Higher Education and UCAS Information
Higher Education and UCAS Information
As the UCAS application cycle begins to close for our Year 13 students (with the final few students needing to make their decision about which offers to accept), we are about to start the process all over again with our Year 12s!
In fact, the process has already begun. On the 8th March we took the year group to the UCAS Higher Education Convention at De Montfort University in Leicester. After a short mini-coach ride, students had a couple of hours on campus during which they could explore the campus facilities and speak to student liaison representatives from all UK universities and other further education providers. Students could also take part in practical activities during the event, which included a mock-operating theatre for our budding doctors, and a virtual reality computer game experience.
For many students it was their first visit to a university campus, and they were impressed with the modern facilities that De Montfort had to offer. What also surprised students was how big the campus was, with one student commenting about “how spread out all the buildings were” and “I would get lost if I came here!” This was a useful lesson for our students, as it now encourages them to visit different types of university campuses, to get an idea of what might be the right sort of university (city or campus based) for them.
After the Easter Holidays, the UCAS process will begin to speed up for our Year 12s. Students are encouraged to begin to attend Open Days, in order to start to get a feel about what is on offer at different universities. On the 2nd May there will be a Year 12 Higher Education Information Evening for students and their parents. This will be led by a representative from the University of Northampton, and will outline the key points about selecting a university and course, the application process, and student finance. At the end of June, we will be taking all Year 12 student to the University of Northampton Open Day. This day will allow students to see the brand-new Waterfront campus, and to view the accommodation and facilities. Students will also attend two taster lectures of their choosing, to give them a real experience of being a university student, and to see if the subjects they are considering studying are as expected.
We are also hosting two talks in school during June to further help students make their post 18 choices. A representative from the University of Northampton is coming to do a workshop on Writing a Personal Statement; the most vital part of the UCAS application form. Following on from this is a session on Apprenticeships and Employment, which will be led by a member of the National Apprenticeship Team.
