Activities for teachers and careers advisers

Conferences

The University Challenge – Free CPD conference addressing key HE progression issues and equipping teachers and advisors in preparing tomorrow’s students

Date: Friday 25 May 9.30am–3.30pm

Please note that this event is now fully booked.

This one-day conference is a free event to help equip teachers and advisors with a range of resources, information and advice relevant to progression to higher education. It will address the key topics of access to selective universities; admissions; student finance and funding; changes to the UCAS system; and best practice in the provision of information advice and guidance (IAG) in schools and colleges.

Delegates will have the opportunity to attend workshops and discussion panels that will enable them to ask questions and receive information first hand from experts.

Whole conference plenary and discussion panels include:

Keynote address: The Jumbo Jet and the Postage Stamp
Professor Clive Agnew, Vice-President of Teaching, Learning and Students at The University of Manchester, will deliver a keynote address on how universities must now manage a range of factors when admitting students e.g. AAB/non-AAB, WP targets, quality and quantity of intake and bursary expenditure.

Keynote speech: Is it a tax? No. Is it a debt? No.
This keynote presentation will explore ways in which students should perceive the new student finance arrangements (speaker to be confirmed).

University Question Time
Put your burning questions to our panel of experts on any matter relating to progression to university.

Sessions and workshops

Delegates will be able to attend two of the following workshop sessions:

UCAS Development
This session will look at proposed and actual changes to the UCAS system in light of the consultation that closed in early 2012.

Signposts to Success
What are the best resources to help students navigate their way into higher education? This workshop will signpost teachers and advisors to the top resources for providing higher education IAG.

Teaching Styles and Peer-Assisted Mentoring
This workshop will showcase different teaching and learning styles and approaches at The University of Manchester, and will provide an insight in to the world of peer-assisted mentoring.

Employability – What Do Graduates Do?
This session, involving graduate employers, will look at graduate career progression opportunities and the relationship between degree choice, career outcomes and earnings.

Contextual Admissions Data: Engineering or Excellence?
Many universities are now using additional data about schooling and social background in the selection of students. Why do they do this? How do they do it? And is it fair?

Informed Choices
This workshop will outline key information, advice and guidance on the preferred GCSE and A-level subject choices needed to progress to Russell Group and other selective universities.

If you have any enquiries about the National Teachers Conference, please email schoolsandcolleges@manchester.ac.uk.

Continuing professional development opportunities for teachers and careers advisers

The Manchester Schools and Colleges Forum

The Manchester Schools and Colleges Forum is open to any teacher or careers adviser in the region. The group meets termly on the University campus to network, share best practice and find out about the latest developments in the higher education (HE) sector. Each meeting has a theme, past examples of which include 'the Extended Project Qualification' and 'UCAS Developments'.

The Forum is supported by a termly e-newsletter. This keeps members up to date with activities at the University in which they or their students may be interested, offers an update on the HE sector and an includes articles about specific courses or subject areas offered at The University of Manchester.

Workshops for teachers and careers advisers

Reference writing for teachers

This presentation is aimed at teachers with the responsibility for writing student references on the UCAS application form and highlights content that admissions tutors are looking for. The session uses real examples to show the kind of information that could make a difference to the outcome of a student application.

Personal statement writing for teachers

This presentation is aimed at teachers who offer information and guidance to students on writing their personal statements as part of their UCAS application. The presentation covers what admissions tutors are looking for in the UCAS form and, in particular, the personal statement. The session uses real examples to emphasise the kind of information that will really make a difference to the outcome of a student application.