Information for Students and Parents
Student Handbook
Key Dates
2024 - 2025 (25-26 dates will be published soon)
Wednesday 25 September 6pm to 7pm : Y12 Welcome and information evening
Tuesday 15 October 6pm: UCAS closes for Medicine Dentistry and Veterinary
Thursday 17 October 4pm to 7pm: Virtual Parents' Evening Y12 and 13
Week beginning Monday 21 October until Friday 25 October: Y13 PPEs
Monday 18 November 1pm to 3pm: Learn2Live road safety presentation - Y12
Thursday 14 November: Sixth Form Open Evening for Y11/10
Friday 22 November: Applications to Y12 open
Thursday 12 December 4pm to 7pm: Y12 and 13 Parents' Evening
January and February: applicant meetings with Mr Davies
Friday 17 January: Application deadline for Y12 2025 entry
Wednesday 29 January 6pm: UCAS closes for 2025 entry
Wednesday 26 February: Whole College Careers Day
Wednesday 12 March: UCAS Convention, Westpoint Arena, Exeter
Wednesday 12 March 6pm to 7pm: UCAS and Post 18 information evening for parents
Wednesday 2 April: University and Apprenticeship Show at the University of Exeter
May and June: National exams, A level and BTEC
Monday 23 June to Friday 27 June: Y12 PPEs
Monday 30 June: UCAS Application Day for Y12, 2026 entry
Tuesday 1 July: Independence Day Y12
Wednesday 2 July to Friday 4 July: Y12 London Residential
Monday 7 July to Friday 11 July: Y12 Work Experience week
Thursday 14 August: A level/Level 3 results day
UCAS
The UCAS website is the platform for applying for University:
Advice for Parents and carers:
How to find the right course:
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/how-choose-right-undergraduate-course-you
When to apply:
https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/ucas-undergraduate-when-apply
Student Finance:
Chat to current students to ask questions about student life:
https://www.ucas.com/chat-to-students
Information about UCAS tariffs:
UCAS Tariff Points - what are they and how do they work?
Calculate your UCAS Tariff points | UCAS
UCAS key dates:
Key dates and the application journey | Undergraduate, Conservatoires, Apprenticeships | UCAS
Revision Resources
Below are useful links used by a number of subjects to support students with revision, consolidation and wider reading.
For more subject-specific web-links please see subject teachers.
Unifrog
Unifrog is a careers platform that brings useful, up-to-date careers information into one single, impartial, user-friendly platform that helps students to make the best choices, and submit the strongest applications. The platform offers general careers guidance, subject specific resources including wider reading and study skill support.
Up Learn
Up Learn is an online learning and revision platform for A Level Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics and Psychology.
Year 12 and 13 students of these subjects have access to hundreds of online video lessons and exam preparation materials covering the A Level course. Students should check for an email from Up Learn in their college email account. Students can use Up Learn to complement their learning in the classroom
- Use the introductory video lessons and practice questions to ease into new topics, break down complex material, and come to class ready to stretch knowledge beyond the basics
- Reinforce learning in lessons or catch up on any missed classes
- Challenge through topic quizzes to make sure course content is being retained
- Start preparing for exams with how-to guides and practice papers, created exclusively for Up Learn by official examiners
Up Learn build their courses using cutting edge technology and robust research from the field of cognitive science, with gigantic success - 97% of their students achieve A and A* grades in their exams. The platform uses artificial intelligence to track progress and personalise learning schedules to get students performing at their potential standard as soon as possible.
Massolit
https://www.massolit.io/: MASSOLIT works with university academics to produce high-quality, curriculum-linked video lectures for A-level across a range of subjects. It is incredibly helpful for students to read around their subjects and gain a deeper understanding.
A range of additional study resources are also available in the Sixth Form Centre.
News and Letters
Most, but not all, letters and messages that have been sent to Sixth Form Students and their families are published here.
Letters are generally sent by email. If you have been directed to this page via a text message, this means that we don't have your email address. We would be grateful if you could share this with us as it is often the most efficient means of communication. You can advise us of your email address by sending a message to our administration team at: awoodcock@thespirescollege.com.
Letters and other messages may also be communicated via Class Charts. It is important that all parents / carers access Class Charts for day to day information about their child, including notifications regarding detentions, rewards and sanctions. Details about Class Charts can be found via this link:
