,Have you registered for the UCAS hub yet?  It is jam packed with useful information for completing your UCAS application.  Including recorded sessions that have been shown with speakers from various universities, workplaces and career sectors. All available to you for free. If you haven't registered yet, get on it!

The last year has been challenging to say the least, especially for every pupil going through the process of applying for University and college.  
Although the exams or assessment have been very different this year, the UCAS process remains the same (with the exception of a few deadline extensions)  
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For many of you it will be a very worrying and anxious time, as you will receive your provisional grades at some point during the week beginning the 21st of June. You will then have to wait until the 10th of August to receive your official results from the SQA, as normal. Universities will also have to wait until the 10th of August to receive your results. It can be a very worrying time, making decision about your next steps and what to do with any offers you have received from university over the summer. Hopefully, this presentation will help better prepare you to make these decisions, by giving you a bit more information about what your options are and how you can begin to prepare to apply via Extra or Clearing.
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Sent on behalf of Scottish Universities
Save the date - Scottish Education Exhibition

The school received this message this week and wanted to share with everyone.  
 
I’m excited to let you know about plans to host a free, virtual Scottish Education Exhibition in September for senior phase pupils across Scotland who are considering their pathways to further and higher education.
 
The event will take place on Thursday 9 September from 10am – 7pm and we hope schools will set aside time on this day for pupils to attend.
 
The Scottish Education Exhibition is being hosted by 14 Scottish universities, three colleges, SDS and SAAS. It will give senior phase pupils the chance to chat to representatives from each of the institutions, view information and videos, download prospectuses and join live webinars covering subjects including:

• Alternative routes to higher education

• Choose and apply

• Understanding entry requirements

• Personal statements

• An introduction to further education

• Scottish finance

• Recognising the key influencing role of parents and carers, the event will also feature an information session specifically for this group.

 
We appreciate that it’s difficult to make decisions about further study when there’s still uncertainty around open days and large-scale events. The Scottish Education Exhibition is being designed with pupils in mind to provide them with everything they need to make the right decisions and their next steps.

How to book
Pupils will need to book their own space at the event but the registration process will be simple and straightforward.
 
We’ll share details as soon as the booking opens but please put the date in your diary. On-the-day booking will also be available but we’d advise pupils to book in advance.

 For all leavers who are attending a Scottish University:  Please remember to apply via SAAS for your University fees.  This is important, even if you are not applying for any other funding; bursary or loan.  

Stuck on your final five? Get your questions answered and explore over 30 unis, colleges, and providers in one place at the UCAS virtual exhibition!This is your perfect opportunity to meet unis, ask questions, speak to subject experts, and compare courses ahead of the deadline. If you’re looking at courses in any of the other subjects listed below, either in Scotland or England, make sure you book your place.
You’ll be able to:

• ask anything to over 30 unis and colleges
• get personal statement and interview advice from the unis you’re interested in
• take part in seminars and live Q&As on student essentials, including subject-specific support and student finance
• take virtual tours of different campuses and accommodation options
• speak to course experts
• meet current students, to find out what uni life’s really like

BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW!

Parental Information Event
Thursday 21 February – Ayrshire College, Riverside Building, between 5.00pm and 7.00pm
Curriculum experts will be available to speak to parents, pupils, teachers about the content of school college courses, full time courses and progression pathways.
 
The link to book onto the event https://schoolinformationevenings.eventbrite.co.uk or http://www1.ayrshire.ac.uk/schools/
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The programme and list of over thirty businesses/organisations who will be participating in our Careers Evening on Wednesday 6th February can be found below. We hope that as many students and parents can attend as possible. Please register for your free tickets using the link: https://marrcareers.eventbrite.co.uk or scan the QR code at the bottom of the page with your mobile device.
 
Museum Space
Teachers from curricular areas will be in attendance to give advice on subjects and option choices.

Learning Plaza’s
Colleges, universities, partner organisations and businesses (see full list below)

Assembly Hall Presentations
18.15-18.30
Aidan McIntyre (GE Caledonian Apprentice Mentor)
Keynote speech - Moving into work

18.35-18.50
Claire Dumbreck
Careers in Fashion Industry

18.55-19.10
Emma McNeil & Alan Mills
Careers in Education/Teaching

19.15-19.30
Roddy Campbell & Isla Cummins (GSK)
Careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

19.35-19.50
Sarah Gifford (Skills Development Scotland – Careers Coach)
Application forms/Interview techniques

Canteen Area
Coffee available from S3&S4 students in barista area (donations requested)

Businesses/Organisations/Career Areas Attending (in Learning Plaza’s)

There will be an information evening for S6 students and parents on Monday 3rd September at 6.30pm in the School Assembly Hall. All S6 students are encouraged to attend.  Information to support the UCAS application process can always be found here.  

S3 Physics students took part in the Ashfield Music Festival in May, rounding off their learning experience after a successful year in Physics.

Ashfield Music Festival is one day off-timetable activity – hosted in our Learning Plaza - in which learners develop skills in enterprise and learn how physics applies in the context of setting up a music festival by taking on one of six roles: project manager, health and safety advisor, construction manager, electrical engineer, sound engineer or lighting engineer. 

They are supported by real-life scientists – referred to as “experts” – and must use a mixture of physics-based knowledge, creativity and skills associated with enterprise in order to win the contract to build the main stage.
We were lucky to have the support of six great STEM Ambassadors from Glaxo-Smith-Kline, the University of Glasgow, Kvaerner- and it was a delight to welcome back Chloe Elliot, a former student and final years Honours student at Heriot-Watt University.

In the morning, the students worked together to organise the music festival, with each of them needing the support of each other to complete their tasks.  They were supported by the Experts throughout this considerable challenge.  In the afternoon, the Experts became Judges, and the teams had to pitch to the panel in a bid to win the contract to host their festival.

This was the youngest year group that Dr Spencer had run the event with, but they rose to the challenge and produced excellent work and very impressive presentations.

In the end, Team CC Ltd with their Rock Valley festival impressed the judges the most, and were presented with their winners’ certificates and prizes at the end of the day.  Congratulations to Jamie, Lawson, Joshua, Josh, Harry and Calum.

The students said that really enjoyed the day and while they found it very challenging, they were proud to rise to the challenge and succeed.  They liked being off-timetable for the day to work on an extended task, and it made them aware of the role that physics plays in organising a music festival!  The STEM Ambassadors said that they really enjoyed the event and felt that the students got a lot out of the day.  They said they were impressed with the pupils – they were well-behaved, very engaged and a credit to Marr College. Below is the winning poster to advertise the winning music festival.