A couple of questions about summer schools

[Twisique]

We have been looking at The Sutton Trust for DS. When they say Y12 do they mean the summer between Y11 and Y12 or Y12 and Y13?

Can anyone suggest any day or week outreach/summer school for the summer between Y11 and starting A levels for someone who doesn't know too much about university?

Sutton Trust and Oxford UNIQ are both for the summer between years 12 & 13. Most students are only just considering their next steps at this stage. You may wish to look at some open days after GCSEs though and keep an eye open for any local university public events.

Thanks Hoghgyni! Its all a bit new and I want to make sure I get things right.

There really is a flurry of activity in year 12. My DD is currently in year 13. She was lucky enough to get a place on a Cambridge outreach scheme (in a different subject to the course she is now applying for) and her school arranged a trip for them. She also went to Cambridge for a masterclass which cost £25 and was worth an overnight stay. Our nearest university also does a lot of outreach work. She applied for a place on UNIQ and was one of the lucky ones to be selected. This gave her 5 days at an Oxford college this summer. She also went to a couple of open days before submitting her UCAS form in September.

A lot of universities have open days in June & July, then another batch in the autumn. I would only suggest attending something locally post GCSEs. At this point your DS will probably be having some concerns over what to study at A level rather than seriously considering his degree course. I also found that DD just wanted to get away from anything exam related for a couple of months - university options would have been a step too far that summer.

You may find his school runs some university visits (often dressed up as workshops or competitions) in year 11.

Thanks again, I suppose also the extra year helps with maturity and its less intimidating.

@Twisique we took Ds1 who has just started year 12 to our local uni open day in October. This was just to show him what a university campus looked like, we sat in a talk of a subject he is interested in and it demystified the whole thing for him.

Both Dh and I went to uni but it is easier to show someone a university campus than it is to explain it to them.

There will be lots of them in July so I would take him to one local to you. You can also tour the accommodation just to get a feel for if he goes away to uni.

If science looking then Headstart do some great summer courses. Competitive but great fun.

Might take a look at somewhere local and also at Headstart, thanks!