BURSARIES...AN INTRODUCTION

With school fees galloping ahead of UK inflation, most parents are very interested in ways of reducing their fees drastically, as confirmed by the current Daily Telegraph article.

With ISC statistics stating that 41,000 children (8% of total children in ISC private schools) are receiving financial assistance to reduce fees, one could be forgiven for thinking that getting a bursary was a simple matter of turning up and asking for one, however the reality is quite different.

For several years there was a trend for more money to be allocated to bursaries (based on financial means) by moving funds away from scholarships (based on merit). However, we believe that trend has reversed with schools more likely to give a bursary if the child has first won a scholarship. Additionally it is an extremely complicated process to secure a bursary, usually involving an investigation of all income and assets of not just the parents, but also other family members (grandparents for example) to a level more detailed that annual income tax returns!

The relationships between school bursars and parents has become a little "adversarial" because there are far more requests than available funds. Thus many of the larger senior schools have subcontracted out the bursary process to independent accountants to take the sting out of possible arguments with parents if their request gets denied. It can be reasonably assumed that accountants will pay more attention to the numbers rather than the emotion behind a bursary request. For this reason we have put a detailed description of the process on our website. 

Education Advisers does not give bespoke advice on bursaries, although we can give advice on scholarships. Furthermore, we have just introduced a 2016 eGuide entitled "TOP 10 TIPS FOR REDUCING YOUR SCHOOL FEES", which is available free of charge to bespoke school choice advice clients.

MAKING A UCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT PERSONAL

For students applying to university through UCAS, arguably the most important part of their application is the Personal Statement. The opening sentences can make or break an application and have an Admissions Tutor either keen to read further or to deposit the application form on the reject pile. To keep him reading is to grab his attention straightaway and not use hackneyed or trite phrases such as “…I have always been passionate about…”, or ….what really fascinates me about this course is…”

You are about to make one of the biggest decisions of your life: so it is important that you give solid reasons why you want to study a subject and that your A Levels are entirely suitable for your choice of degree. You should state that your academic track record and extra-curricular activities relate to the subject you are opting to study at undergraduate level, as this all helps a university to understand why you are a suitable candidate for the course. Admissions Tutors are very keen to know that you have the experience, skills and personality that would enable you to succeed on a three or four year course.

One golden rule to be followed is never, ever, stretch the truth about your voluntary work as it will inevitably come back on you. Think really carefully about how you are going to structure your Personal Statement so that it reads well, is truthful and is about you. This might take several drafts, but it is time well spent. Never forget that your application may be the only thing that an Admissions Tutor will base his decision on. Don’t try to be clever, but rather write a Personal Statement that is to the point, clear and that demonstrates what you can offer a university.

Never be tempted to plagiarise other student’s personal statements or purchase a ready-made one online, and if you require advice and help with any aspect of your University or Higher Education applications do contact Education Advisers Limited, who have an experienced and professional team of consultants. 

INDEPENDENT SIXTH FORM COLLEGES - WHAT IS THE BENEFIT?

There is no denying that the sixth form years from age 16-18 are particularly important. For most it is the pivotal final step before university so it is essential that students find the environment that will enable them to succeed.

For many young people, whether coming from the state or private sectors, or indeed from schools overseas, a private Sixth Form College can be a perfect solution.

What are independent sixth form colleges like?

Independent Sixth Form Colleges have a number of common characteristics. It is true that they are less formal than a traditional school but academically they are just as rigorous and there is special attention paid to study skills, which covers such topics as examination technique, essay-writing and note-taking - everything in fact that is needed to ensure that students are fully prepared for the demands of the examination system.

There is a wide range of subjects available and as timetable constraints are not as rigid as in a school catering for a much greater age range, subjects can usually be combined to suit the individual student's needs and requests.

Do the colleges provide accommodation?

Socially these colleges have a mixture of day and residential students and they can vary in size from about 50 to 400 students. Class sizes are small, enabling students to receive plenty of personal attention and most colleges have good library facilities and also well-equipped science laboratories.

Is a sixth form college the right environment for my child?

It is always important to consider the type of environment that a student is likely to thrive in. Some will relish the demands of a highly academic school, but others are likely to do better with more support and less pressure. A lot of colleges are not selective in their intake, and this is one of their greatest strengths. These college will more than often improve the grades of students by two levels. As well as  the focus on study skills almost all colleges will have dedicated counsellors and higher education mentors, who are invaluable when it comes to gaining entry to universities across the globe.

How can I choose the right independent sixth form college?

As independent and impartial education consultants with years of experience, we are here to help students and families make the best decision when it comes to choosing from the variety of independent sixth form colleges. We work on an impartial basis with all the private colleges in the UK and base our recommendations solely on the requirements of our clients and the ability and subject preferences of the student.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL APPLICATIONS – WHY PAY MORE?

With families hedging their bets by sacrificing multiple registration fees and putting children through numerous entrance exams to secure places at the most popular independent schools, it is our role as Education Consultants to advise on more cost effective ways!

With the ever increasing popularity of independent schools and the competition for places at an all-time high, parents understandably want to ensure they secure one of the sought after places for their child. This is causing parents to 'spread their bets' and according to a recent report in the Times Education Supplement, some families are applying to 'up to nine schools', three times more schools than they were in 2010. The worst area for this is inevitably Greater London

Registration fees are standard practice for applying to any independent school. The fee is normally non-refundable and something that the school requires in order to process an application and mark exam papers, in fact without this payment the registration will be null and void.

With this influx of applications to multiple schools, the schools themselves are undoubtedly finding it increasingly more difficult to manage offers to prospective students. With the more affluent families also in a more commanding position to accept one out of multiple offers, schools can find themselves either over or under-subscribed.

As independent and impartial education consultants with years of experience, we are here to help families make the best decision on both an academic and economic front:

• We recommend the best fit of school for each child
• We have every UK independent school on our database and choose a smaller selection of the right profile instead of a scattergun approach.
• We look at the schools' vacancy situation and entry threshold rates.
• We can assess the child's current ability and therefore likelihood of passing the entry exams.
• If a child has particular gaps in their ability, we can recommend tuition to bring them up to speed before the admissions tests.
• We have a unique eGuide on How to save money on school fees distributed to our bespoke advice clients

We are then in a position to find the best-fitting school for each individual family and proceed with applications in the most financially viable manner.

WHY ARE PRIVATELY EDUCATED STUDENTS SO EMPLOYABLE?

Academic Achievement

There is much talk in the press about the disproportionate number of privately educated children in the professions, so what is it that makes these young people so employable? Solid academic qualifications are clearly one factor. Many parents investing in private education for their children are looking for a ‘top’ school and start by targeting schools at the top of the league tables. Pupils in the UK’s top private schools achieve spectacular results, but of course this is never the whole story. High A-Level grades are key to winning a place at a top university but an independent school education equips students with far more than this, and it is that “extra something” that is so valued by employers.

“Soft Skills”

Private schools, and especially boarding schools, are an ideal environment for young people to develop the “soft skills” which will enable them to access those sought-after positions in later life; the ability to get on with people of all ages, a broad general knowledge that makes them good and confident conversationalists, excellent teamwork skills, and most importantly a sense of self-belief and purpose as they step out into the world.

Teamwork and Personal Development

Pupils at the UK’s private schools benefit from small class sizes and extended school days where most of their waking hours are spent in the company of adults whose sole purpose is to advance the development of the children in their care. This may be through supervised clubs and activities, extra learning support or simply time spent together outside the classroom. With a vast range of extra-curricular options children also benefit from the chance to develop skills in a multitude of sports and creative areas, fostering discipline, commitment and a sense of personal achievement. Teamwork skills are honed on the sports pitches and in the staging of performances and productions which are part of the fabric of private school life.

The Art of Conversation

Boys at Winchester College have regular, timetabled “Div” lessons in subjects of general academic and cultural interest, not so that they can gain an additional qualification, but to ensure they become genuinely well-educated young men, confident to converse on a range of issues with anyone they meet.

Confidence and Networking

Couple this excellent, all-round education with the opportunity to form close friendships with children of the global elite and it is easy to see why parents consider their £30,000 + per year a great investment. The cultivation of academic excellence, combined with outstanding social skills and an abundance of self-confidence can’t be measured in a league table.  It is ultimately statistics showing the high representation of privately educated pupils in top jobs that demonstrates the real value of these exceptional schools.

NOW IS THE SEASON TO.......MAKE YOUR UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS!

At this time of year, as people are pre-occupied with Bonfire Night and the onset of Christmas shopping, sixth form students are busy applying to universities for their degree courses. Going to university in the UK, unlike many other countries, is not just a matter of saying where you would like to go and filling in a form. UK universities are competitive for entry and it is important to ensure that you do your homework carefully, that you meet the application deadlines, be aware that the online application form is fully completed and the Personal Statement is carefully written. 

Getting the application right is crucial and although it might seem that it is all something of a minefield, do not give up. The process is quite logical and if you listen to the advice offered by others, do your own research and are realistic about your choices and work hard to achieve your offers, you have every chance of getting a place at university.

Basically all year 13 students have to think about three questions...

1.     What degree course do I want to apply for?

Bear in mind that you are not limited to your current subjects. There are plenty of courses that you may have never thought about as well and it is also possible to combine subjects. If you are thinking about a course that is completely new to you should try and gain experience before you apply, either by attending a ‘taster’ course or gaining some work experience in a vocational, e.g. Law or Architecture.

2.     Where do I want to study?

Once you have decided what it is you want to study the next job is to decide which the best course is for you. You can get a lot of help by going to the UCAS web site www.ucas.com/coursesearch. You then need to go to the web sites of the universities you would like to apply to. Courses do vary and you might find Psychology at Manchester is very different from University College, London. Get a copy of the ‘Sunday Times Good University Guide’ and find out about accommodation, teaching quality and a great deal more.

3.     Do I have the right academic background?

Once you got your wish list together you now need to be very realistic is assessing you chances of getting an offer. All degree courses state their entry requirements, e.g. 37 IB points, or A Level grades A*AB. Find out what your school is going to predict for you in its reference and if the school cannot predict the grades you need do not apply to for that degree course. You should also check to see if your GCSE grades match those required for your chosen university degree course and you would be wise to make sure that you have a range of applications for your five choices, with a ‘safety net’ should things go wrong on exam day.

Once you have completed your UCAS application it is sent to your chosen universities and do not forget that if they make you an offer this is conditional. In other words you need to achieve the grades they require to gain admission.

Good luck!

A- LEVEL REFORMS

The reforms initiated by the Conservative government started in September 2015. In simple terms A-Levels are moving from a modular to a linear structure. In the modular A-Levels, half an A-Level (an AS Level) was usually taken after one year and the marks were ‘banked’ in order to contribute to the final A-Level grade awarded. This left the remaining A-Level modules to be sat in the following year. A student could re-sit any of their AS modules in the second year to improve their overall score and grade. The current government has decided to make the system more rigorous and now all of the assessment for linear A-Levels will take place at the end of two years of study.

Confusingly, AS qualifications will still exist in the linear structure (as terminal not interim qualifications) for students who wish to stop studying a subject after one year; (all students are entitled to sit AS qualifications but the scores achieved will not contribute to the overall A-Level result if they continue to study the subject in their second year).

In order to make these changes manageable for schools and exam boards, the government is introducing the linear A-Levels in a phased programme according to the timetable below:

September 2015

Art, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, English Literature, History, Photography, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Textiles.

September 2016

Dance, Drama and Theatre Studies, French, Geography, Spanish.

September 2017

Accounting, Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music Technology.

As you can see from September 2015 some students will be taking a programme of linear subjects, others will be taking a programme consisting of modular subjects and others will have a mixed programme of some linear and some modular subjects. Delightfully clear, is’nt it?