This document contains information from a Year 12 Parents' Evening presentation at Ratcliffe College. It discusses the AS and A2 academic programmes, including grade boundaries and subject choice procedures. It provides key academic dates and recommends students spend 5 hours per week on independent study. The document also contains information on boarding options, careers, higher education, and the stages of support provided across Years 12 and 13.

1. Ratcliffe College
• Welcome &
Introduction
– Mr G. Lloyd
• Academic Programme
& Key Dates
– Mr N. Taylor
• Careers & Higher
Education
– Mr G.J.Sharpe
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

2. 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

3. Ratcliffe College
A2 Subject Choices - the procedure
• By end of Spring term, students should have
an idea of which subjects to continue to A2
• 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

4. Ratcliffe College
Importance of Year 12
• Universities can 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 retakes in Year 13.
• Overall success at A Level relies heavily on
performance at AS!
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

5. 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

6. Ratcliffe College
Academic Key Dates
•
•
•
•
•
•
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•
•
Thursday 28 November – Presentation of GCSE certificates
Friday 13 December - Studies Cards to Parents
Friday 14 February – Studies Cards to Parents
Monday 24 to Friday 28 February – Mock AS Examinations
Monday 03 March – Higher Education Information Evening
Monday 17 March – deadline for A2 choices
Friday 21 March – Written Reports to Parents
Monday 12 May to Friday 06 June – AS Study Leave
Thursday 14 August – AS Examination Results
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

7. Ratcliffe College
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

8. Ratcliffe College
Boarding
at Ratcliffe
Mr Aidan Cooke
Mrs Joanna Leite
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

9. Ratcliffe College
Why Board:
An opportunity to develop
independence;
 The Sixth Form Flat
 Prior to University
Access to fantastic facilities.
Additional time can be spent
on school work.
A busy, social experience
with a wide variety of activities
to choose from during the
week and at the weekends!
A supportive environment in
which to study
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

10. Boarding Options
Ratcliffe College
• Full Boarding - 7 nights a week
• Weekly Boarding - 5 nights a week, returning
home at weekends
• Regular, committed occasional boarding – 1,2 or 3
nights a week
• Casual boarding
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

11. Ratcliffe College
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

12. 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

13. 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

14. Ratcliffe College
Careers & Higher Education – Factors
A’ level grades count
•
•
•
•
•
•
Natural Sciences at Cambridge
History at Bristol
Law at Birmingham
International Relations at Queen Mary’s
Business Studies at Lancaster
Sport Science at Exeter
A*AA
A*AA
AAA
AAA
AAA
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

15. Ratcliffe College
Careers & Higher Education – Factors
A grades are not always required
•
•
•
•
•
French and English at Reading
Agricultural Science at Nottingham
Aerospace Engineering at Salford
English and Media at Leeds Trinity
Politics at Leeds Metropolitan
BBB
BBC
BBC
CCC
CDD
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

16. 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

17. Ratcliffe College
Careers & Higher Education – Support
Student
Careers dept
On-line resources
Parents
Tutors & pastoral staff
Careers advisers
Subject teachers
University Admissions Tutors
Making the right decision
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

18. Ratcliffe College
Careers & Higher Education – Stages
• Year 12
– Autumn: Higher Education booklet
– Spring : Mon 3rd March – H.Ed. Info. for parents.
What next after the 6th form?
ISCO ‘Course finder’ / Centigrade’ tests
Thu 3rd April – H.Ed. Convention (Nott’m)
– Summer: Choose course
Decide long list of universities
Complete draft personal statement
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

19. 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 20th August)
University destination confirmed
Year 12 Parents’ Evening

20. Ratcliffe College
Year 12 Parents’ Evening