Careers, UCAS & Degree apprenticeships

Our Sixth Form feels like an adventurous steppingstone towards your next educational destination, and many of your daily activities will be preparing you for the next level of independence and academic rigour.

If, like most of our students, you choose to go on to study at university you’ll be supported by the Head of Careers, trained and experienced Form Tutors and the Head of Sixth Form. The UCAS process is introduced in the Spring of Year 12 which gives you ample time to investigate the options available to you, use the Morrisby tools, discover courses that interest you, visit Open Days, prepare your personal statement, take part in work experience, visit a UCAS convention and make your final selections.

The Sixth Form Team has a wealth of experience in guiding students who are applying for highly competitive courses, such as Medicine, Veterinary Science and those at Oxford and Cambridge. If you decide to apply for these competitive courses, you will receive regular mentoring, assistance with admissions tests, and interview practice from a subject specialist within the College. You will also have at least one practice interview with an external specialist. In recent years we have also supported applications to universities overseas, including in China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the United States.

Some students choose the route of Degree Apprenticeships which offer the fantastic chance to study for a degree whilst also working. These apprenticeships are highly sought after, and we have an excellent success rate with those students who have wanted to pursue this route.

Our aim at St. Francis’ is to provide high quality careers education and guidance that prepares our students for the workplace. We support them to achieve the self-development and career management skills they need to find careers that are engaging and rewarding and fulfil their dreams for the future.
Please click here to view the Futures Programme for Year 12 and Year 13.

Our Careers Convention in February is a fantastic opportunity for you to attend talks, prepare for interview and assessment centre experiences, and have one-to-one meetings with people in the fields you’re keen to explore further. All our students highly value this event and find that, combined with their extended use of Morrisby tools, it provides them with a clearer understanding of where their future careers could lie.

From Year 11 to Year 13 we also offer an Aspirations Programme. Students who aspire to pursue a career in high level vocational jobs such as Architecture, Medicine, Finance and Law can enter this Programme of mentoring, work experience and student-led projects and visits. These experiences and networking opportunities provide you with an enhanced view of the various aspects of your chosen vocation and increase your chances of obtaining a place at a prestigious university.