Proud to be an FMAT Academy

Fairfax Sixth Form

Support for Year 12 students – Your Future

During Year 12 our Personal Learning and Development programme moves you towards our ‘futures’ zone and supports you with your decisions about life after Year 13.

Sixth Form Personal Learning and Development Programme 2023-2024

This page also has a selection of resources for you to use to support making those choices and with preparing for making applications for university, apprenticeships and employment.

You will also find more help and information on the main careers page 

If you require any careers advice, you can email Mrs Knowles on: FF-Careers@fairfax.fmat.co.uk to make an appointment. 

UCAS

Explore your options here

Confused about your options after school, college, or sixth form? Here’s all you need to know about the routes available to you, to help you decide what to do next. You could apply to university, go on a gap year, take on an apprenticeship, find an internship, or start your working career. Whichever option is right for you, this page will help you find the answers to all your questions about your next step in life.

https://www.ucas.com/what-are-my-options

https://www.ucas.com/what-are-my-options/create-your-ucas-hub-today

For support in researching your options, UCAS advisors have produced this free booklet:

UCAS Adviser-pack-1-researching-options

OpenLearn – Free courses from the OU

The Open University have made a number of short courses available, for free. These courses have been proven to increase confidence and develop the skills needed to enter Higher Education and succeed with learning. They are also courses that you can mention on your UCAS application.

You can choose an OpenLearn course from a wide range of subjects. Some are based on Open University course materials. Others are written specifically for OpenLearn. Check out the catalogue below and sign up today.

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses/full-catalogue

HE+ from Cambridge University

What is HE+?

Thinking about applying to University and looking for ways to explore your subject beyond the curriculum? Then this website is for you. Each topic is produced by Cambridge postgraduate students and academics at the cutting edge of research in their field. The topics provide guided activities, questions to think about and suggestions for further reading.

https://www.myheplus.com/

University of Northampton HE research and Interview Skills

Whether you have already made a start on researching Higher Education or if you are still deciding if university is right for you, we hope that our interactive videos and activities will give you a great insight into the university journey.

 

Step 1: Watch:  Intro to HE 2020 from University of Northampton

Step 2: Work through the booklet

Step 3: Do the Quiz 

For interview skills.

This session covers the different types of interviews, how to prepare, interview influencers, types of questions and how to prepare answers.

 

Step 1: Watch: Interviews Skills Session

Step 2:  Work through the booklet

Step 3:  Complete the activity

Interview Guidance Notes Example

Keep Talking to NTU!

From Nottingham Trent University:

With everything that’s going on in the world, we know that your students might not be getting the same opportunities to engage with us for advice and support.

They can still stay in touch with NTU, though. In these unprecedented times, we wanted to give them a direct line to the University – and that’s why we’ve set up live chats with our community of NTU reps. It’s a chance for your students to talk to our students (and staff), and find out about:

  • life and learning on campus
  • Nottingham’s highlights, from the people who know it best
  • course content, professional placements and work opportunities
  • fees and finance
  • our entry requirements, and how to apply to NTU

If you are planning on going to Nottingham Trent University and want to ask a question about any of the above, click on the link below.

Nottingham Trent Unibuddy sign up

Pathways to Birmingham A2B Scheme

FROM UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM:

Our Pathways to Birmingham programmes offer Year 12 and 13 students an insight into higher education and professional career routes, and support students throughout the university application process.

Students who successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme and apply to the University of Birmingham will receive special consideration from admissions tutors. If their application is successful, they will receive two offers from the University of Birmingham – the standard offer and a Pathways to Birmingham offer. The Pathways to Birmingham offer is typically two grades below the standard offer, as advertised in the prospectus. Students may also be eligible to receive the Pathways to Birmingham financial support.

 

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/teachers/year-12/pathways-to-birmingham/index.aspx

Amazing Apprenticeships

An interactive guide for year 12 and 13 students considering apprenticeships:

https://amazingapprenticeships.com/app/uploads/2020/03/Interactive-Student-Guide_2020.pdf

We are delighted to be in partnership with Unifrog and for our Year 12 students, this platform will be our main tool in preparing them for the next stages, whether it be to university, an apprenticeship or into employment. 

Unifrog is a one-stop-shop where students can easily explore their interests, then find and successfully apply for their next best step after school.

Unifrog will help you to explore your key interests and what career paths you can take to reach your goals!

All students have received their login information and are on their way! 

The support materials to use the platform can be found here.