Life after GCSE`s !

Which route will you take? You must have Maths and English at grade C or above..A Levels leading to a Degree or a career with it`s own internal exams NVQ`s or an Apprenticeship ? If A Levels Look carefully at subjects to take Brian Heaps Degree Course Offers gives lists of the Universities and the points required. Look at fees ..Bursaries and Scholarships Living at home or away in the city If away from home you reside in Halls for just onr year and then you are expected to move into rented accommodation ….Alternatively, you could look into a career that has its own qualifications such as Finance Banking Insurance and Accountancy.. Look for places that would permit a day release..You could look at HND`s which could lead to an Associate Degree…If you choose to go down this route ..Look at the Company How well established is it how can they help you….HND`s are valued by Employers in the UK and on the Continent They count towards membership of a professional body (Level 4 Credit & Qualification within a framework that`s just below a degree…If you wishto end up with a degree it is only one year at University.Look
At Engineering, Hospitality, and Mechanics All pay and give you hands on experience….Then there is straight from GCSE`s into a college where you can take ONC`s and NQVs After 2nd year the exams are aqual to A Levels Look for work in Building. Retail. Hairdressing Travel and Child Care…If you o the HND way then, if you wish to have a degree , it will take only one year at university

Which route after GCSE`s?

You MUST have GCSE Maths and English
A Levels Leading to a Degree or a career that has its` own internal exams.
If A Levels look at the subjects carefully
Brian Heaps is a good place to start. His Degree Course Offers Shows all the Universities the Degrees they offer and the points required’
Look at the fees, Bursaries and Scholarships
Lool at Maintenance..Living at home or in the City.
Living on Campus or in Halls of Residence (only for one year then students must find their own accommodation.
If living in the Surrey area Students could travel to London, Guildford, Sussex Brighton or Kent
Or After A Levels into a career that has it`s own qualifications such as Accountancy or Banking , Finance or Engineering…..Would you have day release? How long would it take to become fully qualified..
If you choose this way, find out about the Company try for an internship there in the holidays
Look at HND`s these are valued by Employers throughout the UK and on the Continent.
They count towards membership of a Professional Body and are regarded as a level 4 Credit and qualification in the framework that is just below a degree.
Students who wish to go down this route should look at Engineering.Hospitality,Mechanics,Travel…..and you1re getting paid !
If a student wishes to go straight from GCSE`s into aCollege or sixth Form to take A Levels further GCSE`s NQV`s then parents should note taht 15 – 19 yrs.Tuition is free

Sixth Form Agenda for parents.

Year 12.
The start of A/S and level studies.At this stage students should have some idea of the Degree they wish to take and the direction in which they wish to go; And the best subjects to take in order to help them.
Term 2.
Studnts have a choice of 6 Universities 1 or 2 of these choices should be used as insurance (i.e. accepting lower grades) Students should start looking at Universities and decide whether to stay near home or move hundreds of miles away .(Heeps Degree Choice Offers) Look at predicted grades, look at Scholarships and look at Bursaries.
Term3.
Take A/S exams..Visit Universities…Open Days …Start drafting UCAS Form.(4,000 characters)
Year 13
Term4
Write up UCAS Form Send off asap as it`s a question of first come within the clearing system.
Term5
Final term for studying.(late UCAS may be sent off in mid January But all the best places will have been taken )
Term6
Take A level exams. Should have acceptance offers..Results in mid August If you don`t get a place, don`t get predicted grades use the clearing system as quickly as possible

On becoming a student…A GUIDE FOR PARENTS.

At this stage in your life I`m sure all you`re really interested in is getting away from the family home – going to the University or college of your choice and meeting new friends – all very exciting …but…Money? Money, what Money?

All university or College students are entitled to 2 loans.

1. A loan to pay for their tuition

2. Another to pay for their living expenses.

These loans are usually taken care of by the S.L.C. (The Student Loan Company) These loans do not have to be paid back until you comedown, start working and are earning more than £15,000, a year.  Then it is automatically deducted at source (about 9%)

University and College fees are :- maximum £3,145 a year (that is £9,435 dor a three year degree course and £ 13,580 for a four year course) This is paid directly to the University or College.

However some charge less than the maximum.  Also all Universities and Colleges that charge fees  must provide  Bursaries  –  and these are non repayable.

The maximum amount of a student loan  for living expenses (A Maintenance  Loan ) varies  according to where the student is going tostudy and live.and also on the family income.

Student loans are different from Commercial loans offered by high street banks and building societies as the interest on these loans are linked to inflation.  But the S.L.C. whicch administers students loans on behalf of the Government  does not make a profit on their loans!

Students from lower income households may apply for a non-repayable maintenance grant of up to £2,835 a year.Also those who charge  the full tuition fees for a course will have to provide extra financial help of a minimum of £310  to those students on courses who receive a full maintenance grant…..Many are offering more than this – Some Bursaries offered are as much as £1`000 .

But do check up very carefully on what the preferred  University or College is offering…and remember these figures are for 2009…

2010 might be different !!

Sixth Form Agenda

Sixth form agenda – a brief guide allowing parents to keep in touch with their childrens education over six terms (years 12 and 13)

 

Year 12 – Term 1

The start of A/S and A level studies at this stage students should have some idea of the degree they wish to take – and the best subjects to help them.

Term 2 – Students have a choice of 6 universities, 1or 2 of these choices should be used as insurance  (i.e. accepting lower grades).

Students should start looking at universities and there prospectus’ and decide whether to stay near home or to take a delibrate move hundred of miles away. 

 – Look at predicted grades. 

  – Look at scholarships and bursaries.

Term 3

Take A/S exams

Visit Universities or colleges on open days.

Start drafting the UCAS Form.

Year 13

Term 1

Write upyour UCAS Form (final date is Mid December) Send off as soon as possible.

Remember it`s a case of first come first served.within the clearing system

Term 2

Final term of full study.

Late UCAS Forms may be sent in in mid January . (This is not advisable!)

Term 3

A Level exams, Should be receiving acceptance offers.  Results are in late August.

If you don`t get the required grades  try the Clearing System.