We aim to help young people to prepare themselves for lives which balance fulfilment and success in their chosen fields with the wider interests and values which have been central to their lives at JAGS. Students are encouraged to aim high academically, not merely in terms of examination grades, but in their enthusiasm for and exploration of their subjects beyond the syllabus, and they are enabled to balance their academic work with a hugely rich blend of other activities, all of which will prepare them for adult life in a rapidly changing world. 

Preparation for Higher Education begins with the Introduction to the Sixth Form in Year 10. Students spend a day in the Summer Term in the sixth form block, attending classes in those subjects not offered at GCSE – Critical Thinking, Economics, History of Art, Philosophy, Politics – and are introduced to the UCAS website and shown how to investigate university courses.  They also attend ISCO talks as part of this day. In Year 11, the options process begins when students and parents are given the A level options handbook and attend an Open Evening in the Autumn Term, where Heads of Department and Sixth Form students are available to discuss A Level courses in detail, and where there is a general introduction by senior staff to sixth form life, and to the advice available for students and parents on university choices. While choosing their A level subjects, students are advised to consult subject staff and form tutors, and to research their likely career choices to ensure that they keep these options open.  Each student will have an individual interview with a member of staff about her

A level choices, and staff are carefully advised to ensure that girls consider all the implications fully – many girls will return several times for further discussion and advice.  Some will also take the Morrisby tests, which will give a starting point to these discussions (see separate document on Careers Advice and Guidance at JAGS).

Once in the Sixth Form, students are encouraged from the start to consider, not only the qualifications they will need, but the much broader ways in which they should be taking advantage of opportunities offered within and outside school. This preparation can be divided into five broad areas:

Study Skills

The Head of Sixth Form discusses areas such as time management, use of the library and aiming beyond the syllabus with Year 12 in the Lecture Slot.  This is complemented by a full Study Skills morning for Year 12, half way through the Autumn Term, led by the Life Skills Company. Tutors are encouraged to attend this, and they follow up in tutorial time on skills such as speed-reading and note-taking.

After the AS examinations, the Bridge to A2 is a  curriculum-based opportunity for students to develop independent learning skills, both subject-based and more widely; each subject sets tasks for independent research, and tutors will use this time to focus again on effective methods for this.

Careers

A series of careers lectures are arranged for Year 12, many of which are given by Alumnae. Students are asked at the start of the year to suggest any careers in which they are particularly interested, and the programme is adjusted to include as many of these as possible.

Girls take the Coursefinder tests, and a number also take the Futurewise tests, all of which are discussed with them by their tutors, as a prelude to discussions over Higher Education.

Work experience is arranged mainly in Year 11, but students can be given help to make contacts for further work experience in the Sixth Form.

Subject-specific preparation

Subject teachers address subject-specific study skills, and also advise students on preparing for Higher Education, for example by suggesting reading and offering other opportunities for enrichment, such as lectures, and relevant study visits within and beyond the syllabus. There is specific subject enrichment teaching in a number of subjects in Year 13, for those who have decided to apply to university in those subjects – some may be specifically for tests such as the BMAT, in other subjects it may be an opportunity to discuss wider reading.

Extra-curricular  enrichment

Within the Lecture Slot, speakers are invited to discuss issues of general interest. In Year 13, all students take 2 Liberal Studies courses, held at JAGS and at Dulwich College, on a very wide range of subjects, some highly academic, others leisure-based.

There is a very wide range of opportunities for Community Action, Drama and Music, and for leadership within the school, through the House system, the sixth form social committee and through student-led societies. Students are encouraged to participate, and to learn to balance these with their academic commitments.

Specific University preparation

At least 3 lecture periods, over the Spring and Summer Terms of Year 12, will be spent on introducing students to the applications process, covering issues such as researching courses, preparing for these (referring to sections 3 and 4 above in particular), university finance, gap years and open days. The school will organise one or two visits, such as the UCAS SE London fair, or the Oxbridge conference in North London, and students are encouraged to organise other open day visits in the Summer Term for themselves. Alumnae are invited to come and discuss university life. General advice on writing the Personal Statement is given by the Head of Sixth Form, and all students will prepare a draft statement in the Summer Term of Year 12, with individual advice from their tutors. 

In Year 13, the Head of Sixth Form will advise all girls individually on their choices, and they will also discuss these with tutors and subject teachers. University applications are revised by both the tutors and the Head of Sixth Form.

Practice interviews are arranged for all girls who request them – these are generally given by academics and other professionals with experience of the admissions process, and feedback is given to the student and the tutor.

Those students who choose to apply to university after A levels will be given a further session on the UCAS process in the Summer term of Year 13, and all will book an  interview with the Head of Sixth Form in August or early September to discuss their applications. The Head of Sixth Form then keeps in close contact with these applicants throughout the application process.

Those students who wish to apply to universities in the United States will be given specialist advice by the Deputy Head of Sixth Form.

Reviewed Autumn 2007