1. 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
2. Ratcliffe College
AS Courses - 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 June
This 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
3. Ratcliffe College
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
4. Ratcliffe College
A2 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
5. Ratcliffe College
A2 Subject Choices - the 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
6. Ratcliffe College
A2 Subject Choices – 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
7. Ratcliffe College
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
8. Ratcliffe College
Changes 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
9. Ratcliffe College
Importance 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
10. Ratcliffe College
Our recommendations - students should …..
s
• 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
11. Ratcliffe College
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
12. Ratcliffe College
Our recommendations - students should …..
s
• Maintain a
balance
between
academic
and extra-
curricular –
but leisure
should be
guilt free!
Year 12 Parents’ Evening
13. Ratcliffe College
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
14. Ratcliffe College
Academic 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
16. Ratcliffe College
Careers & 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
17. Ratcliffe College
Careers & Higher Education – Factors
• Interest
• Ability
• Career intentions / thoughts
• Character & personality
• Level of maturity
• “Is it worth the money?”
Year 12 Parents’ Evening
18. Ratcliffe College
Careers & Higher Education – Factors
‘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 ago
About 25% of A level passes are at grade A/A*
Year 12 Parents’ Evening
19. Ratcliffe College
Careers & Higher Education – Factors
A 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
20. Ratcliffe College
Careers & Higher Education – Factors
A 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
21. Ratcliffe College
Careers & Higher Education – Support
Student
Careers dept On-line resources
Parents Tutors & pastoral staff
Careers advisers Subject teachers
Making the right decision
Year 12 Parents’ Evening
22. Ratcliffe College
Careers & 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
23. Ratcliffe College
Careers & 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
