Higher Education and UCAS – Sweyne Park School

Support Available

All students at Sweyne Park Sixth Form are encouraged to consider the wide range of post-18 pathways available to them.

We offer bespoke support to students when applying for lucrative degree apprenticeships and higher education and university places including Oxbridge and Russell Group universities.

We recognise that students have individual ambitions and work with them, to explore all available options and to ensure they secure the aspirational destinations they choose.

Aspirations Week

In February students sign up to the Unifrog platform where they can explore universities, courses, subjects and careers.

They attend sessions with our alumni on what to expect from university and from apprenticeships and hear from representatives from local and national businesses and representatives from universities.

Post-18 Pathway Information Evening

A Post-18 Pathway Information Evening is held in May of Year 12 for students and parents.

Providing an overview of the higher education sector, the university application process via UCAS, student finance and apprenticeship and school leaver opportunities.

Pathway Mentor

All students are allocated a pathway mentor who will conduct one or more interviews with each student to support and advise them throughout their application, helping them craft their personal statement or job applications and who will also write their final references. In most cases this will be either the student’s personal tutor, the Head of Year or the Head of Sixth Form.

UCAS Workshops

In the second half of the summer term, all students sign up to UCAS and have workshop support on completing the application process. In July, students have a 2 hour Personal Statement workshop, which builds upon the preparation in tutor time to ensure every student completes year 12 with a draft personal statement ready for the applications which start in September.

UCAS Fair

In June all students will visit Essex University for a UCAS Fair. Here they have the opportunity to experience what life would be like on a campus university and meet with the marketing teams from over 120 universities. There are also mini lectures on important aspects of university life and courses and there is an Apprenticeship Hub providing useful advice on securing apprenticeships.

Ongoing Professional Pathway Support:

Professional pathway sessions throughout year 12 support students to complete high quality CVs, learn where to look and how to apply for lucrative degree apprenticeships and higher apprenticeships and provide preparation for interviews. An Employability Day is held in July which offers all students the opportunity to practise Assessment Centre tasks, engage in interviews with business representatives and prepare for apprenticeship, employment or internship applications.

Blue Acorns and Early Applicant Group support

Dr Clements provides outstanding support for students applying for Russell Group or Oxbridge universities and potential medics, veterinarians, optometrist and dentistry applicants from early in year 12. She ensures students have engaged in the additional activities necessary to secure these aspirational destinations.

If parents have any queries about the above provision, they are encouraged to contact Jenny Clements, the school’s UCAS Co-ordinator, at JClements@sweynepark.com, or Helen Banks, Head of Sixth Form, at HBanks@sweynepark.com.