Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

• Welcome & Introduction– Mr G. Lloyd

• Academic Programme & Key Dates– Mrs J. P.Clayfield

• Careers & Higher Education– Mr G.J.Sharpe

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

AS Courses - AS Courses - a reminder!a reminder!• Standard between GCSE and A level

– Students should find the work more demanding than GCSEs• Most are now 2 units (except for Sciences, Mathematics, Music and

Applied A Levels)

• Examination sessions in January and JuneThis January - Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics &Business, Design Technology, Applied ICT.

• No restriction on the number of re-takes• Grades A to E & U

– Worth half an A Level

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

AS Courses AS Courses

• Grade boundaries Grade A - 80%

Grade B - 70%Grade C - 60%Grade D - 50%Grade E - 40%

• Aggregated score every mark counts!

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

A2 Subject ChoicesA2 Subject Choices

• Students taking 3 AS courses in Year 12– expected to continue through to A2

• Students taking 4 AS courses in Year 12– Most will do 3 A2 courses in Year 13– In exceptional circumstances, some may

continue with all 4 subjects

• A2 courses are more demanding– standard much higher than AS level

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

A2 Subject Choices - A2 Subject Choices - the procedurethe procedure

• By end of Spring term, students should have an idea of which subjects to continue to A2

• Decisions made by Monday 18 March 2013

• After AS exams attend A2 lessons only

• If in doubt….– attend all 4 subjects until end of term. Final

decisions then made at beginning of September

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

A2 Subject Choices – A2 Subject Choices – points to note !!!points to note !!!

• Some subjects appear in more than one block i.e. there are two AS groups

• Possibility of groups combining for A2

• This may result in slight changes to the option blocks

• This may cause a restriction in a particular combination of A2 subjects

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

A2 Subject Choices A2 Subject Choices

However…..• We aim to satisfy the greatest number of

students choices of A2 as possible• The vast majority of choices are met!• More likely to affect those students who

change their minds about a subject late on• We will keep you informed during the

summer term

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe CollegeChanges to A LevelsChanges to A Levels

• From next September, students will only be able to sit AS and A Level examinations in the summer.

• As the changes come into force from September 2013, there will be no January examinations in 2014 for students whether they are in their first or second year of A level studies.

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Importance of Year 12Importance of Year 12

• Universities can now take into account unit grades when making offers or deciding whether to make offers

• Students need to prepare as thoroughly as possible to alleviate the pressure of re-takes in Year 13, particularly in those subjects dropped at AS

• Overall success at A Level relies heavily on performance at AS!

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe CollegeOur recommendations - sOur recommendations - students should …..…..

• Spend 5 hours per AS subject per week on private study

• Keep notes in an orderly fashion in their files

• Spend time reading around the subject; refer to reading lists

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe CollegeWhat do we mean by independent learning?What do we mean by independent learning?

• Students using their initiative

• Reading books/articles linked to the subject

• Making their own notes on research carried out /articles read in magazines

• Using information on the student shared area provided by subjects

• Answering examination questions

• Supplementing/annotating their class notes

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Our recommendations - sOur recommendations - students should …..…..• Maintain a

balance between academic and extra-curricular – but leisure should be guilt free!

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Other points:Other points:• Ensure they work hard to achieve their

best grade in AS subjects- especially in the 4th subject

• Mock exams in Spring term during lessons• A2 courses will begin after AS modules

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Academic Key DatesAcademic Key Dates• Wednesday 9 January - AS examinations (to end of January)• Friday 8 February - Studies Cards• Monday 25 February – Mock AS Examinations• Monday 4 March – Higher Education Information Evening• Thursday 7 March – AS January unit results published• Monday 18 March – deadline for A2 choices• Friday 22 March – Reports to Parents• Monday 13 May to Wednesday 5 June - Study Leave*• Thursday 15 August * – AS examination results published*Provisional date

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Careers & Higher Education – OptionsCareers & Higher Education – Options

• Higher Education – Degree [>90% of students]– UK? / Abroad?

• Further Education – Diploma course

• Full-time employment with training

• GAP year – Employment & Experience

• GAP year – Personal enrichment

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Careers & Higher Education – FactorsCareers & Higher Education – Factors

• Interest

• Ability

• Career intentions / thoughts

• Character & personality

• Level of maturity

• “Is it worth the money?”

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Careers & Higher Education – FactorsCareers & Higher Education – Factors‘A’ level grades count‘A’ level grades count

• Natural Sciences at Cambridge A*AA• Law at Birmingham AAA• English and History of Art at Leeds AAA• Business Studies at Lancaster AAA• Sport Science at Exeter AAB

Twice as many A level A grades as ten years agoAbout 25% of A level passes are at grade A/A*

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Careers & Higher Education – FactorsCareers & Higher Education – FactorsA grades are not always requiredA grades are not always required

• French and English at Reading BBB• Advertising and Media at Northumbria BBC• French at Hull BCC• International Business at Plymouth CCC• Internet Computing at Aberystwyth CDD

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Careers & Higher Education – FactorsCareers & Higher Education – FactorsA level grades are not enoughA level grades are not enough

Universities look for evidence of:• Interest in subject• Awareness of subject (work experience?)• Initiative• Interpersonal & teamwork skills• Ability to handle responsibility

In other words:Mature, motivated, interesting people

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Careers & Higher Education – SupportCareers & Higher Education – Support

Student

Careers dept On-line resourcesParents Tutors & pastoral staffCareers advisers Subject teachers

Making the right decisionMaking the right decision

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Careers & Higher Education – StagesCareers & Higher Education – Stages• Year 12

– Autumn: Higher Education convention H.Ed. booklet

– Spring : Mon 4th March – H.Ed. Info for parents. What next after the 6th form? ISCO ‘Course finder’ Thu 21st March – H.Ed. Convention

(L’bro’)– Summer: Choose course

Decide long list of universities Complete draft personal statement

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College

Careers & Higher Education – StagesCareers & Higher Education – Stages• Year 13

– Autumn: UCAS applications completed

before half-term– Spring : Student finance applications

UCAS decisions finalised– Summer: ‘A’ level results (Thu 21st August)

University destination confirmed

Year 12 Parents’ Evening

Ratcliffe College