Careers

EEG Student Finance Event for Parents 2023

On 30 March 2023 the Eastern Education Group (made up of West Suffolk College, Abbeygate Sixth Form College and One Sixth Form College) hosted an evening for parents/guardians aimed around Student Finance for University.

A recording of this live event can be found below:

Next Step Progression Evening 2022

On Tuesday 18 October, we held an online Next Steps Progression Event covering Higher Education, Student Finance, Gap Years, Apprenticeships and Employments

Please find below links to the Powerpoints shared on the evening and a video of the event:

Preparing for University PowerpointStudent Finance PowerpointGap Year PowerpointApprenticeship PowerpointTaking Opportunities for Employment Powerpoint

We would love to get your feedback on the event, please click on the button below and let us know your thoughts

Feedback form

Virtual Personal Statement Evening - Tuesday 4 October 2022 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm

Calling all final year students from West Suffolk College, Abbeygate Sixth Form College and One Sixth Form College!

Join us for this 1 hour online talk on Tuesday 4 October from 6.30pm to 7.30pmand learn what it takes to write a killer personal statement for a UCAS application. We will be joined by personal statement expert Jane Marshall to help guide you through the process of personal statement writing, what to include (and what not to include!) and you can use the opportunity to ask Jane any questions you might have.

Parents/Carers of students are also more than welcome to join this online event in order to provide support for their young people.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Register here

Developing Employability Skills for the Future *September 2022 Event*

On 22 September 2022 we hosted our Developing Employability Skills for the Future Event here at One Sixth Form.

The event was recorded, so please click on the link below to this recording.  You can also find links to the Powerpoint used on the evening and the feedback form if you would like to leave us any feedback regarding the event.


Developing-Employability-Skills-for-the-Future-2022 Powerpoint Presentation


Event Feedback Form 

 

Apprenticeships (including Degree Apprenticeships)

An Apprenticeship is a fast track was of getting on in your career. You will have a paid job while working towards a qualification in your industry area.

Five reasons to consider an Apprenticeship

You earn a wage from the start

Apprentices earn a real salary and training fees are supported by the Government and your employer.

Training is tailor made to suit your role and direction

The choice of Apprenticeships are huge. You can develop a pathway that matches your careers ambitions and suits the needs of your employer

Gain essential workplace experience

An Apprenticeship will put you a step ahead of other job hunters as you will have both the qualifications and the experience allowing you to progress your careers faster

Take giant steps up the career ladder

While on an Apprenticeship you will gain the skills, experience and contacts needed to reach your goal faster

Improve your prospects

Employers say that qualified Apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications

Where to search for an Apprenticeship

Apply for local Apprenticeship vacancies

University

Students intending to apply to university receive full support throughout the cycle to ensure a successful application. This includes: 

  • University open day trips and summer schools 

  • Personal statement writing support 

  • Admission test support 

  • Mock interviews 

  • Bespoke Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and conservatoire application support. 

  • Student Finance England (SFE) application support. 

Current students should contact their PPT in the first instance for information regarding their UCAS entry. 

Alumni students should initially contact careers@suffolkone.ac.uk to arrange for support with their application. 

Have a look at the UCAS walkthrough guide here. 

UCAS Widget

What is it?

The UCAS widget has been designed to be hosted on school and college’s website to link students and their parents to important information about higher education and the UCAS application process.

Through simple and intuitive navigation, it’s easy for users to increase their knowledge of the information and advice UCAS has to offer. The content will be reviewed regularly by UCAS so it remains up-to-date and relevant.

Why should I use it?

Parents and carers with little or no prior knowledge of higher education can find it hard to understand how best to support their child throughout the process. By using this widget students and their parents can access the information they need, when they need it.

Career and Progression Newsletters

Our One Sixth Form:  What’s On Wednesdays newsletter covers all progression routes and careers information around Apprenticeships, Work Experience, Job vacancies, University, Understanding the Job Market, and other progression/ career events at One.

If you are aspiring to gain entry to one of the top Universities in the country and/or considering studying locally with University Studies at West Suffolk College, the Aim Higher at One Sixth Form newsletter has loads of advice on Open Days, Events and support at One, application and deadlines and resources that might help you and more. 

Please click on the links below to access up to date information and remember to check back every Wednesday

One Sixth Form:  Aim Higher

One Sixth Form:  What's on Wednesday

Aim Higher Programme

The Aim Higher Programme (AHP) at Suffolk One is designed to ensure our students are supported and prepared for making an application to highly competitive Universities, with a particular focus on Early Entry courses including Oxbridge, Medicine, Vet Med and Dentistry. These courses include a multi-factorial admissions process that is renowned for it’s competitiveness and have an earlier deadline that students need to meet.

The AHP aims to demystify the various aspects of the Early Entry application process, and give students the tools to not only feel confident in their understanding and preparedness of the stages they will go through, but also how to make their application as strong as possible.

High achieving students will be invited to join the Aim Higher Programme, where they will be offered the opportunity to attend lunchtime workshops and presentations, hear from guest speakers, sign up to relevant email mailing lists created by our Aim Higher Manager, and be offered one to one support and guidance throughout the process.

Example topics covered within the Aim Higher Programme include;

  • Understanding the application process for Oxbridge, Medicine, Vet Med and Dentistry courses
  • Choosing the right course, and right university, for you
  • The importance of super curricular and work experience
  • The importance of your “5th choice”
  • Writing a competitive personal statement
  • Preparing for Interviews
  • Preparing for Admissions tests

We also have an Aim Higher Newsletter which signposts our students to external events, activities and resources that will benefit their application journey. You can view our Aim Higher Newsletter via the link below;

Aim Higher Newsletter

The AHP is complemented by subject specific talks and presentations, and curriculum advice and guidance. We also have a fantastic range of clubs and societies on offer at One Sixth Form College, that our Aim Higher students are encouraged to be a part of.

We are proud of the success we have had in the past have a wide range of Alumni students that have progressed on to Early Entry courses. Students within the Aim Higher Programme will also have the opportunity to hear from these Alumni and find out useful information about their experience.  

If you have any questions about the Early Entry admissions process, or our Aim Higher Programme then please contact Rio Godfrey, the Aim Higher Manager at rio.godfrey@easterneducationgroup.ac.uk.

Parent Information Event 2023

Careers Advice at One

Careers Information

Careers Education, Advice and Guidance (CEAG) is available at One to help you decide your next steps.

The CEAG team are based in the Purple Zone and offer 1:1 Careers Advice appointments.  Please email careers@suffolkone.ac.uk  or pop in for ‘drop-in’ enquiries. Students can use the careers referral form on Moodle to book a careers appointment with our careers advisers. 

The Careers Education, Advice & Guidance staff can help you with:

  • Applying to University
  • Planning Finance for University
  • Job Search
  • Apprenticeships
  • Making your CV stand out
  • Mock Interviews
  • Interview Skills
  • Resources to help you decide on your progression route
  • Gap Year advice

Career Planning and Labour Market Information

 

Our new Career Coaching tool (EMSI) allows you to explore careers and how best to pursue that aspiration. It can also help in guiding you to the most suitable pathway based of your interests and strengths- do an assessment, view your matches, and explore careers . Take it a step further by creating an account to build your CV and send directly to employers. 

Careers Coach

Below are some useful links to help you plan your future after One:

  • UCAS – University and colleges application service
  • Unistats – Key information for comparing UK Higher Education Course data
  • National Career Services – National Careers Service you take the next step, CV builder, action planning. Courses and learning
  • The Source – Help and advice for young people in Suffolk.  Courses, jobs, CV builder, apprenticeships, careers, money, free time, life, housing and health.  A source of information at your finger tips
  • Apprenticeships – National apprenticeship website giving information on nationwide apprenticeships and matching service
  • Careers Box – Careers films and information on lots of careers
  • www.plotr.co.uk – One stop shop for careers inspiration and preparation

A link to the Not Going to Uni website can be found here: http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/

Dates for careers information events and talks can be found on the website here

Gap Year

If you would prefer to gain some experience before going to University or entering full time employment taking a gap year is often a popular choice.

There are many opportunities and some ideas include:

  • Internships
  • Volunteering
  • Teaching abroad
  • Travelling 
  • Joining an expedition

Gap Years are a great way to experience new cultures, make a contribution to society and gain a broader horizon of life – and you don’t have to go abroad.  You will learn valuable skills such as budgeting and prioritising, cultural understanding and teamwork, all of which will enhance your CV and University application.

Useful websites

Gapyear.com

Lattitude.org.uk - Global Volunteering

Gapwork.com - Jobs and Volunteering

realgap.co.uk

frontier.ac.uk

bunac.org/uk

campamerica.co.uk

vsointernational.org

omio.com - travel/gap-year

neaco (Take Your Place)

Take Your Place and the neaco project is delivered across East Anglia.

The aim of the project is to help young people from East Anglia with little or no experience of university to explore the world of higher education.

It is a programme of activities delivered to students by a Higher Education Champion (HEC) based here at One Sixth Form College.

What we can do for you:

If you live in an area that has been identified by the Government as having low rates of progression the Take Your Place project will provide you with a personalised service at NO personal cost to you or your families which includes;​

  • Helping you understand what Higher Education (HE) is and what it means for your future. ​
  • Give you access to resources, experiences and guidance that will encourage you to develop passions for your specific subjects (taster sessions).​
  • Put on trips to Universities ​
  • Raise awareness about the many different pathways to university and promoting the benefits including a higher paid salary than non-university learners. ​
  • Meetings to help overcome the barriers you may personally face accessing university.​
  • Dispel myths about university and student finance.​
  • To provide help and support on your academic pathway to succeed and UCAS application assistance.​
  • Provide parental advice if required

The Team

Higher Education Champion: Claire Palmer

On site:    Every Tuesday and Wednesday

Location:  Careers Office (Purple Zone)

One Careers Programme

Careers Strategy

 

Career Programme

One Sixth Form College: Provider Access Policy

Introduction

This policy statement sets out the school's arrangements for managing the access of providers to students at College for the purpose of giving them information about the provider's education or training offer. This complies with the school's legal obligations under Section 42B of the Education Act 1997.

Student entitlement

All students are entitled:

• to find out about technical education qualifications and apprenticeships opportunities, as part of a careers programme which provides information on the full range of education and training options available at each transition point;

• to hear from a range of local providers about the opportunities they offer, including technical education and apprenticeships – through progression events, and group discussions and taster events;

• to understand how to make applications for the full range of academic and technical courses.

 

If you have any questions please email careers@suffolkone.ac.uk  

Information for Employers

As a College we are committed to building links with local businesses and employers. We feel it is important for employers to understand the current educational landscape, appreciate the skills and knowledge our students can offer and have access to their work force of the future. We host a half termly business breakfast for networking opportunities between businesses and educators. 

In addition, we want to ensure that our students are work ready and offer them a range of opportunities including work experience, employer talks, visits to workplaces and mentoring.  

If you would like to become part of this network, please contact our Careers Team and they will be happy to answer your query:

 

Information for University and College Admissions Teams

Information for university and college admissions teams

This information is provided to explain the centre-specific impact on current Year 13 students of the Lockdown and school closures in March-August 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is intended to complement individual student UCAS references as per the guidance issued by UCAS.

Background information on the context of the school

Suffolk One is registered as a school but is referred to as a college. It is much larger than the average sized secondary school.

  • The college is an Academy and part of Suffolk Academies Trust.
  •  In the Spring Census the college had 75 places funded in Year 12 -14  for the college’s Foundation   Learning provision, which is at entry level to level 1 for students with profound learning difficulties and/or disabilities with the majority having an Educational and Health Care Plan.
  • The very large majority of the student population is White British, and the proportion of students who speak English as an additional language is small, at 8%
  • There are more female students 67% than male students 43%   on roll.
  • 5% of students at One are in possession of an EHCP
  • 15% of students receive some form of SEN support
  • 6% of students are in receipt of FSM this is lower than typically found in secondary schools, nationally.
  • The proportion of students with the highest GCSE grades (grade bands 7 – 9), that study A Levels, is well below the national average.  
  • Students attending the college originated from a range of socio-economic backgrounds but a significant number are from areas designated as those of high social depravation and low income. Ipswich is a designated ‘opportunity area
  • The college performs highly across a number of parameters, exceeding National Averages and has a current Ofsted rating of Outstanding.
  • The DFE value added scores show that the students who attend the college achieve above average compared to National Post 16 statistics
  • A level +0.08
  • Applied General +0.14
  • English GCSE re-sit +0.35
  • Maths GCSE re-sit +0.22
Qualification provision
  • Around half of students are enrolled on GCE A Level subjects, with most others on vocational provision including a wide range of BTEC level 3 National Diplomas and some level 2 and level 4 provision.
  • AS Levels are not generally run at the college the exception is an AS Mathematics qualification run over a 2-year period. Students also have the opportunity to study Level 3 Core Maths and EPQ   alongside their core programme.
  • The wide breath of courses offered is intended to offer choice to learners and the ability to choose a learning style that best suits their needs
The amount of teaching time that was lost overall, and what alternative provision for remote education was delivered to students
  • Remote, non-live, teaching began immediately following the college closure on 23th March for all students – this was delivered via our VLE or via email
  • Remote teaching continued to follow the ‘normal’ curriculum, with students being set an equivalent amount of work as they would usually cover in lessons and homework.
  • On return to the college in the Autumn term all students started with a blended learning model to accommodate social distancing. This was subject specific with some subjects having up to 75% delivery time online or independently directed. From 21st Sept (Week 4) all students returned to full-time face to face delivery. There has been a small amount of disruption due to COVID positive individuals and the need for some students and staff to self-isolate.
  • Live online teaching began immediately for some subjects via MS Teams, Skype for Business and Google Classroom.
  • Students deemed to be most in need of face-to-face support returned to college in June/July for bespoke welfare meetings – wrap around support was continually provided to support the 100% remote learning plan during lockdown. The majority of students were able to continue their work in all of their subjects and keep up to date with curriculum demands – but some were unable to do so for a variety of reasons. Circumstances specific to students are noted in their UCAS references.
  • Vocational BTEC subjects modified their approach to delivery to ensure that no students were        disadvantaged during the lockdown.
Any disruption to your normal university application processes
  • Minimal disruption was experienced – tutorials continued online via Google Classroom.
  • Higher Education information sessions were provided prior to the school closure and students remained in touch with their Personal Progress Tutors throughout the closure period.
Any impact on the information used to determine predicted grades; for example, the cancellation of internal assessments
  • Onsite internal exams were cancelled for Year 12.
  • Many subjects conducted end of Year 12 assessments remotely.
  • Formative assessment continued during lockdown but this was limited in comparison to usual custom and practice. For some subjects this was a very challenging aspect to maintain.
Any policies or processes used for predicting   grades (e.g. internal assessments). This is an opportunity to articulate any policy about not predicting grades for qualifications where the school or college feels the assessment method or qualification structure is not suited  to predictions (such as the Extended Project)
  • Predicted grades have been calculated taking into account internal assessments throughout last        academic year.
  • EPQ grades have been formulated   upon submission of the first draft material.
  •  Any impact at centre-level of the COVID-19 pandemic
Any impact at centre-level of the COVID-19 pandemic
  •  Staffing was affected throughout as they coped with personal circumstances, at times, this required   students to study independently
  • Information for PPT’s to add to the references of individual students
  • Whether the student or a close family member was affected by illness or bereavement
  • How individual students engaged with online provision, and whether there were any barriers – technical or environmental – which prevented or impeded this.
  • Any relevant information about the student’s home learning environment (e.g. access to technology, space to work at home, access to other learning resources, support of family members or carers).​

Quality in Careers Standard

The College is committed to excellence in career provision and is currently working towards the Quality in Careers Standard.