December 2024

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

Sam Sykes, UCAS Lead for Schools and Colleges

The UCAS January equal consideration date is approaching, and with many students submitting their university or college application before the Christmas break, they will be seeking support from their parents, carers, teachers and careers advisers.  

Completed applications for all 2025 entry undergraduate courses, except those with a 15 October deadline, should arrive at UCAS by 18:00 (UK time) on 29 January 2025. 

This is our ‘equal consideration date’, which means course providers must consider all applications received by this time equally. However, we do know that many schools and colleges set their own internal deadlines, to ensure there is sufficient time for your students to complete sections, and for you to add in references and predicted grades.

How best can I support my students in the run-up to the UCAS January Equal Consideration Date?

If your students are in the process of completing their UCAS application, my top tips to help them are:

Personal statements

Remind your students the importance of their personal statement. Writing their personal statement is an important milestone in a student’s higher education journey, and it’s a great opportunity for them to really reflect and think about the course or courses they are looking to study. 

Our advice to help you support your students is to break down their statement into key areas: their experience, what excites them about the subject, any relevant work or personal experiences, and plans or ambitions for a future career.

References

Each student’s reference must be completed before the application can be sent to UCAS, if you are a UCAS registered centre, it is your responsibility to identify relevant referees, add, and approve references.

The reference doesn’t have to be written by the head teacher or head of sixth form – it’s more important that it’s written by someone who knows the student well enough to comment on their individual performance and circumstances.

Explore our latest guidance, FAQs, training, and real-life examples to help you write impactful references.

Qualifications

For your students who are studying the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, make sure they have selected the correct qualification: WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales. This ensures that their chosen universities and colleges can make accurate offers. 

To help ensure a smooth admissions journey, you can explore tips and latest guidance on completing the education section of the UCAS application here.

What about my students who will be completing their application after the Christmas break?

For some students, applying before the Christmas break just isn’t possible, and they will be looking to do this when they come back to school or college in the new year.

Ahead of the equal consideration date, you can join us for bespoke tips, and a chance to ask questions live to UCAS colleagues.

How can I support younger students who are discovering and exploring their options?

If you’re supporting someone who is at an earlier stage in the process – perhaps they have just created a UCAS account and are exploring their future pathways – you can encourage them to use UCAS’ Careers Quiz. This will help match them to their best-suited career options and suggest suitable university and college courses.

Your students could also discover all their options under one roof at a UCAS Discovery event. There are events taking place in Wales in April 2025, where students can learn more about undergraduate courses, apprenticeships, careers, and more.

• Newport 7 – 8 April, ICC Wales
• Carmarthen 9 April, University of Wales Trinity St David, Carmarthen Campus
• Aberystwyth 10 April, Aberystwyth University

At these events, your students can: 

• chat to unis and colleges about courses and life on campus;
• speak to employers and apprenticeship providers about what an apprenticeship is like and the options available;
• speak to qualified careers advisers about their future;
• listen to talks from experts in their fields;
• Talk to our UCAS experts to get dedicated support about options.

You can learn more about these, and find your closest event here.

Alongside UCAS events, students can discover all their options using their UCAS Hub account. Students can use virtual work experiences and subject tasters to enable them to ‘try before they apply’- giving them access to explore, interact with, and sample university subjects, courses and work experience online ahead of making an application. This is not only useful for students exploring their options, but can also be referenced in their UCAS personal statement.

Finally, alongside the UCAS Adviser portal, you can stay connected with like-minded individuals and learn about UCAS updates, on UCAS’ new LinkedIn page- specifically for teachers and advisers.

Helping learners with the costs of applying and going to university

For the 2025 cycle, UCAS has removed the undergraduate application fee for any student who is or has received free school meals during their last years at school or college. You can find a step-by-step guide and further information on the UCAS website.

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

The ALN system implemented in September 2021 has been gradually rolled out across Wales, creating a system supporting children and young people aged 0-25, replacing the Special Educational Needs System (SEN).

Alongside the ALN reform, the Curriculum for Wales offers schools and colleges more flexibility to teach in a way that best meets the individual needs of each learner, breaking down barriers to provide educational and training opportunities and outcomes for all learners.

We’ve learnt how 4 education and training settings are supporting learners with Additional Learning Needs to thrive.

With 16 mainstream classes, 7 specialist classes and one nurture group Bro Banw primary school in Ammanford put learners at the heart of everything they do. 

A person-centred approach is embedded across the whole school, putting the learner at the centre of the process and strengthening relationships with families and external agencies ensuring the right support is in place. The team is led by a senior ALNCo (Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator), to enhance the provision for pupils with ALN and that support is identified early.

Victoria Raikes, Senior ALNCo shared “We work closely to ensure that the children’s additional learning needs are catered for with early identification of needs, working with external agencies, liaising with parents and families really closely and also with the children to ensure that that person-centered approach is embedded across the school.”

Parkland primary school in Swansea take an inclusive approach to learning by using techniques such as differentiation and the use of technology to support all learners, especially those with ALN.

Importance is placed on early intervention to identify any ALN, ensuring learners get the support they need to reach their full potential. Engagement with parents and carers is a priority, both in person and online.

Felicity Poole, Acting Headteacher says, “this supports all learners, particularly those with ALN so that they feel included and that they can access the curriculum.  It really helps them make progress and feel confident that they are making developments and improvements with their learning”.

“Curriculum for Wales is a great avenue to allow schools to do what is right for the child and see children as individuals – individualised support and target intervention, you’re a bit more free to do that through Curriculum for Wales”.

At Coleg Gwent a group of hearing-impaired learners are developing independent life skills through individually tailored support at post-16, realising their full potential.

Working with students, Coleg Gwent develop personalised learning strategies and facilitate work placements to enhance academic achievement and prepare students for successful transitions into the workforce and community life. The college has a strong partnership with Elite training who support learners in their transition to employment

Coleg Gwent student Adrian says: “Coming to college for the first time, it’s difficult when you can’t communicate through speaking and listening.  The college has helped me to do work experience”.

Nicky shared “I got my confidence up because they made me happy working there.  I’m waiting for Elite to find work for me and learn at the same time, really.   And I can’t wait for the future to get confidence in myself and go up the levels in mechanics”. 

Hearing-impaired learners from Cwmbran High school are also part of the Deaf Club at Coleg Gwent, helping to build their confidence and supporting their transition from school.

Deaf students take centre stage at Coleg Gwent: https://www.gov.wales/deaf-students-take-centre-stage-coleg-gwent

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai in North Wales has been building close relationships with local schools to support learners with ALN. 

The college recognises the importance of collaboration and communication to help learners with ALN to achieve their education and training goals by supporting them to plan a successful transition to the next stage of their life.

Sharon O’Connor, Head of Additional Learning Needs at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai explains how the ALN system promotes collaboration and communication:

“This is a system where we can identify the student’s aspirations, the aspirations of the parents, and how we cooperate with schools. The teachers are integral to this, sharing information on what’s needed in the future. 

“Cooperating with external agencies and local authorities has been essential and at the heart of everything we have done as an ALN team.  We strive to create close relationships so that communication is clear, early identification, and that everyone is comfortable to have a conversation about young people”.

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

Thank you to everyone who took time out of their very busy schedules to attend the secondary headteacher conference in Cardiff on 8 November. 

It was wonderful to see so many headteachers from across Wales come together to network and to hear the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle give a keynote speech, put questions to her, and participate in two roundtable discussions chaired by Sir Alasdair McDonald and Professor Dylan Evans. 

Special thanks go to those who shared their experiences and strategies with the audience. Chris Parry, Lewis Boys, Pengam and Sarah Parry from Llanishen High during the Behaviour as a barrier to learningsession, and to Gwenno Davies and Dr Gareth Evans, Ysgol y Creuddyn, during the Standards: literacy and numeracy session.  Thanks also to Dr Cameron Downing, University of York on his contribution regarding the RILL programme.

You can see the video of the speeches and discussion sessions on the day

Thanks to everyone who provided their comments during the day, however, we would still welcome your input.  You may have had discussions back at school and have additional comments to make.  Please respond below.

Presentation slides

Questions: behaviour session

Respond to behaviour session

Respond to literacy and numeracy session

Diolch

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

During her Oral Statement in the Senedd, the Cabinet Secretary for Education outlined her key actions to improve attendance, including extra funding for family engagement officers.

Extra funding for family engagement officers in drive to boost school attendance

Statement

Our community-focused schools approach: Ysgolion Bro / Community Focused Schools – YouTube

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg

Grants will be awarded from April 2025 for up to 3 financial years to a range of organisations to support curriculum priorities under a new Curriculum for Wales grant support programme.

The application window for proposals opens on 29 November 2024 and closes on 31 January 2025.

The new programme is being introduced to better reflect how the curriculum is taught and the support needs of schools and settings.

Grants will be awarded either directly to organisations who are uniquely placed to deliver curriculum priorities, or through competitive bids to organisations targeting particular projects against clear national support priorities.

Competitive bids will focus on a number of key curriculum priorities:

• Curriculum design
• Literacy 
• Mathematics and numeracy
• Science and technology

The new grant programme will also include funding awards for the National Music Service (via the WLGA) and Foundation learning.

For eligibility see here.  https://www.gov.wales/curriculum-wales-grant-support-programme-guidance

Grants will be awarded to organisations who have a track record in supporting learning and teaching in schools and settings and can demonstrate a robust understanding of the Curriculum for Wales.

Organisations from the third and public sector, universities and private companies are invited to bid for the grants to support schools with expertise, training, materials and events, securing a range of support from outside organisations.