By Ms Drapela (Careers and Sixth Form Administrator)

It’s been a whirlwind of events for the Lower Sixth as the summer term comes to an end and we prepare for the start of a new term by turning our attention towards UCAS and more.

Last week, Lower Sixth participated in a morning of discovery at the UCAS Exhibition hosted by the University of Bedfordshire. This was an opportunity for our students to speak with universities, colleges and employers. Many also had the opportunity to attend taster sessions in a variety of subject areas. It was a fun-filled day of exploration and it was wonderful to see students take advantage of the time to learn more about different universities, courses and degree apprenticeships. It also didn’t hurt that many got a free university tote or two.

In continuation of the student’s participation at the UCAS Exhibition, earlier in the week the school led a UCAS Day to prepare the students for their journey into Higher Education.

But first, we should mention that we marked the start of the activities the day before with a deliciously sweet afternoon, as students were treated to ice cream cones and a special guest appearance by Mr Gibson’s puppy as part of a well-being afternoon. I will say, I’ve never seen more creative topping combinations before.

Coming back to the details of our UCAS Day, the cohort spent Wednesday morning being introduced to the application process, key dates and internal timelines, presented by both our Director of Sixth Form, Mrs Woolley and Head of Careers, Mrs Whitlock. Students then participated in a self-guided session registering with UCAS and working on the mechanics of their application. With the help of a detailed Bridge Booklet, students were able to spend some time getting to know the UCAS site and process.

The second half of the morning included several workshops on personal statements. MedSoc students were led in discussion with Mrs Whitlock, and Oxbridge students led by our Oxbridge Coordinator, Mrs Pearl and finally a session presented by our guest speaker Lauren Beaumont, Post 16 Outreach and Recruitment Executive at Nottingham Trent University.

Afternoon came and the Lower Sixth met back in the Assembly Hall to reflect on course choices, their wider education portfolio and resources in support of their UCAS application. The day ended with a self-guided session for students to work on course research, CV writing, and personal statements.

It was a great day for Lower Sixth students to build a foundation, explore resources and tools, and begin to prepare for their journey into higher education. We hope our students made the most of the day and feel confident going forward as they work on their applications and personal statements over the summer and into the Autumn Term.