Top tips for School Leavers applying over the break

We were delighted to welcome so many new faces to the College at our November Open Days. These evenings provide the perfect opportunity for prospective students and their families to see the full extent of what is on offer at Abingdon & Witney College. If you couldn’t make our November dates, we have plenty more opportunities for you to visit in February and June. To those who came, we hope you have found something that excites you and that you enjoyed a snippet of what Abingdon & Witney College has to offer.

College will be a new experience for many of you, and we know that a lot of you will have some questions about our application process. Summarised below are five common FAQs to consider if you are interested in joining us in September 2024 and applying over the break.

Should you have any questions or additional worries about your application, please contact our friendly admissions team who will get back to you in January.

(1) I don’t know which level to apply for

That’s okay! Entry levels are based on the results you get our GCSEs but if you are yet to sit these it can be difficult to know which level to put down on your application. Pick the entry level closest to what you expect your grades to be; if on results day you need to move up or down a level, pop in to see us and we can easily arrange this.

(2) I can’t pick between the subjects

You can apply for multiple courses. We know a lot of the courses that we offer are likely to be new to you, and you might not have had an opportunity to study them before. If you can’t pick between two subjects, put in an application for both. This way, you will hear about our brilliant taster events, held in Spring 2024, which can help you make your decision; and you can have more time to think about which course is the best fit for you.

(3) I’ve already had my interview, what do I do next?

If you have been sent a conditional offer after your interview, we recommend accepting this to ensure that your place within the curriculum is secured (even if you do change your mind later).

Once your place is confirmed, you’ve done all you need to do! We will be in touch from Spring 2024 with Taster Events, support for after your GCSES, and dates to look out for! Best of luck with your GCSEs and we look forward to having you join.

(4) I’m worried about the costs of my course

All our courses are free for 16–18-year-olds, however, we know that kit and travel fees can feel like a barrier. Financial support is available for all our students, and we want all students to achieve their potential without finances being a barrier to this. Bursary applications open in August so once we know your circumstances, we will do our best to support you in any way that we can.

(5) I need SEND support, how do I arrange this?

Visit our website. We are fortunate to have a brilliant student support team who help our students feel comfortable and confident at College. If you have an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP), your application to the College will be managed alongside information provided by the Local Authority. To find out more about our SEND support and transition support, please click here.