This document provides guidance for post-16 students on applying to university through UCAS. It outlines the UCAS application timeline and process. Students are advised to complete a draft personal statement with their tutor's guidance by half term. Teachers will write references that tutors will then shape and approve. The VP and DoLP16 will monitor applications and ensure they are submitted to UCAS by the October/November deadlines. Resources for personal statements and the application process are available online. Communication and tracking of progress will be important to ensure students submit complete applications on time.

1. Inspired Futures
(or Life After Leigh)

2. “A-level students must be told the whole truth about the value of a degree”
16 Aug 2012 Telegraph
“When [the government] trebled the cap on university fees,
[they] justified this by arguing a university degree will “on
average boost your earnings by £100,000 over a lifetime”.
That would justify the average £40,000 of debt...imply[ing]
disadvantage for those who give university a miss.”

3. “A-level students must be told the whole truth about the value of a degree”
16 Aug 2012 Telegraph
“There is something especially scandalous about
young people who have been sold a vision of
graduate life, only to find it was a piece of spin to
sweeten the bitter pill of student loans. The mis-
selling of higher education is one of the least
remarked-upon scandals of our time.”

4. “A-level students must be told the whole truth about the value of a degree”
16 Aug 2012 Telegraph
Government released a research paper that spelt it out. For
doctors and dentists, a degree is a prerequisite. They will
earn £400,000 more over a lifetime, but for students
admitted to less rigorous degrees, the premium quickly
diminishes...History and Philosophy a paltry £35 a year
more than non-graduates a degree in “Creative Arts”
£15,000 less over a lifetime than those who start work
aged 18.

5. “A-level students must be told the whole truth about the value of a degree”
16 Aug 2012 Telegraph
“If a degree is no guarantee of success in
modern Britain, then the lack of one is no
guarantee of failure. For those whose A-level
results have precluded university, there is still
all to play for.”

6. Class of 2014
• UK Unemployment 16-24 - 20.7%
(UK Parliament)
• £43,500 av. student debt (Guardian)
• Uni applications 3.5% rise 2013
• Highest increase Computer Sciences
• Biggest Decrease Social Sciences,
Arts, Languages (UCAS)

7. Life after Leigh
• To know the options available for
progression
• To be familiar with the UCAS Apply
process
• To know the Timeline & Who does What
• To know where the resources are

8. Game of Life (80’s)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/game-life-classic-
edition/id327104307?mt=8

10. Task: Role Play
Game of Life
• Student A - E
• Profile the P16
• How will you ‘Inspire’/manage their
aspirations?
• How will you get them to complete UCAS?
• What routes suit, what would you
recommend?

11. The Why? (& Why Now?)
• Focus & Motivation for Yr13, results day &
Module 1
• Mod 6 start of A2 & attendance tracking
• Yr12 with no plan & no motivation to step
up, cannot afford this in Yr13
• Makes Tutor/P16 relationship relevant
(they will be paying our pensions...)

12. UCAS Timeline
Overview
• Module 6: Personal Statements, References,
Guidance & Research, Open Days
• Module 1: Complete their application. Confirm
Maximum of 5 choices
• 15th October: Medics & Oxbridge Deadline
• 31st October: Leigh P16 Deadline to make
payments and Apply
• *Art & Design where specified 24th March

13. Resources UCAS APPLY
• All resources on the blog
http://leighpost16progression.blogspot.co.u
k/
• ‘How to use Apply’
• ‘Personal Statement’
• ‘References’
• Tutors given log ins & buzzwords from
VPs/Dol P16

14. UCAS Online Application Process
Stage 1: Now to Half Term
1. Applicant completes Reference Request Form
2. Tutor guides drafts of personal statement with applicant
3. DoLP16 notifies Tutor & Subject Teachers for
reference request
4. Subject Teachers write Reference, DoLP16 send
to Tutor who keeps a record
5. Applicant marks online application as ‘complete’
6. Tutor checks application & statement and ‘approves’ it or
‘returns’

15. UCAS Online Application Process
Stage 2: Half Term to November 15th
1. Tutor shapes 3 subject paragraphs & Top & Tails the
reference. Marks as complete
2. VP approves the quality of reference
3. Dol P16 monitor’s progress, makes final checks & sends
to UCAS
We will prioritise those applicants that have met the
application completion deadline of Half Term
We are committing to parents to aim to turn around
applications within 2 weeks

16. Personal Statement
• Does it reflect their grade profile?
• Are they listing skills and experiences of
LINKING them to relevance?
• Is it personal - can you recognise them?
• Is there evidence they know why they
are studying this - what it will lead to, what
it entails?
• What can they do in the time remaining?

17. Communication & Tracking
• Applicants must complete the ‘Reference
Request’ online form to start the process -
remind them
• Once I have passed them to you, Tutor
approaches the Subject Teachers to complete
the Reference Form
• Between us we need to keep a record of which
teachers have written and sent Subject
References and which have not.

18. Reference - Structure
• Para 1: Introduce & Background
• Para 2: Subject Teacher 1
• Para 3: Subject Teacher 2
• Para 4: Subject Teacher 3
• Para 5: Your recommendation
Attendance must be presented honestly & positively