Higher Education and Careers
Welcome to our Higher Education and Careers Page.
Please read this letter from Ofqual and UCAS regarding how your results are determined, results day, confirming offers and Clearing: published 18th July 2023.
Letter to Students from Ofqual and UCAS
A Level results Day - Thursday 17th August 2023
We look forward to seeing our students on Results Day on Thursday, 17th August to collect their A Level results.
Students will be able to collect their results between 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. They should come to the main reception at school: you are welcome to accompany them if you wish. If they have any queries following receipt of results there will be help, guidance and advice on hand in school.
The Sixth form team and staff look forward to meeting with you all in August on results day, on the final part of the students’ educational journey at Rugby High School.
Please see below some useful information from UCAS about Results Day:
UCAS Guide to results day - What you need to know
What options do I have on results day?
Accept your firm or insurance choice
Got an offer? Congratulations! Pick a uni and secure your place. Your chosen uni will direct you on what to do next.
Enter Clearing
If you didn’t get any offers, or declined the ones you’ve got, you can find a course through Clearing once it goes live on our search tool. Use our guide to help you out.
Appeal for your grades
Think your results need reviewing? Talk to your school to know your options, and how to submit an appeal to the exam board. You’ll need to alert your uni to see if they can hold your place, or if you need to enter Clearing while waiting for your appeal.
Defer
Maybe you’re not quite ready for uni. A break sounds nice, and you might even be thinking of gaining some work experience.
Inform your uni immediately if you choose to defer your studies. Most unis will hold your place for a year if you’ve met all conditions for entry. Be prepared to explain your decision.
Consider an apprenticeship
Have a career in mind already? A degree apprenticeship might just be the path for you. Use our guide on finding an apprenticeship for help.
Contextual Admissions
What do we mean by ‘contextual admissions’?
When universities consider your achievements, it helps them to know if you've faced any particular circumstances or challenges that may have impacted your education or results. By looking at your achievements in context, they may adjust their usual offer to give you a fair chance to access your chosen course – these are called ‘contextual offers’.
The type of offer you receive will depend on the course and provider you apply to. Not every university or college makes contextual offers, so make sure you do your research.
Contextual offers can include:
- a reduced offer – typically a grade or two lower than advertised in the course entry requirements
- an offer of a place on a course with a foundation year
- a guaranteed interview
- an unconditional offer
- a course with additional support in place to help you reach your full potential
- giving your application extra consideration when making you an offer
Who is eligible for contextual offers?
The eligibility criteria will vary from one university to another – it’s important to check before applying.
Examples of circumstances considered:
-
Where you live – if you live in an area where there is a high level of deprivation, or a low number of people going to university. This is usually decided by your postcode: postcode search tool
- Your school or college – if your school’s academic performance is lower than the national average, or a small number of pupils go on to higher education.** N.B. This doesn't apply to RHS but may apply to your previous school, so it's always worth considering
- If you have participated in certain outreach programmes.
- Household income – if your total household income is lower than average.
- Parental education – if your parents did not attend university.
- If you have spent time in local authority care, such as a foster home, residential children’s home or kinship care. Read more about going to university from a care background.
- If you are estranged from your parents – if your relationship has broken down leading to no contact. Read more about going to university as an estranged student.
- If you have caring responsibilities – those who are unpaid carers for a family member or friend. Read more about going to university as a carer.
- If you have a disability or mental health condition – including learning differences and long-term health conditions. Read more about going to university as a disabled student.
This is not a full list – some universities consider a range of circumstances, and others may not consider some of the above groups.
If students have any questions about contextual offers they can speak to Mrs Dermott-Bond, Dr Carr, Mrs Thompson, Mrs Billington or Thembi (on her return).
UCAS - Parent / Carers Guide
Please click here or use the link at the bottom of this page to download the '2024 UCAS Guide - everything you need to support your child with their higher education choices'.
This guide contains information on:
- Pre-application planning and exploring their options
- Making a UCAS application, including writing a great personal statement
- What happens next - What happens when UCAS gets their application
- Additional useful resources
UCAS Terms Explained
UCAS use quite a few terms in the application process. They’ve explained them all here, if you need to check what any mean.