Progression Routes
As a Sixth Form student, there are several options available to you for when you eventually leave, generally after 2 or 3 years of study with us. This can be a scary and stressful time for students, but it is also extremely exciting, and there are many possibilities to consider. The links below are split up in order to cover the majority of these potential options; hopefully you will find them informative and helpful in supporting you towards your chosen pathway. We also host a ‘Futures Day’ each year at Place House, where representatives from universities, apprenticeships, gap year companies, etc. attend and run workshops for you in order to help you further in deciding where your future may lie.
UCAS
UCAS stands for the ‘Universities & Colleges Admissions Service’. If you are considering applying for a Higher Education Qualification, such as a degree, then you will utilise this via their website. The South Dartmoor 6th Form Application Pack is available via the link at the bottom of this page. Parents can collect a copy at the annual 'Parents Guide to Higher Education Evening' which is held every summer at Place House. The pack contains the majority of the information you need to be aware of in order to complete the application process successfully, such as important deadlines.
As a college we go above and beyond when it comes to the substantial support in place for you regarding this process, in order to give you the best possible chance of successful acceptance onto your chosen courses.
Student Finances
You may be able to borrow money to help pay for university or college tuition fees and to help with living costs.
You might get extra money on top of this, e.g. if you’re on a low income, are disabled or have children. Student Finance England is the government body responsible for providing advice, guidance and financial support to students. Please use the link below to access further information.
APPRENTICESHIPS
Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. As an apprentice you’ll:
- work alongside experienced staff
- gain job-specific skills
- earn a wage and get holiday pay
- study towards a related qualification which can lead to NVQ Level 4 and above, or a foundation degree
Information about current apprenticeship can be found outside the Careers Office on main site and on the Sixth Form careers board, opposite PH1 in Place House. Alternatively you could visit the following websites:
GAP YEAR
A gap year is a period, typically an academic year, taken by a student as a break between school and university. Students may opt to take a gap year for a variety of reasons, but it is vital that you use this time productively. For example, during this year you could:
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Work to earn money
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Carry out work experience to find out if specific career choices are for you, or to strengthen an application for a particular Higher Education course or job, e.g. in a hospital
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Travel aboard (Africa, Asia, Canada, etc.) – there are many organisations which will support you during your gap year to ensure you gain valuable new skills which will enhance your CV/personal statement.
Recommended organisations:
EMPLOYMENT
Once you have completed your studies at South Dartmoor Sixth Form, there are many employment opportunities available to you. First, you need to ensure you have an up to date Curriculum Vitae and Personal Statement. Examples can be found on the ‘M’ drive under ‘careers’. You can also use the template on your CSW Planner account. Furthermore, your personal tutor/careers staff can support you with this. There are many agencies that advertise job vacancies. Below are some useful websites that will help you to find local employment.
Resources, Further Information and Advice
Sixth Form and college staff are always on hand to support students with careers and progression advice. The Head of Careers is Miss Julie Randell and while she works with Mrs Bev Killingbeck in the careers office on main site, Julie is also an associate Sixth Form Tutor so is available to see students during registration periods. Further to this, we have a contract with Jackie Ellis, an independent careers advisor who is available for scheduled appointments. Bev Killingbeck is Senior Careers Administrator/Work Experience Co-ordinator. All Sixth Form students are expected to engage in work experience or similar activities that are valuable and support them towards achieving their career goals and aspirations. Bev helps students to identify, apply for and safely undertake work experience placements.
The careers department has a large collection of resources. There are also lots of resources available to students within Sixth Form specifically. The Sixth Form Centre is where students can locate the latest College and University prospectuses as well as a number of other relevant books and guides to career progression – a proportion of which have been kindly donated by the company ‘how2become’ - www.how2become.com
Each Sixth Form student is provided with an account and access to an online careers planner called ‘Careers Planner South West’. This can be accessed via http://careersplannersouthwest.com/
The Sixth Form General Moodle Page also provides an extensive range of resources to help students effectively research and plan for their futures.
UCAS KEY DATES 2021 - 2022
Please find links to resources and documents from our recent UCAS Parents evening:
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