The Flagpole

Thank you to all those who attended the workshop last Thursday.  The presentations from the evening can be accessed by clicking the links below:

• General information including UCAS timeline - Ben Collie and Jacqui Quinney
• Unifrog parents' guide - Jacqui Quinney
• Student finance - Rebecca Ayres, Warwick University
• Degree apprenticeships - Harri Tatnell, Aston University
• UCAS application process

Students should now be busy using Unifrog to search university courses and also apprenticeship opportunities to make sure they are making informed decisions. University open days start very soon and we highly recommend that students visit a university before making an application. Time off school will be granted for these – please just email Mr Collie for permission.

If you have any queries regarding university applications, Unifrog or careers in general please email me.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

It is time for students to think about applying for 2018/19 student finance.

Students starting a full-time course at university or college in 2018/19 can apply now for their finance online at the Student Finance England website by following the steps below: 

• Set up a student finance online account.
• Log in and complete the online application.
• Include details of your household income and get your parents to support your application, if needed.
• Send in proof of identity, if needed.
• Sign and return the loan declaration, which you should receive within 6 weeks.

You should apply as soon as you have decided on your firm and insurance courses to make sure your money is in place at the start of your course. It's quick and easy and you don't have to have a confirmed place - you should use your first choice for the application and change it online at a later date if you need to. Do not wait for your exam results before you apply - it will be too late!

Click here to be taken to the Student Finance England website to start your application.

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers, UCAS Co-ordinator 

The careers team are keen to involve parents as much as possible in assisting with the decisions your children will be making when choosing a career and their next step. As such, I will be passing on information that might be useful to you.

Please see the articles below for information regarding the following:

• University of London Taster Courses
• National Healthcare Careers Weekend
• UCAS Blog - the benefits of going to an open day (or two, or three...)
• Opportunity for a student wanting to forge a career in finance

Exciting job opportunity for a school leaver with a local property firm: 

• Are you in Upper Sixth and looking to go straight into work?
• Are you interested in the property and estate agency business? 

If this sounds like you and you have a methodical approach to problems, are good at talking to people and are keen to learn then this might be the chance you've been waiting for. 

Please email or come and see me in G10a for more information. 

Jacqui Quinney
Head of Careers and UCAS Co-ordinator

There are places available on many of the University of London's taster courses in a variety of subjects taking place at numerous universities in and around London.

All of their taster courses are free to attend and aimed at current Sixth Form students. You can search and apply to the taster courses on the University Taster Course Programme website.

Alternatively, to see a list of their taster courses for this May and June, please click here.

The National Healthcare Weekend on 14 and 15 July 2018 is taking place in London, at the University of East London, Stratford.

Over two hundred healthcare professionals form across the UK will be volunteering to present and network with students who are interested in:

• Medicine
• Veterinary Medicine
• Dentistry

These conferences provide a valuable opportunity for pupils to network with a variety of healthcare professions, learn about work experience opportunities and how to make a successful application.

Registration is £25 for pupils on the Saturday conferences and there is an optional UCAS lecture available on Sunday for each specialty.  Please note that these events are likely to fill up quickly.

Pupils can register on the Medic Mentor website and find out more about events here.

All proceeds from the weekend will be used to support UK's healthcare students with scholarships, elective bursaries, free training and educational initiatives.

Please click here to read this UCAS blog about going to University Open Days.

CWR are supporting a local Northamptonshire Financial Services firm in recruiting two new trainees for their team.  There are two traineeships available, full details are below:

Trainee Financial Advisor - Competitive Salary and excellent bonus package

Do you have an interest in Maths? Are you thinking about a career in Finance? This trainee role is a  fantastic opportunity to kick start your career in financial services and would be ideal for a school leaver looking for their first role.

What does being a Trainee Financial Advisor involve?

A Financial Advisor helps people make the best decisions with their money. You get to know your client to understand their aims and objectives and what money they need to achieve this so you can advise on financial products and services to help them reach their financial goals. Clients could be individuals needing an income in retirement or individuals needing investment advice. They could be a business needing help with a  company pension scheme or a Directors pension. No two days are ever the same!

As a Trainee for this established firm you will be supported through your qualifications, with the aim that over a two year period, you could become a qualified advisor. The training programme will entail:

• Being part of the in-house Training Academy programme
• Sitting three external exams, the cost of which is reimbursed by the firm and bonuses are paid on successful completion of each exam
• Assisting the qualified Financial Advisers and Client Support team
• Working as part of a small busy team
• Meeting and greeting clients
• Assisting with all day to day office administration

To be considered for this programme you must have:

• An interest in financial services
• Strong numeracy skills - a head for maths
• A-Level Maths & English (preferred)
• Excellent grammar
• A thirst for knowledge
• Self-motivation and discipline around study
• A good sense of fun
• Flexibility to help in all day to day office administration

If you want to work for a firm that rewards hard work and that is also a great place to work, then this is the role for you! In return for your diligence, you will be rewarded with:

• A competitive salary
• Bonuses for each successful exam passed
• Twenty days holiday plus eight days bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme
• Scenic working environment with free parking

For further details please email CWR.

Can I  ask parents of Year 11 pupils, who have not already done so, to please let me know where their son/daughter is going for their work experience placement. Please provide the company name and contact details, for the placement(s) you have arranged either by return of the slip attached to the letter sent to you in June, or by email to me miketaylor@princethorpe.co.uk. 

Mike Taylor
Work Experience Co-ordinator