Student Finance always poses one of the challenges when it comes to applying to university. This is why we (The Futures team) have created a recording to help you understand the Student Finance, applications and repayments.

On 22 September 2022 we hosted our Developing Employability Skills for the Future Event here at One Sixth Form.

The event was recorded, so please click on the link below to this recording.  You can also find links to the Powerpoint used on the evening and the feedback form if you would like to leave us any feedback regarding the event.

Developing-Employability-Skills-for-the-Future-2022 Powerpoint Presentation

Event Feedback Form 

An Apprenticeship is a fast track was of getting on in your career. You will have a paid job while working towards a qualification in your industry area.

Five reasons to consider an Apprenticeship

You earn a wage from the start

Apprentices earn a real salary and training fees are supported by the Government and your employer.

Training is tailor made to suit your role and direction

The choice of Apprenticeships are huge. You can develop a pathway that matches your careers ambitions and suits the needs of your employer

Gain essential workplace experience

An Apprenticeship will put you a step ahead of other job hunters as you will have both the qualifications and the experience allowing you to progress your careers faster

Take giant steps up the career ladder

While on an Apprenticeship you will gain the skills, experience and contacts needed to reach your goal faster

Improve your prospects

Employers say that qualified Apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications

Where to search for an Apprenticeship

Apply for local Apprenticeship vacancies

• Student Ladder
• Not going to Uni
• Rate my Apprenticeship
• UCAS Apprenticeship Finder
• Find an apprenticeship on gov.uk
• Target Careers
• Reed
• Indeed
• I Can Be A
• Apprenticeships Suffolk
• Amazing Apprenticeships
• Suffolk Jobs Direct
• NHS

Students intending to apply to university receive full support throughout the cycle to ensure a successful application. This includes: 

• University open day trips and summer schools 

• Personal statement writing support 

• Admission test support 

• Mock interviews 

• Bespoke Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and conservatoire application support. 

• Student Finance England (SFE) application support. 

Current students should contact their PPT in the first instance for information regarding their UCAS entry. 

Alumni students should initially contact careers@suffolkone.ac.uk to arrange for support with their application. 

Students that receive 'Free School Meals' may be eligible to have their application fee to UCAS, waived. Please read this guide for more information: 

UCAS Free School Meals Application Fee Waiver 2024/2025 Information Guide

UCAS Widget

What is it?

The UCAS widget has been designed to be hosted on school and college’s website to link students and their parents to important information about higher education and the UCAS application process.

Through simple and intuitive navigation, it’s easy for users to increase their knowledge of the information and advice UCAS has to offer. The content will be reviewed regularly by UCAS so it remains up-to-date and relevant.

Why should I use it?

Parents and carers with little or no prior knowledge of higher education can find it hard to understand how best to support their child throughout the process. By using this widget students and their parents can access the information they need, when they need it.

Our One Sixth Form:  What’s On Wednesdays newsletter covers all progression routes and careers information around Apprenticeships, Work Experience, Job vacancies, University, Understanding the Job Market, and other progression/ career events at One.

If you are aspiring to gain entry to one of the top Universities in the country and/or considering studying locally with University Studies at West Suffolk College, the Aim Higher at One Sixth Form newsletter has loads of advice on Open Days, Events and support at One, application and deadlines and resources that might help you and more. 

Please click on the links below to access up to date information and remember to check back every Wednesday

One Sixth Form:  Aim Higher

One Sixth Form:  What's on Wednesday

Futures Newsletter - October 2024

Aim Higher FAQs

What is the Aim Higher Programme?

The Aim Higher Programme (AHP) at One Sixth Form College is designed to ensure our students are supported and prepared for making an application to highly competitive Universities, with a particular focus on Early Entry courses including Oxbridge, Medicine, Vet Med and Dentistry. These courses include a multi-factorial admissions process that is renowned for it’s competitiveness and have an earlier deadline that students need to meet.

The AHP aims to demystify the various aspects of the Early Entry application process, and give students the tools to not only feel confident in their understanding and preparedness of the stages they will go through, but also how to make their application as strong as possible.

High achieving students will be invited to join the Aim Higher Programme, where they will be offered the opportunity to attend lunchtime workshops and presentations, hear from guest speakers, sign up to relevant email mailing lists created by our Aim Higher Manager, and be offered one to one support and guidance throughout the process.

Example topics covered within the Aim Higher Programme include;

• Understanding the application process for Oxbridge, Medicine, Vet Med and Dentistry courses
• Choosing the right course, and right university, for you
• The importance of super curricular and work experience
• The importance of your “5^th choice”
• Writing a competitive personal statement
• Preparing for Interviews
• Preparing for Admissions tests

We also have an Aim Higher Newsletter which signposts our students to external events, activities and resources that will benefit their application journey. You can view our Aim Higher Newsletter via the link below;

Aim Higher Newsletter

The AHP is complemented by subject specific talks and presentations, and curriculum advice and guidance. We also have a fantastic range of clubs and societies on offer at One Sixth Form College, that our Aim Higher students are encouraged to be a part of.

We are proud of the success we have had in the past have a wide range of Alumni students that have progressed on to Early Entry courses. Students within the Aim Higher Programme will also have the opportunity to hear from these Alumni and find out useful information about their experience.  

If you have any questions about the Early Entry admissions process, or our Aim Higher Programme then please email phoebe.sizer@easterneducationgroup.ac.uk

Careers Information

Careers Education, Advice and Guidance (CEAG) is available at One to help you decide your next steps.

The CEAG team are based in the Purple Zone and offer 1:1 Careers Advice appointments.  Please email careers@suffolkone.ac.uk  or pop in for ‘drop-in’ enquiries. Students can use the careers referral form on Moodle to book a careers appointment with our careers advisers. 

The Careers Education, Advice & Guidance staff can help you with:

• Applying to University
• Planning Finance for University
• Job Search
• Apprenticeships
• Making your CV stand out
• Mock Interviews
• Interview Skills
• Resources to help you decide on your progression route
• Gap Year advice

Our new Career Coaching tool (EMSI) allows you to explore careers and how best to pursue that aspiration. It can also help in guiding you to the most suitable pathway based of your interests and strengths- do an assessment, view your matches, and explore careers . Take it a step further by creating an account to build your CV and send directly to employers. 

Careers Coach

Below are some useful links to help you plan your future after One:

• UCAS – University and colleges application service
• Unistats – Key information for comparing UK Higher Education Course data
• National Career Services – National Careers Service you take the next step, CV builder, action planning. Courses and learning
• The Source – Help and advice for young people in Suffolk.  Courses, jobs, CV builder, apprenticeships, careers, money, free time, life, housing and health.  A source of information at your finger tips
• Apprenticeships – National apprenticeship website giving information on nationwide apprenticeships and matching service
• Careers Box – Careers films and information on lots of careers
• www.plotr.co.uk – One stop shop for careers inspiration and preparation

A link to the Not Going to Uni website can be found here: http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/

Dates for careers information events and talks can be found on the website here

If you would prefer to gain some experience before going to University or entering full time employment taking a gap year is often a popular choice.

There are many opportunities and some ideas include:

• Internships
• Volunteering
• Teaching abroad
• Travelling 
• Joining an expedition

Gap Years are a great way to experience new cultures, make a contribution to society and gain a broader horizon of life – and you don’t have to go abroad.  You will learn valuable skills such as budgeting and prioritising, cultural understanding and teamwork, all of which will enhance your CV and University application.

Useful websites

Gapyear.com

Lattitude.org.uk - Global Volunteering

Gapwork.com - Jobs and Volunteering

realgap.co.uk

frontier.ac.uk

bunac.org/uk

campamerica.co.uk

vsointernational.org

omio.com - travel/gap-year

Career Programme

Careers Strategy

One Sixth Form College: Provider Access Policy

Introduction

This policy statement sets out the school's arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at College for the purpose of giving them information about the provider's education or training offer. This complies with the school's legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.

Student entitlement

All students are entitled:

• to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;

• to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through progression events, and group discussions and taster events;

• to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

If you have any questions please email careers@suffolkone.ac.uk  

As a College we are committed to building links with local businesses and employers. We feel it is important for employers to understand the current educational landscape, appreciate the skills and knowledge our students can offer and have access to their work force of the future. We host a half termly business breakfast for networking opportunities between businesses and educators. 

In addition, we want to ensure that our students are work ready and offer them a range of opportunities including work experience, employer talks, visits to workplaces and mentoring.  

If you would like to become part of this network, please contact our Careers Team and they will be happy to answer your query:

click here to contact the Careers Team

Information for university and college admissions teams

This information is provided to explain the centre-specific impact on current Year 13 students of the Lockdown and school closures in March-August 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is intended to complement individual student UCAS references as per the guidance issued by UCAS.

• Information for PPT’s to add to the references of individual students
• Whether the student or a close family member was affected by illness or bereavement
• How individual students engaged with online provision, and whether there were any barriers – technical or environmental – which prevented or impeded this.
• Any relevant information about the student’s home learning environment (e.g. access to technology, space to work at home, access to other learning resources, support of family members or carers).​

The College is committed to excellence in career provision and is currently working towards the Quality in Careers Standard.