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3rd February 2025

Year 13

Morning all,

Well done to all that have got their UCAS applications in. 90% of you have applied -  a significant increase on last year’s cohort. Those who have applied to university might want to start looking at whether there are Bursaries and/or Scholarships available at the institutes they’ve applied to. It might help when all offers are in and you’re making choices. 

Those not applying - please let us know what your aspirations are and whether we can 


 

Weekly 

 

Quote of the week:

 

“Mindfulness can help people of any age. That's because we become what we think.”

 

Goldie Hawn

 

Key dates and deadline:

 

  • The Maths Department runs a support session every Wednesday for A Level Maths and GCSE resit support every single Monday. 

  • Chemistry runs their support sessions on Thursdays  2:40 - 3:30 pm

  • Design Tech runs support for 6th Form students after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays

  • Skills support is in F12 every Monday

 

UCAS

 

73 people have now submitted their UCAS applications, 71 have offers, 22 people have responses from all their choices and there are still some interviews taking place. If anyone wants to put in a late application please come and have a chat so we can look at the viability of that for the courses you want. 

The next steps now for people are:

 

  • Attend Offer-holder days when you get an invite, especially if you’re unsure which of your offers to firm up.

  • Firm up offers when you’re ready - if you need help come and see me

  • From the end of March you will be apply to apply for funding through Student Finance Wales

  • Think about applying for accommodation 

  • There’s some advice here regarding what you need to do to prepare for uni 

 

 

 

Bursaries/Scholarships

 

Tynybedw Law Bursary - King's College London Law School is offering The Tynybedw Law Bursary to a selected Welsh student who begins an undergraduate Law degree at King's College London in September 2025. Applications for this bursary are open now to learners in Wales who are in Year 13 and are currently making applications to study Law at university. The cash bursary is worth £8,000 in the first and second years of the recipient's degree, and £9,000 in their final year.

Reading University has an exciting new undergraduate scholarship scheme focused on creating a community of global sustainability leaders of the future. They will be offering up to 400 scholarships per year (300 in 2025), for high-achieving students. Each scholar will receive £6,000 a year, for up to four years of full-time study on their course (subject to terms and conditions), for maintenance and living costs. They will also receive access to opportunities including:

  • developing knowledge and leadership skills relevant to addressing climate and nature issues

  • engaging in cross-disciplinary learning and activities

  • taking positive action for sustainability

  • building relevant networks

  • being part of a growing community of global sustainability leaders of the future

  • dedicated careers support and the potential to enhance employability.

Winner of The Times and The Sunday Times Sustainable University of the Year 2025, the University of Reading is renowned for world-class research in climate change and its impacts on the environment and society. No matter your background or your subject of interest, they want to enable the next generation to build an environmentally sustainable world to lead positive change. To be considered eligible for the scholarship, you will need to:

  • Currently hold an offer for a University of Reading undergraduate programme in 2025/26

  • Achieve grades AAA or above in your A levels (or equivalent qualification) or AAB for students eligible for a contextualised offer

  • successfully complete the scholarship application process for this scheme.

Full terms and conditions for the scholarship (PDF - 833KB). Eligible offer holders will be contacted directly by the University with full details of the scheme, and invited to apply for the scholarship. 

The ‘Blackbullion’ App tries to ensure students have the best experience when searching and applying to scholarships. If you want scholarship updates for now, you can sign up to their Scholarships Newsletter. There are no costs associated with ANY aspect of the process - it's all completely free https://www.blackbullion.com/register 

Those of you applying to Russell Group universities may be eligible for a bursary if you check as well as Swansea having some academic excellence bursaries available. I’ve included some of the universities here that I know people have applied to in the past. It’s always worth checking/applying - the worst that can happen is that you don’t get anything - doesn’t hurt to try! There are lots available which are focused on household income, STEM (women especially) and engineering. See me if you need any help applying for these. 

 

 

Upcoming Opportunities/Events

UCAS has a CV Builder tool that might be of interest to those of you considering alternatives to university. Access it here

Aspire is a collection of free careers, university and further education resources. It is designed to give state-educated students the tools and knowledge they need to make more informed decisions about their future. Their ‘guide’ is a free resource, full of information and guidance, designed to inform you and help you navigate the range of careers and further education out there. Access the online version of the Guide, alongside other resources, on the Aspire website

Please sign up for Uptree here and then check out all the opportunities they have: https://schools.uptree.co/opportunities/  

Current events include:

Speakers for Schools has a range of work experience opportunities, just be aware some are aimed at students in England - especially the Healthcare ones which relate to NHS England. Use the link here to see whether there’s anything relevant to you. 

Gresham College has a series of lectures by different Professors. February’s lectures include:

Gresham College has a series of lectures by different Professors. February’s lectures include:

Trust Issues: When Financial "Experts" Have Other Plans, Professor Raghavendra Rau, Mon, 03 Feb 2025

The Connected Brain: Network and Communication, Professor Alain Goriely FRS, Tue, 04 Feb 2025

Why Does Britain Have a Water and Sewage Crisis? Professor Martin Daunton, Tue, 11 Feb 2025

 

Universities

Swansea University’s Masterclass Series is back.

Join their online Masterclass Series, where you can gain valuable insight from experts in your field of interest – all from the comfort of your home.

 

Each session is presented by their academics and offers the chance to:

  • Find out what university lectures are like

  • Explore your subject of interest further

  • Gather material for your personal statement

  • Ask questions about the course

 

Dates: 10 – 13 February

 

Whether you're planning for university or just curious about your future options, their Masterclass series is a good opportunity to get inspired and informed.

 

Click here to reserve your place now

 

2025 Open Days

The next on-campus events are Saturday 15 February and Saturday 22 March.

These open days are great for both early researchers in year 12, and year 13 students who have submitted their UCAS application but haven’t had a chance to visit us yet or are questioning their choices on their application form. You will have the opportunity to:-

  • Find out about more about courses

  • Speak to staff and current students studying their chosen subjects

  • Take a campus tour of the campus and department facilities

Book onto an Open Day now

Ravensbourne University has an Online Portfolio/Showreel Advice Session coming up. It is an interactive online session providing top tips, structure and project ideas for students developing their portfolio or showreel. There will be opportunities for 1:1 feedback and to see examples of excellence. It’s scheduled for:

 
  • 12/02/2025 -  4.00-6.00pm online

University of York

MOOC - University Interview Support 

This online course is a brilliant free resource for Year 13 students who might be interested in learning more about university interviews. This free online course covers: preparing for an interview, completing an interview, and how to understand feedback following an interview. Free to access now.

USW has Open Days coming up. Book here. 

They also have other opportunities such as Guaranteed Mock Interviews for Nursing and Midwifery:

  • Students who apply to study a Nursing or Midwifery course at the University of South Wales AND receive an invite to interview, will be guaranteed a mock interview with the Schools and Colleges Team. Students will receive an email with a link to book their mock interview online. These are conducted via Microsoft Teams and last no longer than 30 minutes, allowing students the flexibility to participate from a comfortable environment of their choice

  • They also have a guide to applying to healthcare courses: Application Advice - University of South Wales

Bath University Apply with Bath 2024  - Applications Open

Apply with Bath is a free, flexible online programme for Year 13 students who are thinking of applying to Bath. Apply with Bath provides support with applying to university and includes the opportunity to hear from current Bath students as well as help with your UCAS application, including 1:1 personal statement support sessions. It will provide you with a wealth of resources and support on relevant topics such as personal statements, accommodation, student finance and student life. The flexible nature of this programme means you can choose the parts which are most useful. 

Who is eligible?

Apply with Bath is aimed at academically-able Year 13 students who meet their Widening Participation criteria and are planning to apply to study at the University of Bath from 2025.

To be considered for a place you will need to:

  • have obtained at least six GCSEs at grades A* to B, and at least a grade C in GCSE English and Mathematics

  • be on track to achieve the required entry grades to study your chosen subject at Bath

  • meet one or more of their widening participation criteria

 Find out more and apply here

UCL

UCL Study Prep (Access now) 

UCL Study Prep helps students in Year 13 to prepare for university. This course is free and open to all students in Year 13, regardless of where you go to school or college or which universities you have applied to study at. 

Bristol UWE also has upcoming Open Days. Book here

 

Apprenticeships/Degree Apprenticeships

 

Amazing Apprenticeships 

The January edition of the Higher & Degree vacancy listing has now launched. Explore 2,400 Higher and Degree apprenticeship vacancies 
from 80+ employers, including Accenture, AstraZeneca, British Army, Dunelm, EDF, IBM, KPMG, Network Rail, Nestle, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Thames Valley Police, Vodaphone and many more! Download the Higher & Degree listing here.

Hays Travel have new apprenticeship opportunities available.

Hays Travel offers retail apprenticeships that provide invaluable hands-on experience, a chance to earn while you learn, and the potential for long-term career development within the travel industry. These sessions will give an insight into the various apprenticeship roles and the skills required.

Details of their next Discovery Sessions:

  • Date: 10/2/25

  • Time: 6pm – 8pm

  • Platform:  Teams

During these sessions, attendees will hear from our experienced team members, who will share their knowledge about the apprenticeships on offer and answer any questions. We believe these sessions will be highly beneficial for students considering their career options and looking for a rewarding pathway into the travel industry.

We would be extremely grateful if you could share this invitation with your students and their parents/carers, encouraging them to take part in this exciting opportunity if it’s something they’re interested in!

If they’re looking to apply, please use the link below:

Apprentice Application 2025

To register for one of these events, please click on the following link:

Apprentice 2025 Discovery Events

 

SOUTH WALES POLICE STAFF APPRENTICESHIPS 2025

SALARY £24,309.00

CLOSING DATE: 28th February

SHORTLISTING week commencing 31st March.

INTERVIEWS either week commencing 28th April or week commencing 5th May.

TO START SEPTEMBER 2025

 

Here are the links to all the 2025/2026 Apprenticeships:

Good standard of education to at least GCSE A-C Level, including Maths and English

Must be prepared to work towards a qualification in a relevant subject e.g. Level 3

 

Leadership and Talent Support - Apprentice - Police Jobs Wales - Bridgend

 

Digital Forensics Apprentice - Police Jobs Wales – Cardiff Gate

 

ICT Apprentice - Police Jobs Wales - Bridgend

 

Learning and Support Unit - Apprentice - Police Jobs Wales - Bridgend

 

Operational Support Services - Apprentice - Police Jobs Wales - Bridgend

Students who are interested in Technology. Elevate your applications - advice from Accenturev. Wednesday 02 February 18:00-19:00 Apply here

Deloitte Insight Evening. Tuesday 04 February 18:00-19:00. Apply here

Morgan Sindall Degree Apprenticeships and summer placements are now live and Year 13 students can apply for them.

 

Bristol: Lloyds Banking Group, Work Experience Day- 4 Apr

This event is for students who are interested in exploring a future with Lloyds Banking Group and learning more about the wide range of job roles they have to offer. Apply to this event to see how Lloyds Banking Group encourages young people to develop transferable skills allowing them to access a range of opportunities at their company.

EDF are open for applications, if you're interested in: Nuclear Engineering, Cyber degree apprenticeships, Countryside Ranger and Worker roles, Chemistry degree apprenticeships, Associate Project Management, HR and Construction roles, plus many more

Those of you interested in apprenticeship, could sign up for the Apprenticeship Vacancies newsletter designed to make it easier for students to find out about relevant apprenticeship opportunities. Sign up to this new free mailing list and they’ll keep you updated with a variety of roles from a wide range of brilliant apprenticeship employers.Sign up here

Amazing Apprenticeships have a ‘Student Zone’ with information that might be of interest. 

RENISHAW APPRENTICESHIPS 2025 NOW OPEN

Renishaw Employer Profile - Early Talent Academy⚡

https://earlytalentacademy.co.uk/apprenticeship-employers/renishaw/#viewjobs

BAE SYSTEMS - GLASCOED - APPRENTICESHIPS 2025 NOW OPEN – closing date currently 28th Feb – Early application is advisable as may close early.

BAE SYSTEMS, GLASCOED – APPRENTICESHIPS

Advanced Apprentice Electrical Maintenance Technician 

Advanced Apprentice Business Administration

Advanced Apprentice Quality Technician

Advanced Apprentice Non-Destructive Examination

Advanced Apprentice Safety, Health and Environment

Advanced Apprentice Civil Engineering Technical

Advanced Apprentice Mechanical Maintenance Technician

Higher Apprentice Finance

Higher Apprentice Procurement and Supply

Higher Apprentice Project Management and Control

Degree Apprentice Design Engineering

Degree Apprentice Ordnance Munitions and Explosives Engineering

 

Information from Careers Wales:

https://careerswales.gov.wales/apprenticeships/employers-who-offer-apprenticeships 

 

Network 75 is a combined work placement and part-time study route to a degree allowing students to Work, Earn and Learn. Read more about it here. 

 

Support

For those of you feeling anxious about the return to school, as always, we are always available to help. If you feel you need more support here are some useful links:

There are also some useful techniques here for those experiencing feelings of anxiety:

 

 Remember it  is important that you keep an eye on your emails and our Twitter feed (@stcyres6th). I send out links and tweets regularly so there is a lot of information available, you just need to access it and let me know if there are any problems with you doing that. 

As always, if there are any issues, get in touch; we’re here to support you.

Take care,

Ms Jones

St Cyres School, Sully Road, Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, CF64 2XP

02920 708708