Your Best Experience: Take a Tip from a Cadbury Student
What can I tell you to make Cadbury Sixth Form College your best experience yet? Well here are my best tips for really making the most of your time and preparations for the big move!
3 TIPS FOR APPLYING TO COLLEGE (Trust me, you’re going to want to know the last one!)
Number 1: Do Your Research
Make sure you seek advice and visit open days to see the college for yourself.
Number 2: Apply Early
The earlier you apply, the sooner you can secure your place and concentrate on your exams. Makes sense right?
Not only that, you can take advantage of exclusive support available to offer holders.
Number 3: Pick Subjects That You Enjoy And That You’re Good At
Not everyone knows what they want to be when they’re older – and that’s fine!
Cadbury has one of the largest course offers in the region. And for that reason you don’t have to compromise what you enjoy.
5 THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE GOING TO COLLEGE
Number 1: Pick A Subject You Enjoy
The subjects you choose will be your primary focus for the next two years. Why don’t you make those next two years as enjoyable as possible?
Number 2: This Isn’t Like School
Say goodbye to assemblies, morning registration, and most importantly detention. You’ll be treated like an adult here.
Number 3: Time Management Is Super Important
Free periods aren’t always about catching up with your mates. They should be used to get ahead, whether that’s revising or studying certain subjects.
Number 4: Everybody’s Too Caught Up In Their Own Appearances To Worry About Yours
In College you finally get to wear your own clothes and express yourself. The last thing you want to be doing is worrying what other people think. Trust me!
Finally, Number 5: Take Care Of Yourself
College can be a big step from school and whilst it does involve a lot of study and work time, it’s really important that you take care of yourself and your wellbeing. And just enjoy it – you’ve got this guys!
DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CADBURY STUDENT
8am: I left the house – I’ll never get used to these dark mornings. I got on the bus with my free bus pass because Cadbury girlies do not pay for their transport 😊
9am: I headed to my first health class which I’m doing a T Level in. I’d love to be a nurse someday and this course is the first step to getting there.
11am: Ok, this is when my day got weird. Our college has a brand-new building and it’s kitted out with loads of hi-tec stuff, including VR. This was actually the most fun lesson ever. We even printed out Lego!
1pm: VR made me so hungry, so it was time for lunch. On the menu today was my favourite cheesy pasta bake with a cheeky bit of garlic bread.
2pm: I had a free period where I caught up with some coursework because I really do not want to be falling behind.
3pm: I headed over to music club which is always such a laugh. What a tune!
4pm: I grabbed a drink and headed home.
I BET YOUR COLLEGE DOESN’T HAVE THIS!
This is Cadbury College’s brand-new Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths centre – and I am loving it!
This huge centre supports students looking to enter careers in manufacturing, life sciences, digital media and loads more. And it even has digital learning labs and virtual reality suites which offer coding and robotics opportunities for T Levels and A Levels.
My favourite part has to be the flexible studying and social spaces – absolutely perfect for catching up with your mates. If you fancy having a look around, make sure to check our upcoming open days.
Turn Esports Passion into Profession
Gamers looking to turn their passion for Esports into a profession now have the chance to do just that at Cadbury Sixth Form College.
A brand-new Level 3 Esports course is launching at Cadbury in September 2024, providing students with an introduction to the fast-developing world of Esports. The College group has invested in esports gaming rooms, editing suites and enterprise pods to ensure students have access to the most inclusive and dynamic growth environment in an industry already worth over £1 billion.
Over two years students will gain valuable hands-on experience and discover more about the unique crossover of subjects such as enterprise, game design, marketing, business, teamwork and event management in the rapidly growing Esports industry. As they continue to develop their understanding of the industry, learners will also cover the technical aspects of Esports including programming, 2D & 3D graphics and live-streamed broadcasting, culminating in the design and delivery of their own competitive Esports event.
Learners taking this qualification will study topics ranging from skills, strategies and analysis to health, wellbeing and fitness for Esports players and responsible gaming. They will also benefit greatly from interaction with professional teams, guest speaker talks and work experience opportunities.
Head of Sport, Scott Thomas, said: “Esports is a rapidly growing industry around the world and within the education sector. This generation of students have grown up online and their sights are set on a digital future. Many UK universities now offer Esports as a degree course. Our students will have access to players and expertise which will enable them to turn their passion into a profession, learning employability skills including digital, problem-solving, teamwork, organisation and analytics to support them in whichever pathway they choose to progress.
“If you’re passionate about gaming and want to turn it into a career, this is the perfect opportunity for you.”
Don’t miss out on this chance to turn your passion into a profession!
Cadbury Is Not Like School
Studying at college is not like studying at school or moving onto a school sixth form. There’s so much more to life at Cadbury!
By joining us at Cadbury Sixth Form College, you’ll become part of one of the most diverse and vibrant college communities. Here you’ll develop and enjoy independence, make lifelong friends and experience our fantastic facilities and unbeatable support.
Here are the Top 5 best things about college life:
You’re in charge
From picking your courses, deciding when and where to do your additional study outside of lessons, to what you wear to college. At college you’ll be treated like an adult and enjoy the benefits of independence. You get to take control of your learning and your future and most importantly you get to be yourself.
There is support for you everywhere
Some people can’t wait to leave school and for others it can seem a bit daunting. If the idea of independence and moving somewhere new scares you, then don’t worry. First of all, you’re not alone, loads of people feel anxious, but more importantly there’s even more support on offer than you’re used to at school. We have staff to help with everything from catching up with homework, applying to university, welfare, finance and mental health – the list goes on. You can find more about support here.
There is always something going on
Life at college is much more than just what goes on in the classroom and there’s always something new to get involved in, from trips abroad to experience new cultures to cultural celebrations in college, freshers’ fairs and activity days. College life is jam-packed and never boring. We offer a wide range of enrichment courses too from sports clubs to societies – you can find out more here.
The best facilities
Your school may have a good library or even some new sports equipment, but at Cadbury Sixth Form College the facilities are next level! Using the latest technology and design we have everything from science labs, libraries, gym and sports facilities to nursing wards, film studios and robotics labs. Our brand-new £6.6million STEM building is a must see. Find out more here.
Make college pay!
From our free college bus pass to bursary and welfare support, college doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact it’s the opposite – you can make it pay – whether it’s taking advantage of all the student discounts on offer to getting support with job applications with our careers team. Being a Cadbury student comes with lots of added benefits.
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Here at Cadbury we’re big believers in choice and think that students shouldn’t have to compromise on what they enjoy when deciding what to do after school. For that reason we have one of the largest course offers in the region with over 50 subject areas to choose from.
Applied Science BTEC with an Art A Level? No problem. Some university courses and careers will require you to study certain courses at Level 3 after you leave school but lots of them won’t. The most important thing to remember when selecting your courses is to concentrate on what you’re good at and what you enjoy.
In theory you are free to do any combination of courses you want here at Cadbury – you just need to do a combination which adds up to the equivalent of three A Levels. We do however have recommended combinations that provide pathways into careers and university courses.
Due to high demand we will be hosting a series of Talk & Tours at Cadbury Sixth Form College to help you plan your next move when you leave school. Our next events will be happening on Tuesday March 5, 4-7pm, and Saturday March 9, 11am-3pm.
Here’s why you need to book your place now!
- The Personal Experience: You’ll get a real feel for where you’ll be studying in September when you come to campus.
- Our knowledgeable student ambassadors will be there to share their own experience and insights with you and take you on a personal tour of the college.
- You’ll get to experience life through the eyes of a current student, ask all the questions you need answers to, and see all the facilities we have to offer you.
- We’ll cover many different areas on the tour including our brand new £10 million Science City campus, Psychology, Law and Art rooms, plus the IT suite, learning centre, drama theatre, science labs for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Forensic and Biomedical Science. You’ll also be shown the individual study pods and learner coaching spaces. We’ll visit the Media, Film, Design and Photography areas for some creative and cinematic inspiration, before the tour concludes in the Eat Central dining area.
- Careers advisers and Student Mentors will also be there to offer specialist advice and guidance to help you navigate your next steps. It’s important to do your research and understand what’s involved in studying certain subjects and which professions they lead to before you commit to your final choices. We can give you lots of support with this.
Remember also that you can apply there and then at Talk & Tours, if you haven’t already. If you have applied but your plans have changed since you signed up, you can still update your choices.
Whether you have favourites in mind, or would like to try something brand new like Psychology, Law, Politics or Criminology, Talk & Tours offer you the perfect time to apply and continue your career journey.
So come and join us, and book your place here.
Here at Cadbury Sixth Form College we offer a wide range of Level 3 programmes combining A Levels and BTECs, as well as T Levels and several Level 2 courses if you need to improve on your GCSE grades. Picking the right route for you post-GCSEs is important, so it’s good for you to understand the different types of qualification on offer to work out which route works best for you.
If you’re unclear about which route to opt for, here are some things to consider when choosing your options after school:
– What do your current studies at school tell you? Do you love Maths and working with numbers and theories, or are you creative? Do you enjoy more hands-on learning? Thinking about what you are good at can help you choose the best route.
– Select subjects you enjoy – studying a subject you are genuinely interested in will greatly improve your chances of succeeding at college.
– What are your plans for the future? Whether you intend to go to university, on to an apprenticeship or straight into employment, different routes may require you to study specific courses at college – so make sure you do your research.
– Seek advice – ask our Careers Team questions weekly via our web chat facility or discuss your choices with a member of staff at interview.
– Visit the Sixth Form – attend Open Days, Taster Sessions and Applicant Days to meet your subject teachers and current students.
What’s the difference?
All of our Level 3 programmes are equal to A Levels and are accepted by universities if that’s your goal. What’s important is matching your ambitions and strengths to the options available to ensure you get the best results for you.
A Levels
A Level courses are predominantly assessed by examinations, although some subjects may have a coursework component as well. All A Level courses are linear, meaning examinations are taken at the end of two years. These are Level 3 courses, ideally suited for progression into University or Higher Level Apprenticeships.
To study an A Level course you will need a minimum of five GCSEs (with two at grade 6, and three at grade 4). Due to the advanced level most subjects will have additional individual entry requirements.
BTECs
Because BTEC courses are vocational in nature they are more practical routes of academic study. Each course will have a larger coursework element to the assessment method. All our BTEC courses are studied at Level 3, meaning they are ideally suited to progression to University or Higher Level Apprenticeships. BTEC courses come in different sizes and are the equivalent to either one, two or three A Levels.
To study a BTEC Level 3 course you will need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4. BTECs can also be studied alongside A Level courses if you meet the entry requirements, making them an extremely flexible option that can be tailored to your demands.
T Levels
T Levels are an alternative to A Levels, apprenticeships and BTECs. Combining academic study of A Levels with a focus on vocational skills can help students into skilled employment, university or higher level apprenticeships. Each T Level includes an industry placement of at least 45 days giving students valuable experience in the work place.
