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Beyond Sixth Form

Many of our students progress to higher education while a growing number enter prestigious apprenticeships and school leaver programmes. 

Our support programme in the Sixth Form is designed to equip students for every stage of their journey with the involvement of a range of external partners including universities and employers. This includes specific support for those seeking entry to competitive courses including Oxbridge. Students and their parents can expect a comprehensive programme to understand all aspects of higher education and assistance with choices and applications. 

We also have an impressive relationship with many employers evidenced by a highly successful annual Careers & Higher Education Fair, visits to Apprenticeship recruitment events, and a series of Career Insight talks in Year 12.

Year 12 students are also supported to seek a work placement. Together with an Employability award and employer involvement in mock interviews we are confident our students will make successful transitions to the worlds of work and higher education.  

Our links are further strengthened by the close involvement of our Old Cryptians with their wealth of knowledge and experience across many sectors.

We recognise that not all students are ready for higher education or employment. Tutors work closely with our dedicated Careers Adviser Helen Michaluk to support students with alternative plans including a gap year.

Unifrog  Careerpilot


Careers

Throughout the academic course of study, students follow a Careers Programme of study which can be found - careers guidance, predominantly accessed through our in-house careers adviser but also with externals speakers through assemblies and workshops. In Terms 5 and 6 specifically, we offer students the opportunity to attend careers talks from a variety of backgrounds such as Banking, Architecture, Volunteering, Engineering and Art, offering students an invaluable understanding of the world beyond school, which includes a work experience week in Year 12. Sixth Formers can also complete an EDGE Employability Award over the time spent with us which encourages the development of their human and social capital.


    The Scholars’ Programme

    To supplement our academic provision, we aim to help and equip students with skills in wider academic research, debating and critical thinking. Ultimately, this is to help prepare students for the rigorous admissions processes that are used to gain entry to: Oxbridge; Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary science; competitive courses at Russell Group universities. More so than ever before, Universities are expecting students to possess a repertoire of core skills that are not only vital to succeeding at undergraduate level but are essential to creating adaptability in the ever-evolving twenty-first century workplace; therefore, the programme is designed to increase student confidence and develop their abilities as an autonomous scholar.

    As part of the Scholars’ Programme, you will:

    • Information and advice evenings for parents and students in Y12
    • Students to complete activities from the super curricular booklet- Super-Curricular’ booklet.
    • Students to complete the EDGE Employability award, which includes an academic enrichment section The Crypt EDGE (Engage, Develop, Grow and Excel) Employability Award | DOCX 25KB
    • Students to participate in a Thursday afternoon Scholarship Enrichment Programme, which includes Core Maths, EPQ to name but a few.  Please see full list here.
    • Get individualised preparation and support when applying for challenging and competitive university courses, including Oxbridge, Russell Group, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science (see further details below).
    • Intensive application support including personal statement guidance from tutors, in PD lessons and on the UCAS drop down days.
    • Regular group meetings to develop interview skills and subject knowledge including attending MedSoc (see further details below).
    • Practice interviews with subject specialists and general Year 13 interview day
    • Advice on successful applications from Crypt alumni.
    • Invited speakers from Oxford & Cambridge.
    • An annual Oxbridge visit.
    • Participate in various access programmes from prestigious universities such as Bristol.
    • Be given the option to attend organised visits and conferences, including trips to the country’s leading universities.
    • Be able to attend specialised and bespoke talks by guest academic speakers.
    • Attend debate society and to debate academic articles in tutor time.

    Oxbridge

    Part of The Crypt School’s ethos is to support students in the fulfilment of their aspirations. One of these strands is the programme offered to those applying to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, as well as particularly competitive courses such as Medicine, Veterinary Sciences, and Law. The school has a longstanding tradition of successful applications to prestigious courses and institutions; in 2021, 3 students took up places at either Oxford or Cambridge, studying a diverse range of subjects from German to Natural Sciences.

    Within their academic studies, students are provided with a broad range of opportunities to extend themselves academically, ranging from participation in national challenges, debating leagues, and the Formula One in schools initiative. Additionally, each department has contributed to our  Super-Curricular’ booklet. Competitive courses and universities wish to see students engaging in what is known as ‘Super-Curricular’ activities – independently enriching their knowledge in their chosen subject through listening to podcasts, attending public lectures, and a whole host of other ways. It is important that students are considering from the start of Sixth Form as their university application will be completed in the autumn term of Year 13. 

    As part of the programme in school, we run an Oxbridge Club for Year 12 students to support their super-curricular activities, advise them on courses and colleges, and facilitate discussion groups that pre-read articles in advance to critically engage with them. We arrange visiting speakers – including Dr Joe Organ from Brasenose College, Oxford - trips, and interview workshop practice days, as well as lots of advice and guidance on personal statements. Additionally, the Oxbridge Twitter account is updated regularly with links to lectures, articles and other super-curricular opportunities – we encourage both parents and students to follow it.

    If you have any queries regarding our Oxbridge provision, please email our Oxbridge Co-ordinator, Matthew Bevan


    Y12 - MedSoc:

    [email protected] MedSoc is an extra-curricular club aimed at students in year 12 who are considering a career in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, nursing/midwifery, or allied healthcare (e.g. optometry, podiatry etc).

    We have talks from Old Cryptians and other members of the Crypt community, who share their life and career experiences as well as their journeys into healthcare jobs. We also look at: patient diagnosis and patient case studies; the nuts and bolts of applying to university to study medicine; life as a doctor and working for the NHS; and careers and pathways into other or allied healthcare professions. Sessions each year will vary slightly depending on the goals and ambitions of each cohort.

    The date, time and location of MedSoc can change each year. Posters and emails are circulated in Term 1 to science A-level students. We have a MedSoc Google Classroom where links are posted to upcoming talks, useful resources, and work experience opportunities. Please get in touch if you have any questions, or if you are able to contribute to MedSoc in some way!


    Student Destinations - 2023

    University120See map above for destinations and courses taken
    Apprenticeship15Babcock International, Geometric Engineering, JP Morgan, Hazlewoods, Skybourne Airline Academy, The Crypt School
    Employment3 
    Gap Year18 
    Armed Forces1 
    Other4 

     


     

    Useful Links and Resources

    Crypt Post 18 Resources for Students and Parents/ Guardians
    Higher Education
    • UCAS - Everything you need to know about higher education.
    • UCAS - Pre- Application Toolkit
    • UniStats - comprehensive data on many aspects of higher education including graduate salaries, destinations, student satisfaction, etc. 
    • Informed Choices: The Russell Group - The 24 leading UK universities advice portal for subject choices.
    • Prospects Graduate Careers  – pre and post university advice & guidance including degree choice and graduate job market. Highly recommended. 
    • Student Finance
    Apprenticeships & School Leaver Programmes

    All About School Leavers – sponsorships, school leaver programmes.

    The Big Choice - work placements.

    Get in, Go far – all about apprenticeships for learners, parents and employers.

    Find Apprenticeships – searchable tool to find apprenticeship opportunities at all levels.

    Which University guide to Higher & Degree Apprenticeships 

    Institute for Apprenticeships - comprehensive list of all apprenticeships standards at each level. Also searchable by sector.

    Psychometric Tests -  a complete guide for students in dealing with psychometric tests during interview processes for internships and first full-time jobs

    Aptitude Tests  -  a page with all our free practice tests   

    Sponsorships & Scholarships

    Which University Guide to Sponsorship Degrees 

    The Scholarship Hub - searchable database of scholarships and bursaries.

    Distance & Open Learning

    Open Distance Learning Quality Council – list of providers accredited as offering quality distance learning.

    The Open University

    Future Learn – owned by OU a provider of free short HE distance learning.

    Study Abroad

    A Star Future – advice and information for anyone considering opportunities overseas.

    Fulbright –  advice and information for anyone planning to study or work in the USA.

    Erasmus – study, work, volunteering placements to encourage student exchange across EU.

    British Council - summer work programmes abroad for students at year 2 or later in STEM and applied arts.

    Self-Employment

    Princes Trust – advice & support for young business start up.

    Shell Live Wire – advice and support for business start up in energy renewal and conversation.

    Do It – a searchable database of volunteering activities.

    Gap Year

    Student Ladder – opportunities in work, study, and more for young people.

    Not Going to Uni – everything on pathways other than Higher Education.

    E-Trust - the leading year out placement programme for intending undergraduates.   

    Year Out Group - structured year out programmes available through an association of year out groups.

    Not sure what you want to do?

    Buzz - a simple personality assessment based on Myers Briggs, a respected tool used in executive selection, links to comprehensive cross-sector video library of interviews (including some celebrities!)   

    Prospects - developed by university graduate advisory services. Links to excellent website. Occupational bias to graduate & professional levels.   

    SACU – intuitive graphics-based interest guide. May appear odd but worth persevering as accurate and well linked.


    Work experience and useful resources - medicine and allied healthcare

    www.educationprojects.co.uk  courses on medicine admissions, webinars and virtual work experience opportunities

    https://thetrainingpartnership.org.uk/study-days/subjects/medicine/ explore medicine conferences and work experience opportunities

    https://medicmentor.co.uk/ ‘Get into Medicine’ conferences, virtual work experience opportunities, and application mentorship

    www.medmentor.co.uk medical school guides, blogs on work experience and application advice, application clinics

    www.doctorslive.co.uk interactive online work experience

    https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-sciences?mc_cid=3ec5a4016f&mc_eid=UNIQID UCL medical school runs talks on current medical research which may be of interest

    https://www.doctorjakes.com/ occasionally runs life as a doctor talk (paid)

    https://doctorsacademy.org.uk/ interview and admissions preparatory courses

    https://alliedhealthmentor.org/nhs-healthcare-careers-virtual-work-experience/ virtual work experience in allied healthcare - programs running all year round

    https://academy.medicalmavericks.co.uk/pages/secondary paid subscription for virtual work experience

    https://www.themedicportal.com and https://www.themedicportal.com/application-guide/parents-guide/work-experience/ the school pays for a subscription to TMP MedSoc, and uses the online courses to guide some of our sessions


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