Applying to University and Apprenticeships

Beyond the Classroom

Sixth Form

St. Crispin’s uses the online directory tool Unifrog.

It can be used by students to search a variety of University courses and Apprenticeship Programmes. Students are provided access to this directory to search for courses or institutions of interest. They are able to filter results by a multitude of parameters, including distance, student satisfaction and average graduate starting salary.

Applying to University

Studying at University

The vast majority of St. Crispin’s Sixth Formers progress to university and we encourage all interested students to aim for the best institutions in the country. We help students to build a profile which supports these high aspirations by inviting in guest speakers, taking advantage of our partnership with Wellington College and other similarly high achieving schools and encouraging and helping you to visit the universities themselves.

Our aim is to give you as much information and experience as you need, including financial planning advice covering the student loans system and those interested in studying abroad can access the half-termly information sessions held at Wellington College.

We have a strong tradition of students going to Russell Group universities and have particular links with Bristol, Birmingham, Bath and Southampton. Over the years we have built strong relationships with the universities, who very much enjoy working with us to help you.

This year we were visited by admissions specialists from Oxford, Cambridge, Surrey and Loughborough Universities, who helped students understand the universities’ perspective. We are also able to use the help of successful past students who are happy to come back to provide support with applications and work shadowing opportunities.

Oxbridge and the Russell Group Universities

Students considering a course at Oxford or Cambridge, or another Russell Group university, should look closely at the ‘facilitating subjects’ and entry requirements when choosing their courses in the Sixth Form. These students may also look to follow our more academic routes, Route A provides the opportunity to undertake four A Level courses and is suitable for students set to achieve GCSE results ranging between A* and B.

The Aim Higher Club provides students with a platform to discuss and share enthusiasm for their subjects and to develop further ‘super-curricular’ achievements, as sought by the top universities. We also arrange visits to Oxford and Cambridge for those interested in these Universities.

Apprenticeships

With former students training with companies such as Fujitsu, Waitrose and the Fashion Retail Academy, St. Crispin’s Sixth Formers are making a positive impact in high-quality apprenticeships covering a breadth of industries.

Examples include previous Head Girl, Amy Shute, who took on a Head Office Business Admin Apprenticeship with British Airways. Amy comes into school to support current students aiming to follow in her footsteps. Following an impressive application and performance at interview, James Richards secured a four-year engineering apprenticeship with Reaction Engines.

Students such as Sean Phelps, now a Product Marketing Manager with Microsoft and studying for a degree alongside his apprenticeship, continue to regularly return to school to share their stories with current Sixth Formers.

Guidance is provided to students wishing to pursue an apprenticeship via:

• Visits from employers and student alumini currently on apprenticeships
• Workshops focusing on: how to search and apply for apprenticeships; how to make successful applications; and strategies to employ in interviews.
• Training to use the Unifrog application to search for suitable apprenticeships.
• A yearly Futures Fair for our Year 12 Students allowing them to talk directly to a range of employers about the career options available to them.

Studying Abroad

For students wishing to study abroad after Sixth Form, the website Studee has some useful hints and tips.