ACADEMIC

Academic Choices

In Year 12 all students study 4 AS level subjects. Breadth of study is encouraged but is not compulsory. The basic principle that we work on is that students should study subjects that they enjoy and are good at, but in some circumstances they will take subjects that are relevant to a particular university course and/or career.

In Year 13 most students continue with three of the subjects they have taken the previous year and they also take General Studies to AS or A level. Some students may take the opportunity to continue with all four subjects already studied in Year 12.

AS level courses May be continued as A2 in Year 13			AS level courses only Not available in Year 13 as A2 Availability in Year 12 depends upon demand
Choose 3 or 4 subjects from here			Choose 1 subject if 3 subjects chosen from previous columns
Mathematics	English	French	Electronics
Further Maths	German	Spanish	Drama and Theatre Studies
Biology	Art	Music	Accounting
Chemistry	Economics	ICT
Physics	Psychology
Geography	Physical Education
History	Business Studies
Religious Studies
Design & Technology (product design)
Design & Technology (systems control)

Careers

In October, students from Years 12 and 13, particularly those new to the School, are encouraged to attend the Careers Convention in which representatives of different careers, professions and higher education establishments give valuable advice on careers matters.

Throughout the year a series of careers specialists are invited into the School (Armed services, Medics, etc.). Students in Years 12 and 13 are encouraged to attend these meetings, some of which are arranged via the Science Forum, organised by Mr Bell.

A Careers Adviser is available at Parents’ Evenings and for self-referral interviews during the year. Laura also distributes information packs prior to Year 12 in preparation for applications to Higher Education.

Students in Year 12 attend the Higher Education Conference, organised by the Humberside Partnership, an event that is supported by a large number of universities and is held on the local university campus.

Oxbridge

Students in Year 12 are actively encouraged to find out about Oxford and Cambridge Universities from an early stage in the year. This is achieved through year group meetings, and in discussion with form teachers and Heads of Departments. Over the year a number of former pupils who have been to Oxford or Cambridge come back to speak to pupils.

The Oxbridge Co-ordinator follows this up with meetings in February and March for those interested in applying.

Most of our prospective candidates attend one of the college or university open days in the summer. They are then given guidance by the Oxbridge Co-ordinator about which college to apply to and which course best meets their requirements. All staff are available for consultation at this stage, especially Heads of Departments.

Subject-specific preparation for interviews is undertaken through form teachers, in liaison with Heads of Departments. All applicants will be offered at least one mock interview – staff and friends of the school help with these.

Successful applicants may receive conditional offers that require them to sit STEP or AEA papers. Help with preparation for these can be arranged through Heads of Departments.

UCAS

In February of the Lower Sixth (Year 12) all students are gathered together for a meeting at which the UCAS procedure is explained and a ‘dummy’ UCAS package is given out. After this meeting students begin to discuss their higher education options with Form Tutors and Heads of Departments. This process continues until they go on study leave in May, by which time their dummy application papers should be in the hand of their Form Tutor.

When students return after the AS examinations they are interviewed by one of the three senior staff UCAS advisers, who help them further to refine their potential choices, and ensure that such choices are realistic in view of their likely predicted grades. Also at this time there are a number of trips organised to university Open Days.

When students, now Year 13, return in September they are encouraged to make early application to their chosen universities. Dummy interviews are available, and advice is given all the way through to the A level results and beyond. Past Hymers students frequently send bulletins from university about their progress so that those who follow may benefit from their experience. This process is regularly reviewed.

Statistics about our students entry to university can be downloaded from the ‘Publications’ page of this website.