Progression Pathways after Sixth Form

We want you to grasp the opportunity that London has to offer and beyond.

All Sixth Form students have one-to-one interviews to support them with their destinations. Personal Statement workshops begin in June of Year 12 and continue in to September with a more personalised approach with individuals/targeted groups.

All year 12 students attend the UCAS Exhibition in June and are supported in attending University Taster Days, Subject Specific Taster sessions and Summer Schools. In addition, University mentors are offered to students who wish to go to University. Students completing the BMAT or other entrance exams receive support in the form of one-to-one tuition.

Students work with a number of organisations such as Into University, Uni Dosh, Unifrog, Tower Hamlets Educational Business Partnership to support them with their University applications.

All students also have the opportunity to experience alternatives to University and we fully prepare students for the world of work by offering sessions with organisations such as Mindshare Academy (marketing), Chartered Institute of Accounting, The Brokerage, Uptree, Step Forward and the Urban Plan workshop.

In 2019/20 students have been involved with a number of programmes including Aim 2 Attain, the Social Mobility Foundation, Sutton Trust and the Good Jobs Campaign

Every student will have the opportunity to attend academic lectures throughout the year at top Universities including LSE, King’s College London, UCL and Imperial. This will be in addition to attending Summer Schools and Pathways to Professions programmes.

Our students go on to study at some of the best universities in the country. Our Sixth Form team give one-to-one support to help students make the best decisions when applying to higher education.

What do you need to do?

  • Choose which courses you want to apply to at which institutions
  • Complete your personal statement
  • Fill in the online ‘Apply’ form and send it off
  • Apply to local authority for financial support

Where can you get information and support?

  • Unifrog
  • CLC Building Futures (previously named Connexions)
  • Careers office in School
  • UCAS website
  • A variety of other web resources
  • Your tutor

How can I apply?

UCAS

Universities and Colleges Admission Service. www.ucas.com – this is the first place to search for the different types of courses available. You do not need a login or password to search for courses.

Course Choices

When you fill in your UCAS application form you will have five choices of course/university. Use the five choices wisely. By this point, you should know the specific area of which you wish to study. Therefore, your course selections should all be within a similar field of subject matter. Your respective selections should read similar to:

1. English – University of Bath

2. English & Theatre Studies – University of Exeter

3. English with Film – King’s College London

4. Creative Writing – University of Winchester

5. English & History – Royal Holloway

Rather than:

1. Chemistry – University of St Andrews

2. Law – Durham University

3. Fashion Design – Falmouth University

4. Nursing – University of Southampton

5. Drama – Queen Mary University of London

Course research must be carried out thoroughly. Course research is your responsibility as there are so many different courses to choose from.

Look carefully at the subject’s entry requirements. If your grade predictions are 3Cs, you should not go for courses that require 3As, or vice versa. Please see here for more information on the UCAS points system.

It is, however, common to pick at least one ‘insurance’ course/university, that has slightly lower entry requirements – just in case you don’t quite get your predicted grades. For example, if you are predicted CBB, your insurance choice should be asking for something similar to CCC.

The Personal Statement

The personal statement is the most important part of the application process for the student to complete as it’s an opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

Students will be given one-to-one interviews and support to help them start the process. They should have a first draft completed by the time they return in September.

What makes a good application?

Good results and predicted grades

  • Personal statement is well written – well structured, with correct grammar, etc.
  • Courses have been demonstrably well researched.
  • Work experience, hobbies, etc.
  • Wider reading, listening, interest in cinema, museums, art, etc. outside the specification

Application sent – what happens next?

Once we have sent off the application, students will receive either:

  • An unconditional offer
  • A conditional offer
  • Unsuccessful application

Accepting offers

  • Once all offers have been received you will then have to select one firm course and one as an insurance.
  • Insurance – A fall back option in the event that you don’t reach your predicted grades.
  • Clearing – If students do not make it into their first or second choice university, they will automatically go through to clearing. The Independent and other newspapers produce lists of courses that have not been filled. Visit the UCAS site for more information on clearing.

How can parents support their children?

  • Note the deadline and make sure they stick to it.
  • Help them research courses and institutions.
  • Discuss their choices with them and make sure they have thought them through and are choosing courses, institutions, etc. for the ‘right’ reasons.
  • Proof read their supporting statement.
  • Encourage them to have high but realistic expectations.
  • Make sure they keep working hard throughout the year – they will need to get the grades to get in.

We recognise that the decisions our young people make at Sixth Form play a crucial role in their futures. Therefore, we strive to provide access for all to the best support, guidance and advice possible. Through our extensive partnerships, we are able to provide guidance from some of the country’s top business-people, as well as a plethora of workshops, projects and taster sessions to develop skills for work that ensures that Mulberry Academy Shoreditch alumni stand out from the crowd.

Students will have the opportunity to develop job specific skills, build a career relevant network and secure valuable work experience throughout the academic year with a particular focus in the ‘What Sets Me Apart’ programme in June/July of Year 12 (compulsory for all students), which allows students to plan for their future. In addition to whole year programmes that run throughout the academic year, there are opportunities for individuals/groups of students that focus on their particular interests.

Support at the academy

We have visiting speakers on gap years, career opportunities and employers from January onwards. We also have workshops and visiting professionals who will help you to begin writing your personal statement statement.

We organise visits to universities to help you to begin researching courses and provide information about university summer schools and taster days.

We also conduct career interviews to help students ascertain where it is they see their future heading. On top of this, there are individual sessions with form tutors and the head of year.