After sixth form/careers
At Ormiston Sudbury Academy all sixth form students are expected to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to enhance their CV and employability skills. These include lower school mentoring, paired reading, lower academy lesson support, volunteering, work experience and job shadowing.
Please see below the timeline that students follow to ensure they have a good understanding of their chosen career path. The programme supports students in gaining as much experience as possible as well as giving them advice on possible future careers.
Timeline |
|
Year 12 |
|
September – October |
Enrichment, volunteering opportunities timetabled |
September – December |
Careers planner (online careers guidance) used and weekly tutor time tasks to complete careers booklet and CV. |
December – January |
Tutor careers interview |
|
Guest speaker 1 – Aspirations and careers advice. |
January – March |
Careers interview with the Academy Careers advisor |
January – March |
Work experience preparation – student led |
January – April |
Assemblies – University, Finance, Apprenticeships, Jobs |
26th March 2018 |
Work experience week |
June |
UCAS Fayre. Introduction to UCAS |
|
Guest speaker 2 – University of Suffolk. Why go to university? |
July |
Personal Statement 1st draft and Open days attended |
Year 13 |
|
September |
Personal statement and UCAS complete |
|
Guest speaker 3 – ‘Real life jobs’ |
September – November |
University open days attended |
October |
UCAS personal statements and tutor references written |
November |
Apprenticeship workshop |
January |
UCAS application deadline |
February – April |
University offers accepted (firm/insurance) |
February – April |
Apprenticeships/jobs applied for |
Applying to university – UCAS
All students at Ormiston Sudbury Academy are expected to apply for a place in Higher Education; an undergraduate programme of study at university or a conservatoire in music, dance or drama for example. Advice on all matters relating to higher education is available from the Head of Sixth Form as well as from form tutors. A full range of university prospectuses will be available in the Learning Resource Centre and all information is also readily available through university websites and the UCAS website. On returning after the summer exams all Year 12 students will attend a University Fayre and be guided through the UCAS process. During the summer term of Year 12, careful thought needs to be given and preliminary research carried out into possible courses and university next step entrance requirements.
Please click here for the UCAS website and information about the application process.
Apprenticeships
It is essential that all young people are offered the right guidance for their choice of future career. There are many apprenticeship opportunities available. Please speak to Mr Stokes and view the websites below:
More useful websites
University
-
- UCAS – All about university courses and how to apply.
- QCA – All about qualifications.
- University Guide Online – Find the perfect university courses, in the UK or abroad. Enter your predicted grades, where geographically you would like to study and the courses that you are most interested in. Compare a wide range of aspects about university life including student satisfaction, rankings and graduate employment.
- opendays.com – university and college open day directory
- Push – Independent guide to UK universities, student life, gap years and “everything studentish”.
- Unistats – Compare official course information and data from UK universities and colleges.
- gov.uk – Funding and financial information for students.
- Student Loans Company
- National Union of Students (NUS)
Handling the ‘finance’ element

Gap year
- BUNAC – Work, intern or volunteer abroad.
- EDT – A year in industry, taster experiences.
- gapyear.com – Ideas for your year out. Plan, book and share your experience.
Other options
- National Careers Service – Information and guidance on learning, training and wrok.
- Plotr – Career inspiration and preparation.
- The Source – Career advice and apprenticeship opportunities for young people in Suffolk.
- gov.uk – Find an apprenticeship.
Recruitment agencies and job websites
Volunteer opportunities