Sunday 24 January 2016

Increasing value of mock exams

Having just marked 3 classes worth from my Year 13s and with the year 12s Mock Week commencing Monday, it is worth brief consideration of what a practice exam's value is and how that might be changing.

Mocks are the place to garner exam technique, especially to resolve any timing issues. Teaching staff have little to no time to dedicate other lessons towards timed, in class, assessments because of the growing content expectations of the new A levels. Also they are an important check on understanding secured, especially links between subject topics that are, again, hard to consistently revisit given content pressures.

Additionally now the new linear A level structure places a much greater emphasis on long-term retention of understanding and knowledge. Teachers have always urged students to consolidate their learning by revisiting in their own time topics already covered in class, however a mock exam often provides the  urgency to deliver on this expectation. The same holds for the end of Year 12 exams, whatever their format. Should weaknesses and a lack of diligence in this area be exposed, then there really is still time to tackle the issues exposed and recommit to a continuous learning programme across the latter part of Year 12 and with the lessons learned in terms of preparation for the ever more crucial second summer of A level study.

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Sutton Trust Summer Schools

This educational charity has a great reputation for working to create greater social mobility via education. It has run a summer school programme for several years and is launching the 2016 one now. Places at courses at 11 "leading" universities available. Places are free but strict eligibility criteria apply:


  • Yr 12
  • 5A*/As at GCSE minimum
  • First generation in family to attend university
  • Eligible for Free School Meals or Pupil Premium or 16-19 Bursary Funds
  • In care or "looked after"
Information poster up but best to check with Office over criteria if not sure on eligibility.

Travel Scholarships

Relevant to Year 13s planning interesting educational activities abroad (including structured gap years with this element) where benefit to the community visited. Grants of up to £500 available (and have been secured by Beaumont students in the past).

See Sixth Form office for more details.

Oxford University Opportunities

For Year 12s there are 3 general Oxford University Study (taster) Days 15,16,17 March in a broad range of subjects. You must have a minimum of 5 A* at GCSE (7 for Medicine) to apply.

See http://www.pathways.ox.ac.uk/#y12study for more details and application. Deadline 31/1/16

Additionally St John's College, Oxford running Study Days across dates in late Feb and March for German, English and History prospective applicants. Deadlines late jan to early Feb. Details at:

www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/3958/Year-12-Study-Days.html

Also University College, Oxford have Study Days for Humanities, Mathematical and Physical Sciences across mid Feb to early March. First deadline here is this Friday (15th January). More at:

www.univ.ox.ac.uk/content/activities-and-events

Friday 1 January 2016

Unconditional Offer Considerations

The unconditional university entry offer prior to A level completion is a relatively new phenomenon, but students from Beaumont have received these over the previous 2 - 3 years and already some this year have. Historically, some have taken these offers up and some have not. There is no doubt a need for clarity of thought when making this decision.

To be clear these offers are attempts, by the universities which make them, to sway an applicant to choose them over the likely four similar ranked alternatives. These offers are nearly always made only on the condition that this degree course is put first choice and alternatives are all effectively therefore rejected.

For the student there are Pros and Cons of this new development in the university application saga. Put briefly the Pros are:

a) less stress which, depending on the individual, may be beneficial to well-being as well as allowing greater focus on the actual study of subjects rather than pure exam hurdle preparation.

b) the guarantee of a place, which prevents a need to take a year out or face the uncertainties involved in the Clearing process. This can also help in securing good quality student accommodation, which for some universities can be difficult.

The Cons are:

a) a risk that the motivation to gain the best possible A level grade combination is lost. Whilst in the short-term this will not matter, it may well, once the graduate job application process begins. There is no doubt that, due to university degree class inflation, recruiters are looking at A level grades as a significant discriminator. Beaumont certainly does when recruiting new graduate staff.

b) the potential loss of a better course option which has to be conceded once the unconditional offer is taken. Many universities are now taking students who achieve one and two grades below their offer, so even a slight disappointment in overall A level grade outcome is often not an eliminator from obtaining a place via a conditional offer.

Our advice is that unconditional offers should be treated with great caution and careful consideration. For some students, in some circumstances, they are definitely a welcome new option, but for others, they can be a temptation that can lead to long-lasting regret.

Aldi and Lidl offer market leading graduate salaries

Aldi offers £42000 starting salary rising to £70000 in 4 years plus benefits including Audi car. Lidl close behind. Average graduate starting salaries are in the £23- 26,000 range. Aldi currently have 400 graduate area managers and at Lidl 600 graduates are in management roles. The boss of Aldi UK started as a graduate trainee.

Amongst all the understandable concern about the costs and returns of going to university these examples should encourage university applicants in terms of the broad range of graduate job availability.