We welcomed Year 12 students and their parents to school last Tuesday for the UCAS Information Evening.

Mrs. Collins, Director of University Admissions, and Ms. Copin, Deputy Head (Academic), spoke about the current landscape of university applications and the various steps toward application readiness. Year 12 students are actively researching courses and options, preparing to further develop their application strategies over the coming term.

The evening followed January’s UCAS and Futures session, during which students explored the various options available to them, including Degree Apprenticeships, traditional courses, vocational courses, gap years, and international applications.

Students have been building their profiles on Unifrog and researching their own interests. Topics covered included developing personal lines of inquiry and specialisms. This will not only assist with their personal statements when the time comes but will also help students establish what they truly want to study and will support any tests or interviews they may face in the future.

They have also been researching universities through the Unifrog platform, as well as our own student noticeboard’s universities page. In addition to their academic enrichment lessons, students have met with their University Oversight Mentors for one-on-one sessions. This week, they enjoyed a visit from Bath University.

In May, they will participate in a research week, which will include UCAS sessions and a presentation from Nottingham University. We will look at personal statement drafting while Admissions test preparation will start in some subjects before Easter. There will also be workshops in May and June on how to use the online platform *My Application*. Looking ahead to the autumn term, we will host the Alumnae Alternative Prospectus event in September, where NHEHS Alumnae return to school to share their university experiences.

Mrs. Collins shared her top tips on what to look for in universities and how to conduct research, including the type of campus, location, course structure and content, facilities, student satisfaction, subject league tables, and the research and specialisms of each department. She also explained the application process, including tests, interviews, and the types of offers.

Ms. Copin encouraged Year 12 students to decide what they want to do, make a plan, and demonstrate commitment to a subject and university. In her experience, successful students typically exhibit:

1. A strong knowledge of their chosen course.
2. A wealth of cultural capital.
3. Interests they pursue in depth.
4. Proactive attitudes, including work experience and discussions.
5. Pragmatism about the demands of university life.