learn’.
There are many different apprenticeships available across a wide range of industries, and for a wide variety of job roles. As a paid employee, each apprentice works alongside their studies. There are no student fees – your training costs are funded by the government and your employer.
It’s an ideal option if you have a clear idea of the career path you want to follow, providing you with practical, on-the-job training, and classroom-based instruction. You can actually search for apprenticeship on the UCAS website but there are other useful websites such as:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
https://amazingapprenticeships.com/vacancies/
Or even just typing in ‘apprenticeship’ into the search function on https://www.indeed.co.uk/
Internships
An internship allows you to spend time in a company, to learn new skills and gain experience in a particular industry or job role. Think of an internship programme like a fixed period of work experience – this work experience gives you the opportunity to improve your understanding of a particular job or industry.
- You can either shadow a professional, or work for a company.
- Some internships are unpaid – particularly if competition is high.
- You’ll understand what a particular role is like, and gain real life work experience.
Some big companies e.g. PWC, offer fantastic internships. Many can be found advertised on regular job search websites.
Gap Years
A gap year offers you the opportunity to gain skills and experiences, while giving you time to reflect and focus on what you want to do next.
- A productive gap year can be valuable on your CV – many employers value the experiences students have gained if they’ve actively managed their time, set themselves goals, and stretched themselves.
- Some people may choose to work during a gap year in order to help fund themselves through university later. They may have chosen to defer their entry by a year or held of applying altogether at this point.
- Some students choose to take a gap year to have a rest from studying at a point that may seem more convenient than at the end of their degree. They may also use the gap year to help them decide exactly what it is they want to do.
- If you do decide to apply for uni, it could be useful to tailor your gap year to relate it to the subject area you plan to study.
- Gap years can involve a range of activities from volunteering overseas to teaching abroad.
There are a few great websites out there but https://www.gapyear.com/ is particularly informative and user friendly.
University Open Days are held by virtually every university and college teaching degrees. Each institution provides one or more Open Days a year (see calendar of 2019 Open Days). They are major events, with talks, lectures, displays, etc all intended to give a positive impression of life and study.
Students go on ‘pre-application’ Open Day visits to help them decide which universities to name on the UCAS form and , once they have applied, have the option of ‘post-application’ Open Days to decide which universities to accept offers from.
Benefits of university Open Days
University Open Days provide an opportunity to find out what a university, and its surrounding area, is like. However much reading or online research you do, there’s nothing quite like a visit to give that extra dimension to your choice process. You get a chance to look at more, to get questions answered face-to-face and to meet people who are actually studying there.
Problems with university Open Days
University Open Days are marketing events. Universities want lots of applications (especially from overseas students who pay higher fees), so they will present everything in the best possible light. That’s understandable, but from your perspective it means that you should treat Open Days as you would a street market or a profile on a dating app: question and inspect. Don’t take anyone or anything at face value.
There’s also the actual cost of attending university Open Days. You will need to get there, which will cost you money for travel. But you should also recognise that the visit will cost you time. If the Open Day is during holidays (and many are) you lose a day you might not have done anything else with. But if you go in term time (even on a week-end) you lose valuable study time. Going to several Open Days during term time could have a serious impact on your studies.
How many university Open Days to go to?
It is tempting to visit all the universities you might apply to – you understandably want to make the best decisions you can. But that will take a great deal of time of time, so you need to be really selective. Do as much research online as you can before deciding on a short-list of universities to visit, and only attend the Open Days of universities that you are seriously considering and which you have a reasonable chance of getting into. If you are going to miss classes do make sure you have cleared this in advance with your teachers and that you catch up the work when you get back!
Prepare
Plan your visit. The university will have a timetable on their website. They will want you to see their institution at their best. They will be paying hundreds of people to look after you and show you around. Do not feel that you have to do what they suggest. You decide what will be most useful to you.
Before you go, download a copy of the course details from the university website, so that you can read this as you travel to the university. And print out a map of both the campus and the city so that if your phone battery dies you can still find your way around.
Before you arrive write down the questions for which you need answers. These are going to vary enormously depending on your course, the university and your situation. Some questions to think about the place you will spend at least three important years of your life.
- What is the course really like?
- Where is the student accommodation? Often on university Open Days you will be shown the most beautiful parts of the city. However, is that where most of the student accommodation is?
- What’s the surrounding area like – you won’t be spending all your time on campus, and may well move out of university accommodation after the first year?
- How easy is this place to get to from home? You may wish to get away from carers / parents – but you will also possibly be dependent on them for transporting your kit. How long will this take from home? For international students how close is the local airport? Do flights from there go to your home country? If so, how often?
Travelling around the UK can be expensive, so get your travel plans sorted well in advance to take advantage of any lower fares. And don’t forget that university Open Days expect you to book a place in advance.
Sometimes people want to go to university Open Days with friends and/or loved ones. However, you will almost definitely go to university alone. Going to an Open Day alone can be a useful preparation for this. Planning your visit alone will also help you decide what is important to you.
(article adapted from CIFE.org.uk)
So you are ready (or you’ve been told) to begin writing your personal statement but where do you even start? Here are some top tips to get you heading in the right direction with it:
- It is best to draft your personal statement in either Unifrog or a Google doc. Not only does this makes it much easier to share with your tutor/mentor, it does not time you out like the actual UCAS form does. Unifrog also, very kindly, suggests what to include in each section.
- Remember you can enter up to 4000 characters (including spaces) or 47 lines of text (including blank lines between paragraphs), whichever comes first. This means for many of you fantastic individuals, you will need to be selective e.g. you can potentially miss out the fact that you once babysit your cousin’s kids when you were 14. You can also save a surprising amount of space by getting rid of ‘nothing-words’ like ‘particularly’ and ‘really’ and ‘very’ and ‘relatively’, and your Statement will have more impact too. It is essential to keep the language simple and direct.
- Check out what the university website says about the courses you are applying for, and look at the course entry profiles you’ll find on the UCAS website. What you say on the form about your reasons for choosing the course and about your interests, skills and experience, must match up to the criteria admissions tutors use to assess your application.
- A personal statement is just that, ‘personal’. This means that not everyone’s will, or should, look the same or even follow the same format. Generally though, as a rule of thumb, the statement will begin with you explaining why you have chosen that particular course. This tends to be the most difficult section to explain. Even if it follows directly from one of your A Levels/Level 3s, you should explain why you want to spend three more years studying that subject. Read the university course descriptions carefully, and if it’s a subject you haven’t studied before you definitely need to show you know what’s involved.
- Choose your layout wisely. Once you’ve explained why you want to do the course, you need to think about what is the next most relevant point you should be making. For some people this may be beginning to discuss specific skills gained from your A Levels/Level 3s; for others you may have gained invaluable work experience that has strong links to the course so it might make more sense that you discuss this before your subjects come into it e.g. you are applying for Nursing and have undertook a lengthy NHS Volunteering Programme.
For further advice and guidance on writing a personal statement, please visit the UCAS website: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/how-write-ucas-undergraduate-personal-statement
The summer holidays are rapidly approaching and you’re all getting ready to let off some, well-deserved, steam. It is fair to say that this academic year seems to have flown by and has probably left a trail of shell-shocked students in its wake.
The vast majority of you have spent the year working very hard; tackling that notorious jump from GCSEs to A Levels and sitting exams that may determine your future. What we are trying to say is, you deserve a break! Summer holidays are your chance to unwind, have fun and creative memories, as well as catching up with friends and family in the sun (hopefully!). However, six weeks is a long time and time that could be used wisely too. Being off during the week is a perfect opportunity to organise valuable work experience, even if this is just a couple of days spent shadowing a relative with an interesting profession. It could be your chance to get a foot in the door with a company you could see yourself at in the future. If you’d rather stay closer to home, there’s always the chance to get a couple of quick MOOCs under your belt too. Follow the link on Unifrog and find one that is related to the field you want to study/work in.
The time off might also get you thinking about what you would like to do at the end of Year 13. Maybe you want to squeeze in a bit of travelling before starting uni or and apprenticeship? Maybe you want to get signed up for some kind of Summer Internship? Maybe you want to try out some kind of Summer Camp such as Camp America? Whatever experiences you choose to embrace this summer, remember…be proactive, seize the moment, stay safe and wear sun cream!
Year 13 results will be available for students to collect from the Advanced Study Centre (ASC) in school on Thursday 15 August from 8am downstairs in the ASC.
Students are strongly encouraged to attend school to collect their results in person on the day of results. Any not collected by the student will be posted out.
In all cases students should bring with them to school their UCAS personal ID in case they need to make contact with a university or UCAS. They should also bring a fully charged mobile phone with plenty of credit. UCAS Track is likely to be made ‘live’ again on the morning of 15 August sometime between midnight and 8am. This allows students to check if they have been successful in achieving their university place prior to results being available. Please be aware that some universities react faster than others, some institutions will still be making decisions on Results Day and the days following, especially if a student is ‘borderline’.
Confirmation Decisions on 15 August
Likely outcomes on UCAS track regarding FIRM or INSURANCE.
If a student meets or exceeds the conditions on their firm offer they should see their UCAS Track read UF (unconditional firm).
If a student fails to meet the conditions of their firm offer but meets or exceeds their insurance offer they should see their UCAS Track read UI (unconditional insurance).
If a student reads CF on their UCAS Track then it is likely that the university requires more information and is yet to make a decision on that application. It is advised that the student calls the university in order to clarify the situation. Often this can be the result of missing qualifications and/or grades lower than the required offer but still close to being considered.
If a student reads CI on their UCAS Track then it is likely that they meet the required offer for their Insurance offer but that university can not confirm their offer as the Firm university has still not confirmed whether to accept the lower grades for their respective offer. In this situation the insurance place will not be lost while the firm university makes a decision. Alternatively their grades may be lower than the required offer and the university are yet to make a decision on their level of flexibility.
In all of these cases universities could hold places/decisions until 31 August.
Adjustment
If a student meets or exceeds the terms of their offer and are no longer interested in their Firm choice they may be able to apply for Adjustment via their UCAS Track. This allows the students to search for alternative courses without having to be released from their Firm choice, thus allowing some security in their decision making. From selecting Adjustment on UCAS track they have five days (5 x24 hour periods including weekends) to find and confirm a place, failing that they will default back to their Firm choice (if a students offer goes to UF less than five days before 31 August, they will only have whatever time is left between then and 31 August).
No longer wish to apply to University
If a student who is holding a firm or insurance offer, no longer wants to take up a place at university they need to email the admissions department of that university and confirm this in writing. No further action is required following this.
Deferred Entry
If a student would like to defer their entry until the following academic year then they should email their request to the admissions department of the specific university (the university may decline the request). Students should be sure that they wish to defer at this point, they will not be able to revert back to their original year of entry once the have made their decision to change and a course provider has accepted this.
Clearing
If a student has no confirmations identified on UCAS Track or have been rejected from all places then they are eligible for Clearing and they can search for any free places still available. In order to speak to the universities and be considered for different courses the student must have their personal UCAS ID and their A Level results to hand.
They then must call each university to make enquiries about free places which are still available, this will change constantly from the morning of Results Day as places are filled.
Students will need to state their name, UCAS ID, qualifications and have the new course code they wish to apply for. If they meet or are close to the entry criteria they are likely to be transferred to an academic where they will have to ‘sell’ themselves as to why they are suitable for the place. If successful they should receive a verbal offer during the call, this should then be followed up by confirmation via UCAS Track and/or and email/text. They should click ‘Add Clearing choice’ and fill in the course details by the date the university/college gave them on the phone. Students should check their emails especially their spam/junk folders; there have been issues in the past especially with Hotmail addresses.
The student should then amend their student finance application to include the new course choice. Direct contact would be made by the university following this with a welcome pack via post or email.
KEVI Staff Support
There will be a team of KEVI staff based in the ASC from 7am on 15 August. They will be available to students from 8am throughout the day until approximately 4pm. This will consist of the full Sixth Form Team and members of the Central Leadership Group.
It will not be possible for staff to take phone calls in this time as they will all be dealing with students, so please come into the ASC rather than phoning.
So, for those of you planning on going off to university in 2020 (or 2021 if you take a Gap Year), from now to September is when you choose….’Where am I going?’.
This is a really personal decision and it is one that should be taken as a family. The Sixth Form Team are specialists and are here to help, guide and support you. We cannot decide for you, nor will we ever ‘stop’ someone applying to a specific institution or course (although it may go against our professional judgment and advice). This is your application. Please don’t be swayed by your friends and their choices.
You need to think about: What matters to me? What do I want to get out of university? What do I want to invest £50k in?
This is an incredibly big decision and of course it is daunting, it is also an incredibly exciting time in your lives. Please ask for help when you need it.
General Advice
- Every student can apply to up to 5 universities in one UCAS application; we suggest you create a short list over the summer of 7-8 to make a final choice from when you have your UCAS predictions.
- Most students will then pick 2-3 universities at the upper end of their predicted grades/points (aspirational) and 1-2 from the lower or middle range (realistic), this will depend on your confidence in your grades/points.
- The universities DO NOT know where else you have applied, your choices are not in order of preference.
- When creating a short list it is the course that matters, not whether the nightlife is good or whether the buildings are pretty! Once you have identified courses that are good for you…..THEN look at the wider facilities, city v campus, transport links, music, drama, sports and social activities.
Ask….How many hours of actual teaching do I get? What sort of teaching is it (lecture, workshop, lab practical, tutorial? What are the facilities like? What is the graduate employment rate? What placement or internship opportunities are there? Will I enjoy it? Look out for the TEF Awards.- Look at the Fees/Scholarships/ Bursaries – you are going to be paying for your course so you don’t want to miss out on ‘free’ financial support!
Subject Specific
- Art and Design: You can apply for some courses directly from A Levels, some students will apply to college for ‘Foundation Diploma: Art and Design’ first and some will apply to both. Both of these options require a portfolio and/or sketch book.
- Medicine/Dentistry/Veterinary: EARLY DEADLINE. You have 4 choices for your main subject and your 5th choice must be for another subject, or nothing at all. You are likely to need to sit UCAT and/or BMAT.
- Music and Performing Arts: Some courses are through Universities, some are at Conservatoires (UCAS Conservatoires, previously CUKAS), and some may be at Drama schools that have a direct application. In theory you may apply through ALL these options at the same time. Speak to a member of staff though as you may end up missing lots of school for auditions and fees and travel costs can mount up.
- Law: Whilst you don’t have to submit for the Early Deadline we recommend that you do try and apply early, due to the competitiveness of the course. You may need to sit LNAT.
- Oxbridge: EARLY DEADLINE. You may only apply to Cambridge or Oxford NOT both. Please see staff about choosing Open applications or colleges. Cambridge will require a second application form known as SAQs, work may be requested and entrance exams may be required. Entrance exams are usually sat in November. https://www.admissionstesting.org/
- Primary Education: You can apply to up to 5 courses, but should have completed some work experience before your interview (institutions may have differing requirements). You will HAVE to sit the Professional Skills Tests http://sta.education.gov.uk/
NB: Many other courses have very specific requirements and many institutions and courses are competitive. Students are responsible for meeting deadlines and making themselves aware of requirements.
USEFUL WEBSITES
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
www.theguardian.com/education/universityguide
