Careers Support

There is a wide range of careers support available in the Sixth Form including sessions on applying to university and apprenticeships for both students and parents.

Support Overview

In the summer term of year 12 there is a visit to a Higher Education Convention and support and guidance on completing a university application including help with personal statements. There is also support in writing CVs and applying for jobs and apprenticeships.

Throughout the year there are a number of sessions on specific careers such as routes into healthcare, teaching, business, etc. As well as specific university options including studying in Scotland, applying to overseas universities or applying to Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry or veterinary courses.

Up to date information is provided via email, tutors and careers noticeboards on university taster days, open days, gap year opportunities and apprenticeship vacancies. Students are encouraged to attend taster days and open days with a guideline of missing no more than 4 school days to careers events.

Students are encouraged to research their chosen careers carefully. There are a number of useful websites to support students in their research shown below.

In addition, we have a wide range of booklets, leaflets and university prospectus in the careers area of the Sixth Form Work room as well as support from our Inspired Futures service.

 

Inspired Futures 

The Inspired Futures office is based on the Parker Ground (PG) corridor.   In Inspired Futures you will find range of information about careers & events, further and higher education (including open events), apprenticeship vacancies and other interesting opportunities, such as volunteering.  Computers are available for your use and staff are available to help you make the most of the facilities.  Call in for advice and guidance on CV’s/interview techniques/applications or to make an appointment with the impartial Careers Adviser.

Check for notices around the Student Services block for information regarding careers information and events, apprenticeship vacancies, college/university open days and specific information on lifestyle, careers and interesting opportunities.

In addition you can follow Mrs Casewell on twitter @StudConnAlsager for careers related information

General Advice on Careers

www.brightknowledge.org – This one gives good information about career pathways and subject specific careers e.g sports science, architecture etc

www.getsmaart.com – information, articles and blogs about careers, unis, gap years etc.

Apprenticeships

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk – lists all apprenticeship vacancies nationally.

www.notgoingtouni.co.uk – advice on apprenticeships, foundation degrees, jobs + gap year.

Courses and applying to university

www.ucas.com – directory of all higher education courses available in the UK and loads of other useful info.

www.unistats.com –compare and review universities and courses using statistics.

www.which.co.uk/university – great for searching for courses by entry requirements

www.push.co.uk – university choice information and a quirky alternative insight into student life.

www.whatuni.com – student articles, advice, information, opendays and uni comparisons.

www.thestudentroom.co.uk – online student community, study help, personal and professional advice and access to student guides.

www.unionview.com – videos of universities showing the buildings, accommodation, students and clips of actual teaching methods.

www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk, http://education.guardian.co.uk and www.timesonline.co.uk/education – league tables to compare universities and subjects.

http://www.inspiringfutures.org.uk/  select ‘students and parents’ then ‘our courses’ under the heading ‘skills development’. Courses for careers that it is hard to get information and advice on  e.g. dentistry, working in the city, politics etc.

Summer schools

www.suttontrust.com – summer schools to encourage widening participation in universities.

www.headstartcourses.org.uk – courses for any science and maths students to encourage them to consider science, maths or engineering at university.

Student Finance

www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance – apply for your student loans and maintenance grants through this site. Also more info and advice on student finance including a calculator which can help you find out what financial support they are likely to get.

www.slc.co.uk – the student loan company.

www.scholarship-search.org.uk – Allows you to search all universities for available bursaries and scholarships. Also a budget calculator and loan predictor.

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students – info on bursaries for healthcare and social work students.

Gap year and volunteering sites

www.worldwidevolunteering.org.uk

www.ucas.com/gap

www.btcv.org.uk

www.gapyearadvice.org

www.vinspired.com

www.gapyear.com

www.changingworlds.co.uk

www.sabretrust.org

www.i-to-i.com

www.gapyearjobs.co.uk

www.bunac.org

www.campamerica.co.uk

www.gapyearcanada.com

www.do-it.org.uk

Works experience

 www.hotrecruit.co.uk

www.etrust.org.uk/the-year-in-industry

www.work-experience.org.uk

www.summerjobs4students.co.uk

All applications for university are made through the UCAS process.

Most people find the personal statement the hardest part of their UCAS application. There are no fixed rules about what to include in your personal statement but most university websites and university guidance websites will give you advice on what they would like to see. To get your started UCAS have produced this framework to help you:

http://www.ucasdigital.com/widgets/personalstatement/index.html#/splash

At Alsager Sixth Form College there will be lots of support from your tutors and the sixth form team to help you write your personal statement as well as a UCAS day run by Staffordshire University.

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  • sixthform@alsagerschool.org