Higher Education
Going to University ~ advice from UCAS
Everyone knows that UCAS is the organisation that manages applications to higher education. What is less well known is that they provide excellent online guides for the benefit of young people and their parents. Some of these guides even cover topics that are not...
Legal Services Apprenticeships and CILEx
A renewed interest in legal apprenticeships has seen in-house legal departments and law firms taking up Legal Services Apprenticeships (LSAs) which are overseen by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx). There are currently 360 LSAs working at 107...
Working with Children ~ the range of apprenticeships
It can be very confusing trying to understand the complicated jigsaw of different apprenticeships and qualifications available in the field of work with children and young people. This post aims to shed some light on the different options. Children and young people's...
Is it a good idea to get a degree?
Update (August 2016): A recent report by a think tank called the Intergenerational Foundation has looked in detail at the so-called graduate premium. This is the extra amount on average that graduates will earn over their working lives compared with those who do not...
Changes to A Level ~ UCAS Survey Findings
Big changes to A levels are on the way. This will mean that A levels in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be different in terms of their structure and assessment methods. In England, the A level will become a two-year ‘linear’ qualification with the AS...
How to write a good UCAS personal Statement
The Personal Statement section is the only part of the UCAS application form which gives you a chance to say something about yourself, and at the same time make a positive impression. It is vital to get it right and this guide explains how to put a good UCAS Personal...
Choosing GCSE subjects ~ the essential guide
In the world of education making the step up from Year 9 to Year 10 is referred to as one of the key transition points. A fancy term which just indicates that something important is happening; so everyone (especially parents and carers) should pay attention! Very few...
Changes to A Levels and AS Levels from 2015
The government and Ofqual have announced major changes to A levels and AS levels in England mostly beginning in September 2015. The key changes to A levels: Since 2014, there has no longer been a January assessment window. This change applies to current A levels as...
UCAS personal statement advice
A group of careers advisers and admissions tutors were asked for their key tips for writing the personal statement. This is what they said: “ urge BTEC students to be very specific about their non-core units and grades. Some universities will differentiate between...
How has the recession affected graduates and non-graduates?
Last Autumn the Economic Research Council analysed figures from the Office of National Statistics looking at the interaction between recent graduates and young non-graduates in the labour market. What does the chart show? The two lines show the unemployment rate (the...