Welcome to

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Welcome to Parkside Academy Post 16 Choices
Parents Information Evening
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Aims Of The Session

• Give you as parents/carers a better
  understanding of how to support your child in
  making their Post 16 choices.
• Give you the opportunity to speak directly to
  the vast majority of our Post 16 providers.

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Choices Post 16
AS/A-Levels BTEC Nationals International
Baccalaureate NVQs GCSEs
Full Time Education Apprenticeships Employment
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Changes to Post 16

• From September 2013 all pupils must stay in some
  form of education or training until the age of
  17
• From 2015 this will rise to age 18
• From September 2013 pupils who do not achieve at
  least a Grade C in English and Maths will have to
  continue these subjects at college or sixth form

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Why?

• Education Secretary Michael Gove said English and
  Maths are the subjects "employers demand before
  all others
• Employers have warned that young people need to
  improve Maths and English skills.
• Employers' organisations concerned that too many
  young people lack literacy and numeracy skills
  necessary for work.

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Applying to Colleges or Sixth Forms In
School Help

• Advice available from the school Y11 Mentor.
• Local colleges/sixth forms come into school to
  discuss application process.
• Pupils encouraged to visit / apply to more than
  one sixth form or college.
• Inspire Days

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How As A Parent/Carer You Can Help

• Make time to go to college/sixth form open
  evenings.
• Look at the college/sixth form prospectus which
  are also available on-line.
• Check course/s entry requirements.
• Check transport links in advance.
• Encourage them to look at several places so they
  can make an informed choice.

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Where To Study

• Most popular for academic pupils wanting to take
  3 AS Levels or more (pupils should be gaining at
  least 5 GCSEs at Grade B or above including
  English and Maths) Queen Elizabeth
  (Darlington), St Johns Sixth Form, Durham Sixth
  Form Centre, Durham New College and Durham
  Johnston Sixth Form.

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Where To Study

• Academic A-Level and vocational courses are
  also offered by
• Wolsingham, King James, Whitworth Park School
  (formerly Spennymoor and Tudhoe Grange) ,
• St Leonards, Framwellgate School, Bishop
  Auckland College, Durham New College and East
  Durham College (Houghall).

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Informed Choices Russell Group

• Traditional Red Brick universities are
  represented by the Russell Group.
• The Russell Group has released a document
  called Informed Choices it states clearly what
  A-Levels pupils need to achieve to get on to
  their different degree courses.
• There is a link to this document on our school
  website.

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College Open Evenings

• You will need to check individual sixth form and
  college websites for this information or contact
  the colleges/sixth forms directly.

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EMA Funding / New Bursary System

• EMA funding no longer available. Sixth Forms and
  Colleges now have their own bursary systems and
  you can speak to them directly about this for
  further information.

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Help With Travel Costs

• No longer available from Durham County Council.
  Some colleges have made their own transport
  arrangements for pupils.
• You will need to speak to the colleges for
  further information on this.

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Useful Websites

• www.russellgroup.ac.uk/informed-choices.aspx
• www.ucas.com
• www.university.which.co.uk
• www.nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
• www.apprenticeships.org.uk
• www.totalprofessions.com

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Schools New Website

• All the information from tonight will be placed
  on the schools website in the
• Parents section Post 16 choices.

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Something to consider ____________________________
____________
Better qualifications bring improved job
prospects, higher earnings and greater job
satisfaction.