Unsuccessful - what me? A summary of feedback on - UCAS

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6 ROUTES FOR SUCCESS ’09 from a delegate’s perspective Routes for Success ’09 was a UCAS residential conference for advisers held earlier this year. Steve Searle, a Head <strong>of</strong> Sixth Form, Newquay Tretherras, gives his account <strong>of</strong> how it went. As I got on the train in Cornwall at 5.40 am I was hoping that this conference was going to be worth the expense and ti<strong>me</strong>. I can honestly say it was one <strong>of</strong> the most informative and interesting <strong>me</strong>etings that I have been to. The information provided by the speakers was delivered clearly, with good PowerPoint presentations and handouts available at the start which helped with note taking. The good range <strong>of</strong> workshops allowed <strong>me</strong> to tailor the event to suit my needs and I have certainly used the notes I made to support my students as they begin the higher education application process. As a Head <strong>of</strong> Sixth Form I attended the admissions tests, personal state<strong>me</strong>nts, <strong>me</strong>dicine applications and law workshops. Whilst there were aspects <strong>of</strong> each that I knew quite well, it was pleasing to gain another viewpoint, along with helpful suggestions as to how to improve my advice and guidance. There was an ele<strong>me</strong>nt <strong>of</strong> reassurance that I am doing the best for my students, when the admissions tutors were stating <strong>what</strong> they wanted to see in applications. The real advantage <strong>of</strong> attending the conference was that we were provided with up- UCAS news to-date information on diplomas, progression into higher education and admissions procedures. I would have liked to have heard from the speakers how they felt the increased fees would affect students from areas such as Cornwall who might be considering applications to Oxbridge. Would they beco<strong>me</strong> a ‘finishing university’ for the privately educated student? My children always say that I talk about the hotel and food on my return. The Hotel Russell was a superb venue, the food and atmosphere really friendly and welcoming, as well as the rooms chosen to deliver the speeches. (It did get a bit warm in the afternoon in the main room though when all the delegates were present!) The whole event was hosted effectively by Mike Baker, the TV journalist specialising in education issues, and it was good to hear him press speakers to elaborate on their points <strong>of</strong> view. He ca<strong>me</strong> into his own in the quiz, where I was fortunate enough to sit with the winning team! I would recom<strong>me</strong>nd this conference to anyone who is involved in advising students in post-16 education. ■ New develop<strong>me</strong>nts were explained and discussed. ■ Ideas were put forward to help students and admissions tutors. ■ Speakers were more than happy to deal with questions from delegates. I doubt that my school can fund my attendance every year, but having discussed the conference with two local teachers who attended, we agreed that it was well worth the money spent for the advantages it would provide to our students and school. WHO WAS THE LUCKY ADVISER TRACK COMPETITION WINNER! As part <strong>of</strong> the launch <strong>of</strong> our new Adviser Track service, UCAS’ Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Develop<strong>me</strong>nt Team organised a prize draw to enable any UK registered centre that subscribed to Adviser Track by 31 July 2009, the chance to win a day’s free training. The draw was made on 5 August 2009 by Janet Graham, Director <strong>of</strong> Supporting Pr<strong>of</strong>essionalism in Admissions, and the winner was Stoke Da<strong>me</strong>rel Community College in Plymouth. The college won the chance to receive an Apply training session, Adviser Track demonstration and Reference Writing workshop for their staff, a Personal State<strong>me</strong>nt workshop for their students, and a speaker for a parents’ evening, all delivered for free, in the autumn term. The real advantage <strong>of</strong> attending the conference was that we were provided with up to date information on diplomas, progression into higher education and admissions procedures Don’t worry if you were not lucky enough to win the prize draw, the training and develop<strong>me</strong>nt opportunities delivered by UCAS Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Develop<strong>me</strong>nt team are available all year round to all UCAS registered centres. For more information on the services we provide to advisers, applicants and parents, please visit our pages on the UCAS website www.ucas.com/advisers/training/ I would recom<strong>me</strong>nd this conference to anyone who is involved in advising students in post-16 education APRIL – JUNE ADVISER TRACK WHAT IS IT? Applicants reply to any <strong>of</strong>fers received Extra closes at the end <strong>of</strong> June Replies made by applicant WHAT YOU NEED TO DO: Decisions displayed for Extra applicants Decisions and conditions for each applicant Extra opens in February JANUARY – APRIL JUNE – SEPTEMBER Exam results received Offers confir<strong>me</strong>d start <strong>of</strong> cycle List <strong>of</strong> applicants eligible for Extra List <strong>of</strong> applicants eligible for Clearing Final places displayed Incomplete applications displayed in Apply Universities and colleges make decisions Clearing starts Students start their applications Use this wheel to see a general outline <strong>of</strong> <strong>what</strong> is displayed (in red type) in Adviser Track throughout the year Processed applications in Adviser Track Check that your centre has subscribed – if not, email custo<strong>me</strong>rdatabase@ucas.ac.uk Advise your applicants to agree that you can view their completed application (this is part <strong>of</strong> the declaration in Apply or in the Personal details section in Track) Log in to Apply at www.ucas.com Click on Adviser Track on the left hand side – you can now view the statuses <strong>of</strong> your applicants applications Universities and colleges consider end <strong>of</strong> cycle References written and attached Adviser Track displays your applicants' progress after their applications have been sent to UCAS. SEPTEMBER – JANUARY Completed applications sent to UCAS
FROM CARE TO UNIVERSITY ... The Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark champions aspiration and opportunity for care leavers Georgina Brereton, Project and Policy Officer, explains how The transition from childhood to adulthood is a challenging ti<strong>me</strong> for any young person. For those who have spent ti<strong>me</strong> in public care this period involves a range <strong>of</strong> additional difficulties, not least that <strong>of</strong> getting to further or higher education in the first place. Research commissioned by the Trust evaluated the student experience <strong>of</strong> those who have moved from care into HE and demonstrated that those who have succeeded have done so against considerable odds.* The Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark for care leavers in higher education (HE) was created in 2006 to address the particular challenges which young people who have spent ti<strong>me</strong> in public care face in aspiring to, entering and progressing well through university. The Quality Mark represents a state<strong>me</strong>nt <strong>of</strong> commit<strong>me</strong>nt for HE providers to sign up to which requires them to <strong>me</strong>et certain criteria demonstrating their commit<strong>me</strong>nt to support this vulnerable group <strong>of</strong> students. The commit<strong>me</strong>nt seeks to: ■ facilitate an increase in the number <strong>of</strong> care leavers entering HE ■ help HE providers to identify how best to support care leavers ■ raise awareness <strong>of</strong> the needs <strong>of</strong> this group <strong>of</strong> students ■ enable care leavers to make the most <strong>of</strong> their ti<strong>me</strong> in HE and to complete their courses successfully ■ contribute to a national fra<strong>me</strong>work that assists local authorities to fulfil their obligations to care leavers. The four broad Quality Mark categories cover raising aspirations and achieve<strong>me</strong>nts, having appropriate admissions procedures, providing entry and ongoing support and monitoring the imple<strong>me</strong>ntation <strong>of</strong> the commit<strong>me</strong>nt. One <strong>of</strong> the universities that has been awarded the Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark is Kingston University. Jayne Clanfield, Education Liaison Manager, explains how they help students who have been in care. The introduction <strong>of</strong> the care question into the UCAS application has helped us at Kingston University identify care leavers prior to starting at the university. As part <strong>of</strong> our Care Leaver Sche<strong>me</strong> students can sign up to an enhanced package <strong>of</strong> advice and guidance. This includes a main point <strong>of</strong> contact, referral (at their request) to the Heads <strong>of</strong> Accommodation Services and Student Funding and a £1,000 per year non-<strong>me</strong>anstested bursary. Identifying these students as early as possible is a priority and using the data from UCAS has helped increase the number <strong>of</strong> care leavers the university is supporting. Approximately 350 applicants each year have ticked the care question box in the UCAS application. However when we contact them to clarify their status, only 10- 15% are currently under the care <strong>of</strong> their local authority. To date 57 HE providers have been awarded the Quality Mark. The Trust hopes that the remainder will work towards this over the coming months and years to help make the HE aspirations <strong>of</strong> young people leaving care achievable. For more information about The Frank Buttle Trust and the Quality Mark for care leavers, visit www.buttletrust.org. * Going to University from Care; Sonia Jackson, Sarah Ajayi and Margaret Quigley, 2005. The inclusion <strong>of</strong> the care question in UCAS application has not been without its challenges for us. So<strong>me</strong> care leavers choose not to self-declare and so we work closely with local authorities, external agencies and depart<strong>me</strong>nts in the university to refer students to us. However, the question has allowed us to identify students who we may not have otherwise known about as well as provide more opportunities to advise and support them at a much earlier stage. The number <strong>of</strong> known care leaver students at the university who started their first year in 2008 was 23, compared to 11 the year before (when the tick box was not in place) and I anticipate the number will increase again for this year’s intake. Identifying these students as early as possible is a priority and using the data from UCAS has helped increase the number <strong>of</strong> care leavers the university is supporting. UCAS news 7
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