Webinar Summary (with timestamps)

00:07–03:26 — Welcome, aims & agenda (Host: Jenny)

• Sets context: CPD for teachers/advisers supporting KS3–5 learners; focus on the diversity of HE routes in West Yorkshire.
• Introduces speakers: Laura McGregor (University Centre Leeds), James Rew (Leeds Conservatoire / Luminate), Philippa Ranger (Northern School of Contemporary Dance), Chris Baker (Heart of Yorkshire Education Group).
• Agenda: HE in FE → Conservatoires (two perspectives) → Q&A → Higher & Degree Apprenticeships → wrap-up.
• Sector snapshot: strong HE progression; clearing still open; importance of good IAG and regional nuance.

05:23–19:45 — HE in FE overview (Speaker: Laura McGregor, University Centre Leeds)

What is CBHE (college-based HE)

• ~10% of UK HE; community-based, vocational, flexible, local; strong focus on confidence-building and widening participation.

Provider snapshot

• University Centre Leeds (part of Luminate Education Group; ~1,000 HE students).
• Condensed timetables (typically 2 days/week) to support parents/carers, mature learners.
• Degree-awarding powers; employer-led vocational focus; new campus opening.

Courses & progression

• BA/BSc, Foundation Degree + Top-up, HTQs, postgrad, degree apprenticeships.
• Embedded work-based learning; industry-active tutors; practical assessment mix (live briefs, debates, presentations).

Example courses

• Creative Hair & Media Makeup (film/TV/prosthetics), Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Game Development, Foundation Degree in Health Play Specialism (often via apprenticeship cohorts).

Admissions & support

• UCAS main scheme; Level 3 in related subject; GCSE Eng/Maths 4+; contextual routes for mature learners.
• Support: wellbeing & counselling, finance/accommodation, academic skills, care-experienced & sanctuary students, disability and careers.
• Financial support: low-income bursary (~£500), CARES bursary (~£1,000) for care-experienced/estranged/carers/sanctuary, hardship fund/food bank, guarantor-free housing help.
• WP offer: employability, academic skills (esp. mature learners), pre-entry support for target groups.

20:26–35:54 — Conservatoires: what they are & how they differ (Speaker: James Rew, Leeds Conservatoire)

Conservatoire hallmarks

• Industry-focused, vocational training; extensive 1-to-1 tuition; specialist, practicing-professional staff; bespoke facilities.
• Specialist support for artists (e.g., occupational therapy, physio, Alexander Technique; performance health & wellbeing).

Landscape & routes

• 11 UK conservatoires under Conservatoires UK; each with distinct ethos/specialisms (music, drama, dance, production arts, stage management, etc.).
• Application routes vary by institution/course: UCAS main scheme and/or UCAS Conservatoires (earlier deadline; used for scheduling auditions).

Auditions & selection

• All require audition/portfolio/interview; skills and artistry weigh heavily (often beyond pure academics).
• Many charge audition fees, but Leeds Conservatoire does not; multi-stage processes common; in-person or self-tape options.
• Expect genre-specific tasks (e.g., contrasting monologues, sight-reading, dance calls, group work, portfolios showing work-in-progress, not just polished pieces).
• Note on awards: BA (3-year) vs BMus (4-year) variants exist.

36:41–49:14 — Conservatoire (Dance) in practice (Speaker: Philippa Ranger, Northern School of Contemporary Dance)

NSCD profile

• Dance-specialist conservatoire in Leeds (Chapeltown); direct application (not on UCAS), standard student finance/fees; small, specialist, high contact hours.
• Provision from community classes (age 5+) and CAT scheme (DfE-funded 13–18) through to UG/PG; Riley Theatre for student & professional performance.

Courses & entry

• BA (Hons) Contemporary Dance Performance (3 years), BA (Hons) Choreography, Producing & Teaching (new), Certificate of HE (1 year; entry from age 16).
• No A-level Dance required; typical entry = 2 A-levels (or equivalent) + 5 GCSEs incl. English; audition-led selection.

Auditions (inclusive, workshop-style)

• Two-step: application → audition; everyone invited to audition.
• In-person or video; pre-released phrases learned in advance; day includes technique, short ballet & Afro-fusion tasters (gauging learning under challenge), creative group tasks, group discussion (not a formal panel grilling). No callbacks.
• For CPT BA: deeper choreography task + dance analysis discussion replaces technique block.

Support & finance

• High proportion of declared disabilities; in-house counselling, learner support, quick-scan screening (e.g., dyslexia), body-work/physio, English support.
• Bursaries (care-experienced, estranged, refugees, low income) with narrative discretion beyond thresholds; audition fee waivers.

49:41–01:03:08 — Higher & Degree Apprenticeships (Speaker: Chris Baker, Heart of Yorkshire)

Apprenticeship basics

• Full-time employment + part-time study; salary from day one; contracts like any employee.
• Open to all ages; employer-designed, flexible delivery (day/block release, workplace-only, online).

Cost & funding

• No tuition debt for apprentices; training funded by Apprenticeship Levy (employer/government).
• Strong growth in levels 4–7 since 2017; degree apprenticeships increasingly popular.

Levels & equivalences

• L2 ≈ 5 GCSEs (4–9), L3 ≈ 2 A-Levels, L4–5 ≈ Foundation/HNC/HND, L6 = Bachelor’s, L7 = Master’s (often degree included in the standard).
• Some apprenticeships now carry UCAS points (new development).

Finding opportunities & standards

• Search Find an apprenticeship (live vacancies) and Skills England standards (formerly IfATE) for details: roles, content, entry requirements, qualifications.

What’s unique

• 20% off-the-job training (protected learning time) tracked across programme.
• End-Point Assessment (EPA): independent final evaluation; often aligned with final degree module; both degree & apprenticeship awarded upon successful EPA.

01:03:33–01:08:01 — Wrap-up & resources (Host: Jenny)

• Recaps breadth of regional routes; highlights UCAS points for some apprenticeships as a positive policy shift.
• Shares Go Higher West Yorkshire resources, esp. Apprenticeships Guide, and the “How to Go Higher” newsletter for schools/colleges.
• Trails upcoming CPD (supporting post-16 HE choices; STEM; employer/health & social care-focused sessions).
• Thanks speakers; notes slides/recording will be circulated; invites feedback form completion.

Key Topics Highlighted

• Diverse HE pathways in West Yorkshire: HE in FE, Conservatoires (music/drama/dance), Higher & Degree Apprenticeships.
• Admissions & selection differences: UCAS vs direct application, UCAS Conservatoires, audition/portfolio expectations, contextual admissions.
• Student support & inclusion: wellbeing, disability, mature students, care-experienced/estranged/sanctuary support, bursaries, hardship.
• Work-integrated learning: placements, industry-active tutors, vocational focus.
• Apprenticeship funding & structure: no tuition debt, levy-funded, off-the-job learning, EPA, level equivalences, UCAS points for some standards.
• Practical tools: where to find apprenticeships/standards, GHWY guides & newsletter, contact points for provider WP teams.