This document provides information for parents about their child's Year 13 at school. It includes an agenda for an information evening with topics like post-16 options, careers guidance, and financial support. The hopes and expectations for students by the end of Year 13 are outlined. Requirements to enter Year 14, the sixth form curriculum, academic monitoring and support are summarized. Options after Year 13 like university, apprenticeships or employment are also addressed.

1. Year 13
Parents’ Information Evening
and Service of Commitment
THURSDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER

2. Agenda
 Welcome Mr FJM Madden
 Service of Commitment Mr N Thiruvengadam
 Key Stage 5 Mrs DT Duffy
 Post 16 and CEIAG Mr TB Keys
 EMA and Learning Agreement Mr JA Johnston
 Conclusion Mr FJM Madden

3. Service of Commitment

4. Our hopes for your son in August 2023

5. Our hopes for your son in August 2023
 Celebrating his A-level results.
 Confident in his own individual plan.
 Content with his University (or other) choice,
 Ready and prepared to take on the challenges
of independent living.
 Enthusiastic and committed.
 Resilient.

6. Year 13 – Basics
Role of the parent
Homework / Independent Study
Taking Responsibility
Attendance and Punctuality
Examinations

7. Curriculum

8. Development of the Whole Person
Curriculum Enrichment & PRSE
 Sports Leadership Award
 Community Service
 Cooking for University
 Digital Photography
 Mandarin Chinese
 Maths Mentors
 Multi Gym
 Soccer

9. Academic Monitoring and Support
 Rigorous assessment for learning.
 Bi-monthly reporting.
 Examination weighting at AS and A2 - (40 / 60) (50
/ 50).
 Entrance Requirements from Year 13 - Year 14.

10. Entry to Year 14 (currently)
 Completed Year 13 in St Columb’s to the satisfaction of the Principal by
achieving a minimum of grades C, D, D* in AS examinations. Predicted UCAS
grade will be no more than one grade higher than AS result.
In addition, achieved a satisfactory standard in terms of attendance, punctuality and
behaviour.
A satisfactory standard is deemed to be:
 Attendance - At least 93% attendance in Year 13.
 Punctuality - No more than five lates in Year 13.
 Behaviour - Not more than one suspension in Year 13
 * English Literature and Cambridge Technical Level 3 IT

11. Careers Education, Information, Advice
& Guidance

12. What will we do?
 CEIAG lessons.
 Personal Development
Week – end of June 2022.
 Work related learning
experiences – June 2022.
 University talks.
 UCAS and CAO
application support.

13. What can you do?
 Talk and discuss the future.
 Encourage your son to
develop his transferable
skills.
 Support him in his
research.
 Help him gain additional
work-related learning
opportunities.
Be open to his ideas and
aspirations.

14. Is Higher Education still worthwhile?
 Knowledge Economy requires high skilled
workers.
 50% of all new jobs require a degree.
 40% of jobs advertised ask for graduates of
any discipline.

15. Graduates earn £500,000 more than non-
graduates
Degrees still matter: graduates still enjoy more money and
more career opportunities, says a report
Engineers can earn an annual salary of around £45,000

16. Universities in Northern Ireland Universities in GB (Scotland,
England and Wales)
Republic of Ireland
(CAO)
Queen’s University Belfast.
Ulster University – Belfast,
Jordanstown, Coleraine and
Magee.
St Mary’s University College,
Belfast.
Stranmillis University College,
Belfast.
CAFRE.
Regional Colleges.
£4275 per annum
for tuition.
There are over 150
different Universities
offering a huge selection
of courses and unlike NI
universities, their places
aren’t capped. This
they can take more
students.
£9250 per annum
for tuition.
Seven Universities
and 14 Institutes of
Technology.
Including LYIT – a
very real and viable
option for some of
our students.
€3000 per
academic year.

17. ENTRY TO HIGH DEMAND COURSES MAY
INVOLVE:
* Excellent GCSE profile (nine subjects).
* Additional tests – BMAT, UCAT & LNAT,
HPAT, HPAT Ireland.
* A* grades or impressive module results at AS-level.
* Work Experience.
* Evidence of engagement outside A-level specification.

18. Alternatives to University
 Further Education.
 Apprenticeships.
 Employment.
 Training through employment.

19. Points to remember!
 Take an interest in their search for courses and Universities.
 Look at courses in detail.
 Research, research, research!
 Visit Open Days / Careers Fair with your son.
 Help make realistic and informed decisions.
 Have a plan A, a plan B and a Plan C at least!!
 Be open to their ideas and aspirations.
 Keep in touch! We have a Careers Team here:
 sbeatty789@stcolumbs.com
 @careersbeatty / CEIAG@StColumbs

20. Sixth Form Learning Agreement
 A contract between your son and the school.
 He undertakes to do his best and fulfil specific
responsibilities.
 It must be signed by every pupil.
 He will keep a copy and the school keeps a copy.
 An integral part of the EMA procedures.

21. Education Maintenance Allowance
(EMA)
 Available to pupils depending upon family income.
 To enable pupils to remain in secondary education.
 Based upon regular attendance at school.
 Pupils have no right to EMA payments unless they fulfil
their learning agreement.
 Fulfilling the learning agreement triggers a bonus payment
at stages throughout the year.

22. EMA
 EMA is paid fortnightly.
 The payment is triggered by your son’s attendance record at school.
 If he is absent for an AM or PM session then his payment will be
withheld.
 St. Columb’s does not hold back his payment, his attendance record
does.
 Designed to encourage regular attendance.
 Two days per term are allowed for absence.
 Any absence after two days will result in the loss of EMA payments for
one week.
 Your son must provide his tutor with a written explanation for his
absence – Absence note in Student Planner.
 It is his responsibility.

23. EMA Bonus
 There are four bonus payments during the
two years of Sixth Form
 These are £100 each time:
 Bonus 1 – Beginning of Term 2.
 Bonus 2 – End of Year 13.
 Bonus 3 – Beginning of Term 2 in Year 14.
 Bonus 4 – End of Year 14.

24. Concluding Remarks