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University and Careers

What next?

The majority of our Sixth Form students continue onto higher education immediately after Year 13 or following a Gap Year. However, our careers advice is not solely focused on progression to higher education; we successfully support students moving onto apprenticeships and art foundation courses as well as a huge variety of different types of employment.

Futures advice is provided throughout a student’s time at Uckfield College ensuring that students are fully aware of all the information they need to know at the right time, for example, in years 10 and 11 information is provided on how universities use GCSE grades as part of their selection process. All 6th form students have the opportunity to meet with a qualified careers guidance counsellor and the college subscribes to the Morrisby Careers platform to give students access to the latest labour market information and careers information. We have a number of scheduled careers events for 6th Formers including attending the local UCAS University and Apprenticeship Fair, attending the college’s own careers fair and participating in Deep Learning Days focussed on interview skills and on networking and assessment centres. In addition, the students also complete some careers education in PDT sessions as well as online courses that develop their skills and make them more likely to stand out in applications to university or employment.

In the Sixth Form we pride ourselves on having an exceptionally strong programme to guide students through the UCAS application process. We start in Year 12 with visits to higher education events as well as visiting speakers from various local universities. We then have a structured programme of support to help students to produce a strong personal statement before the summer holidays, including two days dedicated to UCAS support, thus relieving the pressure from the start of Year 13. All personal statements are checked multiple times and appropriate advice is given about which institutions the students are applying to.

For students and parents considering applications to Oxford and Cambridge, or to medicine, we have a comprehensive programme which starts in Year 12. This includes interview practice, preparation for any tests that might be required of them, debating skills to increase their confidence and access to various conferences specifically aimed at these students. Medics will have a mentoring session once a week from the end of Year 12 with a specially trained mentor to guide them in terms of their knowledge, additional tests required and their personal statements.

Last year, every student who applied to go to university received offers from one or more of their chosen universities, with many students receiving offers from all five of their chosen universities. [Read more about student destinations]. Over 80% of the students who went onto higher education got a place at their first choice university and 32% of those going to university went to Russell Group universities.

The Arkwright Engineering Scholarship

Record number of Arkwright scholars at Uckfield College

The Arkwright Engineering Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship of its type in the UK to inspire and nurture school-age students to be the country’s future leaders of the Engineering Profession.

This year Uckfield College have 4 (yes 4!) successful Arkwright Scholars (there are only 415 nationally in total).

Students who aspire to be engineers in the future go through a year long selection process. They are selected for their potential as future engineering leaders by assessing their academic, practical and leadership skills in engineering disciplines. These are gauged through a selection process comprising of an assessed application form including a teacher’s reference; a two-hour, problem-solving aptitude exam; and a university-based Interview.

The scholarship winners receive an annual financial award and enrichment activities such as mentoring and a range of experiences such as industry conferences, Connect Days, residential courses and university VIP days. These industry visits enhance a scholar's experience of engineering in a real-world context. Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are highly regarded by university admission tutors and industry recruiters and are one of the most prestigious accolades that a talented sixth form student can receive.

Arkwright Scholars from Uckfield College:
2013 - 2015	William Golden
2014 - 2016	Tim Bramly
2015 - 2017	Charlie Martin
2016 - 2018	Darius Abadi
2017 - 2019	Robert Ross
2018 - 2020	Ellie Pain Oliver Stockwell
2019 - 2021	Samuel Bishop William Dobney Thomas Hooper Thomas Lines

Principal of Uckfield College, Hugh Hennebry said, “We are all so proud of these brilliant students and we believe they will go on to become leaders in their chosen field. I am very grateful to Mr O’Connor who inspires and supports these students and to Arkwright for helping them take the next steps in their engineering and technology futures.”

One of our students was also chosen to be in the national Arkwright promotional video.