Parents & Carers

Welcome to the Parents and Carers section of our website! We recognise how vital a role you play in your young person’s educational decision making and we want to support you in this however we can. On our website you’ll find guidance, useful links, resources and videos, as well as an option to live chat the Shaping Futures team.

UCAS provides a guide for parents and carers, including the opportunity to sign up for a monthly parents and carers newsletter. Please take a look around the rest of our website, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, have a specific query or would like to discuss anything in detail, please contact us! We’re here to support parents and carers, as well as your young people.

Parents & Carers

Welcome to the Parents and Carers section of our website! We recognise how vital a role you play in your young person’s educational decision making and we want to support you in this however we can. On our website you’ll find guidance, useful links, resources and videos, as well as an option to live chat the Shaping Futures team.

UCAS provides a guide for parents and carers, including the opportunity to sign up for a monthly parents and carers newsletter. Please take a look around the rest of our website, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, have a specific query or would like to discuss anything in detail, please contact us! We’re here to support parents and carers, as well as your young people.

Parents & Carers

Welcome to the Parents and Carers section of our website! We recognise how vital a role you play in your young person’s educational decision making and we want to support you in this however we can. On our website you’ll find guidance, useful links, resources and videos, as well as an option to live chat the Shaping Futures team.

UCAS provides a guide for parents and carers, including the opportunity to sign up for a monthly parents and carers newsletter. Please take a look around the rest of our website, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, have a specific query or would like to discuss anything in detail, please contact us! We’re here to support parents and carers, as well as your young people.

Parent's Guide To University

Parent's Guide To University

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Year 7

Here students will successfully transition to secondary school and begin to develop confidence, responsibility, good homework habits and positive relationships within school…

Year 8

Students are still developing confidence, responsibility and positive relationships in schools as well as engaging with opportunities their school offers and exploring…

Year 7

Here students will successfully transition to secondary school and begin to develop confidence, responsibility, good homework habits and positive relationships within school…

Year 8

Students are still developing confidence, responsibility and positive relationships in schools as well as engaging with opportunities their school offers and exploring…

Year 9

Students should consider their future pathways in education and careers when choosing their options for GCSE level study.Their option choices will be informed by their interest…

Year 10

As they continue through their GCSE level studies students will be improving on their revision and study skills. Alongside this they will be researching their next steps, attending college…

Year 11

Whilst in their final year of GCSE level studies students will continue to develop their study and revision skills as well as applying for their chosen Further Education options…

Year 12

During their first year in Further Education students will look to successfully transition to Level 3 study. Alongside their studies students should begin their long-term career…

Year 13

In their final year students will be completing their Level 3 studies alongside confirming their Higher Education options. Students should choose their course and decide…

Transitions

Our transitions pack includes information that helps prepare learners to move into GCSE, Further and Higher Education study as well as information for parents and carers supporting their journey.

Year 9

Students should consider their future pathways in education and careers when choosing their options for GCSE level study.Their option choices will be informed by their interest in subjects in Year 7 and 8, their own… 

Year 10

As they continue through their GCSE level studies students will be improving on their revision and study skills. Alongside this they will be researching their next steps, attending college and sixth form open days…

Year 11

Whilst in their final year of GCSE level studies students will continue to develop their study and revision skills as well as applying for their chosen Further Education options. Students should also consider their plans…

Year 12

During their first year in Further Education students will look to successfully transition to Level 3 study. Alongside their studies students should begin their long-term career planning by researching…

Year 13

In their final year students will be completing their Level 3 studies alongside confirming their Higher Education options. Students should choose their course and decide which five Higher Education…

Transitions

Our transitions pack includes information that helps prepare learners to move into GCSE, Further and Higher Education study as well as information for parents and carers supporting their journey.

Parents' Guide to University

UniTasterDays.com has collaborated with HELOA to help you support your young person with their higher education decisions. Covering topics such as student finance, university applications, university events, student wellbeing and more, this comprehensive guide provides you with the information you need when you’re having university discussions in the future.

Parent's Guide to Student Finance

Parent's Guide to Student Finance

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A Parents Toolkit for Career Conversations

Talkingfutures.org.uk can help you. as a parent or carer, to have informed and constructive conversations with your child about different pathways and routes available to them.

Contact Us

The Shaping Futures team is here to support you and the young people in your life considering Higher Education. Whether you’re thinking about how GCSE options fit into a young person’s education journey, need advice on where to start the university research process or have questions about student accommodation or student finance, we’re here to help!

You can use the Contact Us form to get in touch with your queries and a member of our friendly, highly qualified team will get back to you.

Contact Us

The Shaping Futures team is here to support you and the young people in your life considering Higher Education. Whether you’re thinking about how GCSE options fit into a young person’s education journey, need advice on where to start the university research process or have questions about student accommodation or student finance, we’re here to help!

You can use the Contact Us form to get in touch with your queries and a member of our friendly, highly qualified team will get back to you.

Contact Us

The Shaping Futures team is here to support you and the young people in your life considering Higher Education. Whether you’re thinking about how GCSE options fit into a young person’s education journey, need advice on where to start the university research process or have questions about student accommodation or student finance, we’re here to help! 

You can use the Contact Us form to get in touch with your queries and a member of our friendly, highly qualified team will get back to you.

Year 7

Here students will successfully transition to secondary school and begin to develop confidence, responsibility, good homework habits and positive relationships within school. This is a great time for students to make the most of any opportunities school offers as well as exploring their interests in subject areas which can lead to aspirations towards potential careers and education pathways.

Year 8

Students are still developing confidence, responsibility and positive relationships in schools as well as engaging with opportunities their school offers and exploring their interests in particular areas. As well as building on good habits with homework students will begin to explore revision skills to prepare for their studies from Year 9 and above.

Year 9

Students should consider their future pathways in education and careers when choosing their options for GCSE level study. Their option choices will be informed by their interest in subjects in Year 7 and 8, their own independent research focused on their aspirations, and meetings with careers advisers within school. Students will also begin practising commitments to long term goals, such as after school activities, which will benefit them throughout education and their career. Young people should begin considering their Further Education options at this stage.

Year 10

As they continue through their GCSE level studies students will be improving on their revision and study skills. Alongside this they will be researching their next steps, attending college and sixth form open days to make the best Further Education choice for them. Students may also engage in work experience and residentials that support their career and education pathway planning.

Year 12

During their first year in Further Education students will look to successfully transition to Level 3 study. Alongside their studies students should begin their long-term career planning by researching Higher Education options, attending Open Days face to face or virtually, short listing potential universities and courses and drafting their personal statements for Higher Education applications. Students should engage in extracurricular experiences that complement their aspirations such as residentials, work or research placements, and work experience.

Year 13

In their final year students will be completing their Level 3 studies alongside confirming their Higher Education options. Students should choose their course and decide which five Higher Education institutions they will be applying to, complete the final draft of their personal statement and finally complete and submit their UCAS form and their Student Finance application. During this, students will research accommodation options, completing relevant applications through their confirmed institution and purchasing their study materials and accommodation necessities (and décor).

Year 11

Whilst in their final year of GCSE level studies students will continue to develop their study and revision skills as well as applying for their chosen Further Education options. Students should also consider their plans after Further Education using research to understand if their choices fit with their long-term goals. Students may also engage in work experience, begin preparing for their Further Education studies, and make the most of their longer summer holiday by engaging with programmes such as NCS.