Main Aims

• To provide an update on A Level Reform

• To explain how year 13 differs from year 12 with particular attention to how the UCAS process works.

• To explain how the school will continue to support the students and you as parents on this journey

• To explain how you as parents can help us

Welcome to year 13

Old A Levels Students can bank their grades from AS

New A Levels The exams at the end of year 13 will

include all their work from year 12 ( AS) and year 13.

.Dance, Drama and Theatre, French, Geography, German, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies and Spanish, Classics, Design and Technology, Further Maths, Maths, Politics.

Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer science, Economics, English language, English language and literature, English literature, History, Physics, Psychology, and Sociology

A Level Reform

How does year 13 differ ?

• All students now drop down to three subjects.

• The continued allocation of free study periods

• The continued challenging content and requirement for significant amounts of independent learning.

• Privileges after Half Term

• The key focus on University Applications

Coping with A Levels

Students need to be • Self Motivated• Self Disciplined • Resilient

How do we support students?

• Close monitoring of students attendance and punctuality

• Close tracking of students attitude to learning and timely intervention when needed.

• Provision of quiet, dedicated and supervised Sixth Form work spaces to maintain a focused and purposeful atmosphere at all times.

• A dedicated Sixth Form Team and specialised Sixth Form tutors

• Excellent teaching of A Level subjects with outstanding A Level performances in certain subjects.

• Support with University Applications and careers guidance beyond Sixth Form

• Focus Newspaper• Prefects• Peer Mentoring • 6th Form run debates and

assemblies• 6th form post holders – Head

Students• Educational travel: Berlin,

Auschwitz, Prague, New York and Iceland

• Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme• CSLA Sports Leadership training• Gap year opportunities• 6th Form committee• World challenge• Inter-house sport• Sports Academy• Business Academy• CCF

Opportunities to Lead

Tracking Progress• Report Every 6 – 8 Weeks

• Keep an eye on their A2L score ‘ Attitude to Learning’

• Keep an eye on their target grades and the grade they are currently working at.

• These reports will be emailed home to you along with other important information regarding examinations.

What do the scores mean?

1 Student works consistently hard in all their lessons.

Student is highly motivated and conscientious and

shows a keen interest in the subject. Student embraces

work of a challenging nature with a positive attitude and

acts on feedback to improve their work.

2 Student is well motivated most of the time and is

steadily developing the ability to work independently.

Some evidence of resilience is seen in responding to

feedback and improving work. Some support is required

on occasion.

3 Student is generally motivated, however does need

guidance to work independently in lessons. Student can

give up too quickly when faced with difficulties and

should take more account of feedback to improve their

work.

4 Student is currently unable to maintain sufficient

motivation and focus to achieve their potential.

Significant teacher input is required to maintain an

adequate level of work. Student can disrupt the

learning of others.

Key Dates to look out for

• 11th October – Student Finance Talk

• 24th October – First Report

• 16th November – Parents Evening

• 28th November – Second Report

• 16th January – Mock Exams

• 6th March – Full Report

• 3rd April – Forth Report

How can you help support your sixth former?• Check email

• Attend Parent’s Evenings

• Keep an eye on how much work they are doing at home

• Keep an eye on how much paid employment they are doing

• Discuss their reports with them

• Discuss their future plans with them

• Provide a quiet place for them to study without distractions

• Please do not book holidays in term time

Support us with ….

• The Dress Code

• Punctuality

• Attendance

• Intervention Meetings

Phone Mrs Antcliffe, Mr Rooney or Mr Smith if you have any concerns

Continue to phone in if they are ill and to advise us in advance if they will be absent (Mrs Dutton )

• Collared shirt. Any patterns such as stripes or checks should be discreet. Large, bold and bright checks are not acceptable. *

• Blouse or smart top. Shoulders must be covered and patterns must be discreet.

• Smart tailored trousers (No denim) Chinos are acceptable providing that they are not tight and do not have rivets or patch pockets.

• Plain jumper (‘v’ neck or round neck) over a collared shirt and/or a cardigan or jacket

• Smart shoes or boots (not trainers or canvas shoes) • Smart dress. Patterns should be discreet. • Plain skirt of modest length or smart tailored

trousers (No denim or leggings). Material must not be tight fitting.

» The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

» All Year 13s had PSE lessons at the end of last year about the process:

» Why university?» Course search

» How to apply» How to write a personal statement

» The whole process is online

» www.ucas.com/apply

» All students should have now registered

UCAS

» 6 sections to complete online:

» Personal details» Choices» Education» Personal Statement» Payment» Reference and predicted grades

» Once they have completed the first 5 sections the application is sent to me.

» I check it all and send back for amendments if necessary

» I then add the reference and predicted grades

» I then send to UCAS

What do they have to do?

• Buzzword – queens2017

• Email address essential

• Fee code = 02

• Nominated access – you!

Personal details

UCAS

• Choose up to 5 different courses• 2 at height of ambition

• 2 reasonably ‘easy’ to achieve

• 1 very ‘easy’ to achieve

• Deferred entry?

• Live at home?

• Use ‘course search’ to find courses and entry requirements (grades or points)

Choices

UCAS

• GCSE and AS Level grades achieved must be entered

• Enter any AS retakes yet to be taken with the date of entry

• Enter A Levels yet to be taken with the date of entry

• Check exam boards etc. carefully

Education

UCAS

• Their ‘interview’

• Tailored to the course(s) they are applying for

• 4000 characters:• Paragraph 1 – Why ‘geography’?

• Paragraph 2 – Current studies

• Paragraph 3 – ‘The extra mile’

• Paragraph 4 – Extra curricular/personal interests

• Checked by form tutors

Personal Statement

UCAS

• £23 for up to 5 choices

• £12 for only 1 choice

• Payment by card online

• Once payment is made application is sent to me, NOT to the universities

• I will check everything and send back to the student if there are any mistakes

• They will NOT have to re-pay when they send it back to me!

Payment

UCAS

• Written by form tutor usually

• Partly based on Year 12 reports

• Predicted grades now finalised

• They will be ‘realistic’ (taking into account re-sits etc)

• References and predicted grades are checked by me and then the whole application is sent to UCAS

Reference and predicted grades

UCAS

» Online applications completed and paid

for by 21st October

» I will send all applications to UCAS by December

DEADLINES

What happens next?

• Offers start to appear (hopefully)

• As soon as all 5 choices have responded with offers or rejections (and not before!)…- Choose 2 offers to accept- 1 firm acceptance, 1 insurance- Insurance offer must be easier to achieve

Warning:

Students may not hear from universities

until JUNE

The UCAS process

October 11th 7.00pm – Meeting for parents North Hall(email sent today)

Wednesday 19th October – Assembly for students 2.15 pm

Student Finance

- All students now have their own school email address

- Google Apps

• Google Drive, Docs, Sheets and Slides

• Unlimited cloud storage to save and backup work

• No more need for USB pens

- All students will receive homework via SmartHomework

- Teachers are setting all homework through this system

SmartHomework - Introduction

Parent instructions and demo

• Access Via link on Queens’ School website• Your unique username and pin and

instructions will be emailed to you

The Future - Smartdata

• Attendance• Attainment• Reporting• Login using unique pin

Who to contact

•Mrs K Antcliffe ( Head of Sixth Form ) Tel 01923 478206 antclika@queens.herts.sch.uk

•Mrs Dutton ( general enquiries and absence Tel 01923 478217 duttonme@queens.herts.sch.uk