Mrs Allen (Careers Administrator)

With the summer holidays and a well-deserved break around the corner, the Lower Sixth students engaged in a day of workshops and break-out sessions designed to fully introduced them to the UCAS portal and the university application process.

Having met with Mrs Whitlock (Head of Careers), to discuss their predicted grades the day before, the students had a morning of presentations and time to create their UCAS account and complete the general sections covering personal, family and funding details.

With their predicted grades in mind, the students then had time to explore the search functions on UCAS, with the added benefit of filter and search options on Unifrog, to look at courses and establishments where they are on target to meet the entry requirements. The students were, and are, strongly encouraged to spread their choices across a range of providers, having one aspirational choice, three secure choices and one safe option. It is important that the students would want to go to, and study at, all of their choices and that selections are made with the course as the primary motivator and not just the name of the university.

The break-out workshops, run by Independent Thinkers, focused on subject specific Personal Statement writing, as well as interview workshops for those subjects that will require them as part of the entry and selection process. There will be further chances for those who want to practise their interview techniques in the new school year.

It is hoped that with such a wealth of information shared, the students will be able to embark on a summer of purposeful research and preparation, using the advice given to build their longlist and shortlist of courses, as well as building a strong draft personal statement, ready for their return in September.

The Bridge wishes the students a wonderful summer and looks forward to reviewing their personal statements and discussing their choices with them when they return in September.