Useful Information 1

Timeline for picking your post-16 course

This checklist will help you to plan and execute your course search. SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER DECEMBER Now is the time to start researching courses you Start preparing for your interviews (even if you are interested in. It is important to go to schools’ haven’t received your interview invite yet). and colleges’ Open Events; how else will you See page 8 for some useful tips. know if you’ll enjoy studying there? • Practice your route to your interview before your • Please turn over for tips on what to do before and actual interview date. This way you can work out during an Open Event. exactly how to get there and also how long the • It is important to attend a range of Open Events, journey is. even if you have a strong idea of where you want Note: You should have submitted all of your to go and which course(s) you want to do. applications by the end of term.

After an Open Event 1. Make a list of the pros and cons of being a JANUARY - MARCH student at that particular school or college; this Interviews give schools and colleges an opportunity will help you decide whether you want to apply. to find out more about you. Make sure you carefully 2. If you are interested, complete your application read what you should bring to your interview. ASAP and submit it. 3. Don’t forget to check in with your tutor or FEBRUARY Head of Year to find out who will be completing your reference. If you haven’t heard back from any schools or colleges you have applied to, make sure you contact them and find out what is happening OCTOBER with your application. Start making applications ASAP (it’s better to apply sooner rather than later). It is essential that MARCH & APRIL you apply to more than one school or college. You need to ensure you have options available once • At this point, you should have heard back with you get your GCSE results. Keep a record of which offers of a place and/or attended an interview. schools/colleges you have applied for and the date If you haven’t heard anything, follow this up. that you submitted your applications. • If you haven’t made (m)any applications, you can still submit them. Your application should Use your half term break to assess your situation be acknowledged by the school or college, but • How many applications have you sent? if you haven’t heard anything 1 week after your • How many of the schools or colleges you have submission, contact the school or college to applied to have acknowledged your application? confirm they have received your application. (Make a list of which schools or colleges haven’t and • You may not be asked for an interview. diary when you will contact them after half term). You will have to wait until results day and • If you haven’t sent any applications as yet, contact the school/college then. do this ASAP.

NOVEMBER Continue attending Open Events and submitting applications.

Take control! This is your future, so don’t wait for someone else to find things out for you. Good luck! Post-16 Prospectus 2019/20 | www.youngcroydon.org.uk 2 Open Event Calendar

Make sure you visit any schools or colleges you are interested in before you apply. Please attend with a parent, carer or responsible adult.

School/Organisation Date Time SEPTEMBER 2019 The Quest Academy Tuesday 24 September 2019 5pm - 8pm The BRIT School Thursday 26 September 2019 4.30pm - 8.30pm OCTOBER 2019 , College VI Thursday 3 October 2019 6pm - 8pm College Saturday 5 October 2019 10am - 3pm Coloma Convent Girls’ School Tuesday 8 October 2019 4:30pm - 7:30pm The Quest Academy Tuesday 8 October 2019 4pm - 7pm College Wednesday 9 October 2019 4pm - 6:30pm Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College Wednesday 9 October 2019 6pm - 8pm Thomas More Catholic High School Thursday 10 October 2019 6.30pm - 8pm Saturday 12 October 2019 10am - 3pm Coulsdon Sixth Form College Saturday 12 October 2019 10am - 1pm Harris City Academy Crystal Palace Tuesday 15 October 2019 5pm - 7:30pm St Joseph's College Tuesday 15 October 2019 6pm - 8pm Archbishop Tenision’s CE High School Wednesday 16 October 2019 6pm - 8pm Thursday 17 October 2019 5pm-7:30pm Thursday 17 October 2019 6:30pm - 8:30pm Thursday 31 October 2019 5:30pm - 7:30pm NOVEMBER 2019 Coulsdon Sixth Form College Thursday 7 November 2019 5:30pm - 8pm Saturday 9 November 2019 10am - 1pm Harris Invictus Academy Thursday 14 November 2019 5pm - 7:30pm Oasis Academy Shirley Park Thursday 14 November 2019 6pm - 8pm Tuesday 19 November 2019 5:30pm - 8pm Harris Academy Thursday 21 November 2019 5pm-7pm Harris Professional Skills Sixth Form Thursday 21 November 2019 5pm - 7:30pm DECEMBER 2019 John Ruskin College Thursday 5 December 2019 5:30pm - 8pm

Post-16 Prospectus 2019/20 | www.youngcroydon.org.uk 3 Open Event Calendar

Make sure you visit any schools or colleges you are interested in before you apply. Please attend with a parent, carer or other responsible adult.

School/Organisation Date Time FEBRUARY 2020 John Ruskin College Tuesday 25 February 2020 5:30pm – 8pm MARCH 2020 Coulsdon Sixth Form College Wednesday 4 March 2020 (Pathway event) 5:30pm - 7:30pm Coulsdon Sixth Form College Wednesday 11 March 2020 (Pathway event) 5:30pm - 7:30pm Coulsdon Sixth Form College Wednesday 18 March 2020 (Pathway event) 5:30pm - 7:30pm Croydon College Thursday 26 March 2020 4pm - 6:30pm Capel Manor College Saturday 28 March 2020 10am - 3pm JUNE 2020 Capel Manor College Saturday 13 June 2020 10am - 3pm John Ruskin College Tuesday 23 June 2020 5:30pm - 8pm JULY 2020 Croydon College Wednesday 1 July 2020 4pm - 6:30pm AUGUST 2020 Capel Manor College Friday 21 August 2020 10am - 3pm

Tips to get the most out of open events • Use this calendar and the dates for all the providers you want to see to plan your visits in advance. • Research the sixth form/college/training provider in advance and prepare a list of questions for course tutors/admissions/existing students who you can expect to meet on the day. • Ask about whether you will get to have a course taster. • Check if there is an interview for your chosen/courses. • Check if any subjects you are applying for have specific grade/entry requirements or whether there is a requirement across the board, e.g. 5 or more GCSEs at grades 9-5. • If you have any specific support requirements, ask if you can discuss these with someone. See pages 9 and 21-30 for guidance on this. • If you are not available at the advertised time of a particular open event, please still contact the organisation to check if they can offer you the chance to visit them on another date.

Post-16 Prospectus 2019/20 | www.youngcroydon.org.uk 4 Useful Websites

Useful Websites

The range of websites that can help you find out X www.icould.com more about your options is growing all the time. Ideas to get you thinking about your future Here are some to explore: career and how to get there. X www.youngcroydon.org.uk X www.croydon.gov.uk/16-19options X www.apprenticeships.org.uk The information, advice and guidance portals for The main site for finding out more about young people in Croydon. Includes a downloadable apprenticeships and how to apply. copy of the Croydon post-16 prospectus and interactive application form. X www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund Financial support for young people who need some X www.ucas.com/further-education help to stay in education or training after 16. Information about courses across the region. X www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk General information and advice about money X www.careersbox.co.uk matters. Watch video clips of young adults talking about their experience of work and apprenticeships. X www.themix.org.uk/work-and-study Covers a very wide range of careers in different Helping young people make informed decisions sectors of business and industry. about work, study or training.

X https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/ X www.do-it.org The government’s careers advice site offers Volunteering is a great way to gain a taste for dedicated advice to young people and access careers you may be interested in whilst making to support from a personal advisor. a difference in your community.

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