Counsellor's Corner

High School Counsellor Updates from Mrs. Barker!

Our Grade 12 students have been busy working on their personal statements with Ms. Barker and will have their final UCAS reviews next week with David Chapman. These students will be ready to press apply to their universities from next week onwards with Ms. Barker’s support. Students applying to the Netherlands, US and other countries will continue their application process.

Grade 11 students kick started their university path with an overview of university admissions with David Chapman last Wednesday. This provided a great chance for students to reflect on how to choose a course to study and where they might like to go. It also opened up discussions about ensuring you have a competitive application for university or college. David held careers clinics with students who signed up for a one-to-one advice session with him following up from Morrisby profiling form last year, or simply to discuss career options and get neutral advice on what they are hoping to do. Grade 11s will work with Ms. Barker later this month in small groups. During these sessions the students will explore their unique pathways and create a long list of courses they would like to pursue and universities/colleges they would like to apply to. Alternative routes will be discussed when relevant too.

Grade 8-12 students have had the opportunity to attend alternative routes talks. Both the Navy/Marines and the RAF talks were well attended and informative for students and parents. Students or parents can contact Ms. Barker if they want to follow-up with either of these paths and she can share details of her contacts. David Chapman’s parent session last Wednesday looked at all the options available to students post-16 and provided a great overview of all the opportunities young people can avail of if they do not wish to attend university. 

Ms. Barker has been doing regular academic check-ins with students by appointment during the advisory sessions, breaks and lunchtimes. Learning strategies (supported by science) are discussed and Ms. Barker works with the students on their particular weekly schedule to make a realistic plan for homework and study.