Careers Education, Information, Advice & Guidance Report

2015/2016

Putteridge High School

This report outlines the activities of the Careers Education, Information, Advice & Guidance (CEIAG) Department over the past academic year. There are other activities, run by other departments, that could come under this heading that are not included but the activities covered in this document are those the department was directly involved with.

Organisations associated with so far:

Wadham College, Oxford

King’s College London

Nottingham University

Pembroke College, Cambs

Aims of Careers Education, Information, Advice & Guidance

1. Make a major contribution to preparing students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life

2. Support young people to achieve their full potential3. Empower young people to plan and manage their own futures4. Provide comprehensive and impartial information on all options5. Raise aspirations6. Promote equality, diversity, social mobility and challenge stereotypes7. Support young people to sustain employability and achieve personal and economic

wellbeing throughout their lives

Below are outlined the various events, activities and visits that the CEIAG Department were involved with during the academic year 2015-16.

Assemblies (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

A number of assemblies were held throughout the year aimed at different year groups at significant times when important information needed to be delivered eg School Reference Process, College Applications, Work Experience, Options, etc. As tutoring is vertical, individual year group assemblies are the best way to meet with a whole year group.

Careers Information Evening for Year 11 Parents and Carers (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

This year, for the first time, we held a Careers Information Evening specifically for parents and carers of Year 11 students. This was in addition to assemblies and the Careers Fayre where students were exposed to the different options available to them during this decisive year.  The evening consisted of a presentation outlining these options, information from a representative from Luton Sixth Form College and a short talk from one of our School Governors who is the link for Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance.  There was also an opportunity for a short Q & A session. Although attended by only a small number of parents and carers feedback was very positive and we hope to be able to offer a similar evening next year

Combined Careers Fayre with Ashcroft & Stopsley High Schools (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 4, 5, 7)

Year Group – Year 11

Early in the Autumn Term Ashcroft, Putteridge and Stopsley High Schools hosted the fifth Combined Careers Fayre for Year 11 at Stopsley Baptist Church Auditorium.

Approximately 400 Year 11 students from across all three high schools attended the event at various times throughout the day, each group spending about an hour visiting over 30 providers. There were representatives from all the main colleges; Luton Sixth Form, Barnfield, Central Beds, Bedford, Shuttleworth, Oaklands, Newman Sixth Form, North Herts; Apprenticeship providers; Luton Borough Council, JTL, Active Luton, Cambridge University, University of Bedfordshire, NHS and UOB Healthcare, Army & Royal Navy Careers plus local businesses; Asda, Selex-Es, Vauxhall Motors, Hayward Tyler, Thomson TUI and many more.

Feedback from our students about the event:

“I am determined to work at my grades and go on to university”.

“NHS Careers provided me with lots of relevant information and talked me through the steps that could help me pursue a career in Healthcare”.

“I found it really useful and picked up information about careers I hadn’t even thought of. Thank you”.

Evaluation

The event was a huge success and the general feedback from students was that they had learned a great deal about the opportunities available Post 16. The providers were equally enthusiastic about the Fayre and complimented the students on their behaviour, interest and engagement when visiting the stands.

Future plans

This was a brilliant example of community collaboration and definitely an event that we will repeat next year. A date is already in the calendar for the next academic year.

The Skills Show (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Group – Year 8 & 9

The Skills Show is a unique annual celebration that offers exciting opportunities in further education, skills and Apprenticeships, with a view to inspiring the fashion designers, web developers and engineers of tomorrow. It played host to a range of skills activities, all under one roof. The students were given the opportunity to have a go at new skills, get up to the minute careers advice, and access Apprenticeship and real job opportunities from employers, to help them make that next important step!

Once again this year’s show took place at the NEC Birmingham in November and we took a group of 42 Year 8 & 9 students who had been specifically selected by their Pastoral Leaders for their excellent record of attendance, punctuality and behaviour. Over 75 Colleges and Training Organisations showcased some of their outstanding talent.

Lead-sponsored by the Edge Foundation and Premier Colleges, with backing from the European Social Fund, The Skills Show 2015 gained support from a wide range of business

partners, including BAE Systems, Toyota UK, Virgin Media, CrossRail and Costa. Famous faces attending the event included entrepreneur Theo Paphitis, celebrity hairdresser Nicky Clarke, former rugby star Will Greenwood and Michelin-starred chef Theo Randall, all of whom shared their own careers experiences and provided guidance to visitors on taking the next step.

As always Putteridge students’ behaviour was exemplary and they all acted maturely and responsibly. Unfortunately, with only just under three hours at the venue there wasn’t enough time to see everything but they came away with a great deal of knowledge and plenty of ‘freebies’.

Check out the highlights by clicking on this link:

http://www.findafuture.org.uk/the-skills-show/highlights-from-the-skills-show-2015

Evaluation

The visit helped students to develop confidence and responsibility and make the most of their abilities. They were able to feel more positive about themselves, meet and talk with people and find information and advice. It also enhanced the careers dimension and experience of the world of work and identified career options and qualifications.

Future plans

Attendance at a similar event has already been booked for the next academic year.

Comments from some of the students:

“It was brilliant. There was so much to see. I had the best time but wish we could have stayed longer.”

“I thought the engineering and construction stands were the best.”

“I loved the robots”.

Physics @ Work (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Group – Year 9/10

A group of the top Year 9 & 10 Scientists visited the annual Physics @ Work Exhibition at the Cavendish Laboratories in Cambridge. The primary aim of the exhibition is to stimulate interest and encourage wider participation in Physics among young people by showcasing the many and various ways in which the subject is used in the real everyday world of work.

The study of Physics can offer students a breadth of opportunities in science; technology or engineering and the exhibition provided further ideas about the kind of jobs available if you have a qualification in science. Among the exhibitors were the department of Earth Sciences, Team Crocodile – Fuel Efficient Car, British Antarctic Survey, Rolls-Royce, and many more.

Why not visit their website and download the booklet issued to the students during their visit.

http://outreach.phy.cam.ac.uk/programme/physicsatwork

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Evaluation

Between the two groups our students saw 12 out of the 20 exhibits in the time allowed but interaction between the students gave them all an insight into the different companies who exhibited at the event. This is already on the calendar for the next academic year.

See Inside Manufacturing Vauxhall (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Groups – Year 9 & 10

A group of 12 students from Years 9 & 10 were taken to Vauxhall to take part in their See Inside Manufacturing Open Day.  As well as experiencing a tour of the Body Shop and General Assembly students took part in four activities.  The first activity involved them splitting into twos or threes in the 7XR Kit Car Activity.  Each pair was presented with several small parts which they had to assemble following instructions from a manual.  The time limit was 40 minutes at the end of which students had to test their model on the sloping test run. Penalty points were deducted for missing parts, imprecise measurements and a clean run with no bollard knock-downs.

The General Assembly activity involved students realising the importance of precise measurements and listening skills during a team competition replacing missing parts to the body of a Vivaro van. After lunch students took part in a mini-Griffins Den Activity, the day long version which we have held before at Putteridge. Students were given a brief for a

specific customer and had to design and market a suitable vehicle according to the customer’s specific requirements and budget. The teams had one hour to carry out this task including a presentation to a panel of Griffins (in the same format as Dragons Den). The winning team of this task and the General Assembly activity was: Sam Tenny, Jordan Loveland, Jamie Payne, Ryan Bonner, Max Tansley & Lewis Gooch and they received prizes courtesy of Vauxhall.

The final activity was the Body Shop activity where students were presented with two engine casings and had to find the defects on the casing that had not passed Quality Assurance.All the students behaved in a manner expected of Putteridge students and all worked really hard at all the activities. The skills they learnt from the day, without probably realising it, were listening skills, observational skills, teamwork, encouragement of other students, the importance of following instructions to the letter, time management and many more.

Evaluation

This was a brilliant opportunity for our Year 9 & 10 students to experience the manufacturing process which takes place at Vauxhall, one of the leading employers in Luton thus continuing to build on the relationships between Putteridge and the local community.

Aspiration: Careers for Girls Event (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Year Group – Year 8

Back in September we took a small group of Year 8 girls to Cranfield University for a careers event specifically for girls who were interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths). The event was held in collaboration with Full Circle Education, a social enterprise promoting the potential of children and young people. This year they have been focusing on girls, young women and equality.

The event involved a range of fun career and activity stations from construction to radio, engineering to entrepreneurialism. The girls were able to share their view about gender equality and girl power. They heard from inspirational speakers and met women role models in the carousel session. As well as a tour of the campus they had an opportunity to learn about non-traditional jobs, broaden their career horizons and build positive aspirations for the future.

Wadham College – Luton Project (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Group – Year 10

Wadham College, Oxford University have set up a project for Year 10 students in Luton to introduce them to university as a whole but with particular emphasis on Russell Group universities and the variety of subjects on offer.  It is also an aim to open the minds of Luton students to ‘super curricular’ activities (i.e. academically-focused activities that take students beyond the national curriculum). 

The four students from Putteridge who were selected for this project are:  Grace Stewart, Alex Potter, Fabian Kapadia and Joel Foreman.  They have attended after school sessions at Cardinal Newman School since November on subjects such as: Medieval Literature, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Classics/Archaeology, Politics, Aerospace Materials, Engineering and Pompeii & Herculaneum.

On Wednesday 20th April 2016 all the students from Luton on the Project attended a final day at Wadham College, Oxford where they delivered presentations on their favourite session from the programme.  There were 20 students in all from across five high schools in Luton and Fabian was awarded joint first prize for his Earth Sciences presentation about volcanoes on Mars.

The students experienced a tour of the college and spoke to current undergraduates.  The school students had the chance to question third year student Sarah Atayero (Psychology) who attended Cardinal Newman School in Luton. Sarah shared her experience on subjects as diverse as academic pressure, accommodation and finance. Visiting the Ashmolean museum the school students were given hands on research experience learning about objects from the Ancient World.   

As a reward for completing this year, each student received a Very Short Introduction book of their choice, which included The Brain, Dreaming, Nuclear Physics, Music, and The Devil. The books were presented to the students by the Warden of Wadham College, Ken Macdonald QC.

Explaining how the programme will continue, Access and Outreach Officer Emily Cannon stated: “In order to bridge Year 10 and Year 11, the students will be set a project to complete over the summer based on the book they have chosen. Following that, they will take part in sessions in Luton focusing on A Level choices and study skills and will celebrate the end of the whole scheme with a short residential at Wadham. Once they start Year 12, the students will be encouraged to attend the existing access events, including Wadham’s Year 12 Access Days and talks, as well as open days.”  

By working with younger children, the Luton Project hopes to raise aspiration and attainment. Research from the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission and the Bridge Group suggests that working with younger students is becoming more important, motivating them to achieve good GCSE results and preparing their paths to university.

Fabian receiving his prize from the Warden of Wadham College, Lord Macdonald of River Glaven

Students from Putteridge, Stopsley, Cardinal Newman, Denbigh and Challney Girls’ High School on the steps outside Wadham College.

University of Bedfordshire Child Nursing Interview Project (Aims fulfilled 1, 3, 5, 6, 7)

Year Groups – Year 9 & 10

Earlier this year the school was approached by the University of Bedfordshire to provide them with some assistance. The University runs a Children's Nursing Degree Course and prior to acceptance on the course prospective students are interviewed by university staff, trust partners and service users.

Year 9 & 10 Health and Social Care students have been observing applicants who interview and have been grading the applicants on what they consider to be their suitability for the role of a student nurse.

The students who have been involved are as follows: Jessica Auburn, Robert Callison, Nicole Clarke, Claudia Krasniqi, Kianna McIvor-Clarke, Lauren Matthews, Holly Oliver, Megan Richardson, Hadia Saghir, Freya Spratley and Chelsey Tallo

Below is an extract from an email sent by Linda Dean, Senior Lecturer in Child Nursing at the University.

“Without exception your students have been professional and considerate at all times. They have taken the role very seriously and they have been a credit to your school.

I hope we can continue this partnership working as the Nursing and Midwifery Council are keen for us to continue to involve young people in the interview process.”

Take Your Child to Work Day (Aims fulfilled 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Group – Year 8

During this academic year Putteridge High School has continued to deliver Careers Education across the curriculum for each year group.

In this connection Thursday 24th March was ‘Take Your Child to Work’ Day for Year 8 students as part of their work related learning.

About 60 students spent the day with their parents at their place of work, shadowing them while they went about their daily business. It gave the students valuable experience of the world of work, which in addition to preparing them in the long term for their entry into the workplace, also helped to prepare them for their Year 10 work experience.

Students were tasked with finding out information whilst at their parents’ work including what type of education, qualifications and skills were needed; whether they saw their parent using Maths, English, Science, Technology, IT or any other subjects and what they had learnt from their day at work.

They were also asked if their day could change the way they worked at school. All the students commented that they realised how hard they needed to work at school because all jobs require good qualifications.

“It has made me realise that I need to try harder and work really well in my classes to get to where I want to be.”

“My dad never went to university and worked his way up from the bottom but in the modern day it is more viable to go to uni and get a degree in Maths.”

“My dad needs leadership, good communication, organisation and people management in his job.”

“Skills that my mum demonstrated were confidence, being able to work with the public, a good telephone manner and first aid.”

Evaluation

This is an opportunity we continue to provide to year 8 as it starts the process of learning about employability skills, the world of work and the qualifications and skills required.

Pembroke College, Cambridge – Easter Science Masterclass (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Group – Year 11

During the school Easter holidays Alicia Karaphillides was one of 30 participants from 25 schools across the Eastern region who participated in the Pembroke College Women in Science residential. Students were kept very busy whilst at the college with a number of practical sessions in laboratories and visits to University Departments and Museums.

Please see below an extract from Alicia’s account of her experience at Pembroke.

“During the Easter holidays I was lucky enough to get a place on a residential trip to Pembroke College in Cambridge. The trip gave 30 girls a chance to find out more about university life and jobs in science. It was three days long and I stayed in the colleges on-site accommodation, food was also provided free of charge. ………………………The focus of the trip was to encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in Science, so it was filled with tours of science departments, museum visits, and experiments. Lecturers and students of the university led the group and answered any questions we had about university. My favourite experiments were in the zoology department where we looked at the life of fruit flies and chicken embryos under microscopes and observed how they developed. We also looked at different organs, which included an ox heart, a cow’s eye and kidneys.

One of the museums we visited was the Scott Polar Research Institute, which is a research facility for the Polar Regions and glaciology (the study of glaciers), our tour guide was very enthusiastic and the exhibits were very interesting. There were also lots of arctic and Antarctic animals in the murals around the buildings. I found the trip very informative and enjoyable, especially because you get to do experiments that you aren’t able to do in high school. It gave me a better understanding of university and the application process and helps you decide what to do in sixth form and university.”

Evaluation

Our students really benefit from these residential visits. It gives them so much confidence, especially if like Alicia, they are on their own.

Work Experience 2016 (Aims fulfilled 1, 3, 6, 7)

Year Group - Year 10

Once again Putteridge High School celebrated a brilliant Work Experience programme in March 2016. Almost 110 students in the year group took up placements, some they had found themselves, in local businesses ranging from schools and nurseries, hairdressing and beauty salons to engineering companies, solicitors and many more. Among the very positive feedback reports from the employers and tutors who visited the students on placement, there were some outstanding reports where students had shown incredible maturity and initiative, with many being offered Saturday jobs, summer placements and apprenticeship opportunities.

This is primarily an educational activity which gives students an insight into the world of work for two weeks. It is not the intention that students should necessarily sample particular occupations to assist them in choosing their careers but simply to become used to working with adults, organising themselves and develop skills that they already had or did not realise they had. It can also help them to decide on careers they are not so keen to follow in the future.

The process began in September with a meeting for parents/carers and students then began to find their placements, either through family and friends or by selection on a database provided by Develop, the local Education Business Partnership. Work continued on the programme throughout the year and students received assemblies and dedicated lessons prior to their placement to assist them with understanding the requirements of employers and how to develop their employability skills. On their return to school they were able to analyse the skills learnt from their placement and discuss their experiences with fellow students. During the two week period all students were either visited by a member of staff from school or contacted by telephone, especially if they were working out of county.

Over 100 businesses, both local and in other regions welcomed the students and below are some of the amazing comments received from employers about the Putteridge students:

Ryan – Costa Work Inspiration Programme - Ryan was very good at everything. He presented himself very well and was very mature for his age. He contributed well during discussions and is clearly a bright student. I wish him good luck in his future endeavours.

Jamie – Costa Work Inspiration Programme – It was a pleasure to work with Jamie during the week. He is polite and has excellent communication skills. Jamie also displayed his kind nature by assisting his fellow student Humza in reading the information on the computer screen. Jamie will fit into the workplace very well and is a credit to his school and parents.

Jordan – Thurlow Nunn, Luton – Jordan has been a real asset to our team. He has got stuck into any task given. March is our busiest month and Jordan has relished the challenge. He was a great pleasure to work with and is a great representative of Putteridge High School. We wish him well and hope that we would be lucky enough if he were to consider us for a work position when he leaves school.

Mollie-Mae – Blood Rush Tattoo – Mollie had a can do and positive attitude. She has excellent customer service and communication skills; friendly and polite. Mollie has the right attitude, skills and perspective to pursue a career in the tattoo industry and would have no problem in attaining an apprenticeship.

Callum - C J Wood & Sons – Callum worked hard on site, listened to instructions and developed good communication skills during the two weeks.

Jordan – C J Wood & Sons – Jordan was a hard worker on site and was always punctual. He adopted a can do attitude and showed flexibility in the workplace. He developed good relationships with colleagues and managers.

Jessica – Abbott Solicitors – It was a pleasure to have Jessica here. We would have her back any time.

Max – TUI Travel Ltd - Max is an incredible young man. Always the one smiling showing lots of energy & enthusiasm. I felt very proud to put him in front of my colleagues around the business. He also helped to mediate the group dynamic which I think shows maturity and leadership ability. Max is easy to engage, presents well and is full of ideas. He has a huge amount of potential.

Harry – Luton Town Football Club – I was very impressed with Harry. He was hard working and showed initiative, understood instructions, asked for more work when he had finished a particular task. He also had very good verbal communication skills.

James - Regus – A model student and a credit to his school and parents. James took to learning about computer systems in the retail sector like a ‘duck to water’. He was very mature and was trusted with closing queries on the live system by the end of his first day. His supervisor was very impressed with James and wants to stay in touch.

Callum – Costa Coffee Shop, Houghton Regis – Callum used his initiative from day one. He always asked for extra work once a task was completed. His attendance and punctuality was excellent and all the staff were full of his praise. They could not believe that he was on work experience and not a regular employee.

Nicole – Little Buttons Nursery – Nicole was brilliant. The staff and children all loved her. She has worked with all age ranges and has made a real difference.

Nico – Inspire FM – Nico was involved in editing audio, planning for events, admin and organisational tasks. We are very pleased with him and hope that he will continue to work for us on a voluntary basis after work experience.

Nicki – Putteridge Community Nursery – Nicki was a pleasant, willing and proactive student. She had good interaction with the children and very good relationships with staff. Nicki used her initiative and we were very happy with her attitude and ability.

Jessica – Putteridge Community Nursery – Jessica was a pleasant, willing and proactive student. She had good interaction with the children and very good relationships with staff. Her employers gave her lots of positive comments.

Emilia – Delphine Alexander Bridalwear – Emilia received an excellent report from her employer. They loved her; so much so that they have offered her a Saturday job once she is 15. Emilia is hoping to follow a career in fashion design so this placement coupled with her other week at the University Arts Faculty absolutely suited her.

Chloe – Moda Affair – Chloe already works at this hairdressers but her employer commented that she picked up skills very quickly, was always professional with customers and stayed later than she was expected to showing great commitment.

Kianna – Farley Junior School – Kianna is a very polite and mature young lady. She has followed directions and used her initiative to make herself a useful member of her team. Her friendly attitude has made her popular with both students and adults.

Gul Sanah– Ramridge Primary School – Sanah was described by the manager as ‘the girl with the angelic spirit, kind and lots of initiative’. She had an excellent rapport with everyone in the school.

Owen - Luton Town Football Club – Owen had a fantastic work experience. He was working alongside community outreach workers with children in Year 5 & 6. The employer commented that he was a very conscientious young man.

Chelsea – Hart Hill Nursery School – Chelsea thrived in this placement. She was responding well to opportunities and didn’t want to come back to school. Her employer said she acted maturely and built up excellent relationships with both children and adults.

Millie – Hightown Pre-School & Ambassador Care Home – Millie was complemented for being a delightful young lady with the residents of the care home. She also had an excellent report from the pre-school and she has requested to volunteer her services during school holidays.

Kiran – Stopsley Community Primary School – Kiran was praised for using her initiative working with a small group of students. She was described as very supportive and punctual. A very pleasant young lady.

Evaluation

A survey of the students following the Work Experience Programme indicated that all students who had taken part agreed it was a really invaluable experience and that the skills learnt had provided them with a sound basis for joining the world of work at a later date.

Following the period of work the students will have developed their:

Confidence Self esteem Ability to communicate with adults Timekeeping skills Practical work skills Problem solving skills Personal learning and thinking skills

Costa Coffee Work Inspiration Programme

This was the third year that Putteridge students have taken part in the Costa coffee Work Inspiration Programme. Six Year 10 Business students, Ryan Bonner, Jamie Payne, Lakaya Tshabalala, Priscilla Oluwasola, Humza Ashiq and Dawid Montvydas, were selected to participate based on their Business Studies results throughout the year. The first week of the programme involved the students working at Costa HQ in Houghton Regis. Students were integrated into various departments, marketing, finance, HR operations and were all given a mini-project to work on which they presented to Costa and Putteridge staff on the final day.

Students also visited the Costa Roastery in London where they honed their Barista skills and were treated to a lunch at an Italian Restaurant courtesy of Costa. The second week involved working at Costa Shops in Luton and Dunstable where students learned about front line management and customer service.

TUI Travel Work Experience Programme

This year Putteridge established a new partnership with TUI Travel Ltd which is based at Wigmore House, Wigmore Lane. Three of our students, Max Tansley, Alex Potter and Julio Brahimi were given the opportunity of a two week programme. Apart from working in different departments at the headquarters the boys had the opportunity to go into London and visit a local TUI Travel Shop. It is hoped that we will be able to offer similar placements to our Year 10 students next year.

Tudor Ungureanu

It was not possible to arrange a placement for this young man due to his extreme special needs. However, he embraced the whole concept of work experience and, with huge support from his family; he travelled the length and breadth of the country during his two weeks experiencing all manner of employment environments together with some really important life skills exposure.

Engineering Masterclasses for Year 9 Students (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

The Royal Institution of Great Britain held a series of Engineering Masterclasses at the University of Bedfordshire (Luton Campus) during February, March and April). Four of our students, Max Mackinnon, Scott Holdham, Ahmed Jama and Danny Kayani gave up six of their Saturday mornings to attend sessions on subject such as Building a Bridge, Energy Generation, Embedded Systems, Robotics, 3D CAD and a surprise Science STEM activity.

“Engineering Masterclasses are interactive sessions led by top experts from the University of Bedfordshire and the Royal Institution for Young Engineers. The Masterclasses provided students with an opportunity to explore topics that interest us. This also gave us the opportunity to discuss and ask questions to better our learning which gave us a great advantage. Subject choices made in Year 11 can have a major impact on courses and university options. A significant number of very bright and capable students fail to gain places at selective universities because they are not studying the most appropriate subjects, with the masterclasses it is not as hard as it would have been.” Ahmed Jama (Year 9)

Visit to UTC Central Bedfordshire (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Group – Year 10

A small group of Year 10 students attended an Aspiration Day at UTC Central Bedfordshire recently. All the students demonstrated impeccable behaviour, which was commented on by the Principal of the College; their presentation and maturity making them great ambassadors for Putteridge High School.  The students were introduced to Engineering as a whole and the numerous branches that they could work towards.

The students split into small groups and had to design and make a robot made up of upcycled materials that would be able to pick up a paper cup with water in it and move it to another location.  They all did exceptionally well using some great creativity and ingenuity.  They worked alongside some UTC Year 12s who acted as mentors for the hour and a half exercise.  There will be two follow up sessions at UTC for this group progressing on to making their own mini robots from kits.

The plan is also to introduce our younger students, currently members of the STEM club, to the UTC and work towards building the partnership between the two institutions with Putteridge becoming a Regional Hub for the UTC and its events and workshops.

It was also really good to meet up with some ex-students currently in Year 13 who are doing really well in their Engineering courses – Luke Tansley, Ben Allen and James Vest.

Year 10 students who attended: Elijah Bird, Josh Carter, Fabian Kapadia, Ilyas Moradi, James Moulding, Alex Potter, Jordan Smart, Grace Stewart, Reece Vella.

Vauxhall Motors ‘Griffins Den’ (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Groups – Year 9 & 10

In February a group of undergraduates and apprentices from Vauxhall Motors visited Putteridge to deliver the ‘Griffins Den’ activity to Year 9 &10 Business Studies students. The day comprised of:

Presentations, tasks and videos, an interactive day for pupils to gain an insight into the motor industry

Three key stages – designing, building and marketing a product towards a specific customer

Careers in the motor industry and opportunities at Vauxhall Certificates for participating students, prized for a whole range of achievements

Throughout the day the representatives from Vauxhall explained the importance of the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) as well as giving an overview of other business areas at Vauxhall which could be of interest to them when they finish their education. The student development goals were:

At the end of the day the students all pitched their ideas to panels of ‘Griffins’ made up from the Vauxhall visitors and our CEIAG School Governor. The quality of delivery and support from the Vauxhall Undergraduates was outstanding.

The atmosphere was very competitive at times but in a good way and the students’ behaviour exceeded expectations.  During the pitch phase they were all very respectful and supportive of each other.

The winning team was: Lakaya Tshabala, Daniel Kara, James Tinubu, Annie Welcome, Megan Mackinnon and Daniel Andrews.

Innovation Project Work Presentation Skills Business Acumen

Teamwork Creativity Communication Budget and Costing

Evaluation and Future Plans

Our relationship with Vauxhall Motors continues and there are plans to hold similar events here in school.

Apprenticeship Evening (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Students, parents and carers from Years 10 & 11 were invited to the school’s Apprenticeship Evening where they had the opportunity to talk to various apprenticeship providers about local opportunities available. Part of the evening included an information session aimed at raising awareness of all levels of apprenticeships and the areas in which young people can work in order to ‘earn while they learn’. Representatives from the following companies were present: Active Luton, Bedford College, Selex, Luton Adult Community Learning, Barnfield College, JTL, Vauxhall Motors, HIT Training, Luton Borough Council, Aspire Achieve Advance Ltd (Accountancy), Oaklands College, Monarch Engineering and Hayward Tyler. This proved to be a very successful evening, with most parents and carers expressing that they now had more knowledge about apprenticeships and felt more able to support their children in their decision making.

Cambridge Challenge Day

Year Group – Year 10

A small group of A*/A Year 10 students attended Emmanuel College, Cambridge for the annual Year 10 Challenge Day; this was the sixth year Putteridge had taken part in this event. Cambridge Challenge Days are large-scale events where academically able students participate in a variety of lecture sessions designed to offer a taste of higher education. Approximately 100 students attended the event from about 10 schools across the region.

Our team of students worked hard on their challenge task and for the fifth year running Putteridge were declared the winners!!

Pritesh Shah, Ilyas Moradi, Kiran Seera, Jayden Hay, Sophie East, Jess Sneddon, Sahar Ikhlaq, Ryan Bonner, Briony White, James Moulding

Evaluation

“My day at Cambridge was rather interesting. It gave me an insight as to what it’s like to go into further education. We were given a brief talk at the beginning of the day as to how students live and what it’s like to go into further education. I learnt a few things which I wasn’t aware of, such as there being several different ways in which you can learn. For example, there are lectures and 1-on-1s. Also I learnt how students work independently, which is different to school. After this we were given a short tour around the university, and it looked great as there was a swimming pool, and a nice green area with a pond where students could hang out. We were also introduced to the bar, and other rooms in the building. Later on in the day we carried out a debate, where our question for our group was ‘You should only go to the university in your hometown’. For this debate, our group were against it, and therefore we came up with a few points such as ‘students will learn to live independently and learn socialising skills as they make new friends in a university outside their hometown. Another point we made was how a university in someone’s hometown may not have the subjects that they want to study, so then they won’t be able to excel in the subject they most enjoy. Lastly, the day ended off with two short lectures from two different people. One lecture from Frantisek Vasa, where he spoke about networks and the brain, and the second lecture was given by Alex Loktionov, where he spoke about oil divination, where people mixed water and oil to form a shape/pattern. This shape/pattern would then mean something, which was believed to be a request from the Gods. All in all, it was an interesting experience and I enjoyed my day visiting the place.”

Ilyas Moradi

“When we first arrived at the university, we were all given a competition sheet which had questions we had to answer, some about the university and some general knowledge. We spent some time trying to fill in the sheet, which we would continue to complete throughout the day, before we had the introduction session. This told us about the university and gave us an idea of what the university offered. After we had lunch we had a tour of the area that we were in. However I feel that we only viewed a small amount and it would have been nice to have seen other parts of the building. After lunch, we took part in a debate which allowed us to socialise with people from other schools. In my opinion, this was the best part of the day because everyone took part in it. Then the student ambassadors collected the competition sheets, before we had two university style lectures which gave us an idea of what a lecture was like. At the end of the day, we were told that we had won the competition. Overall, it was an interesting day which gave us an idea of university life.”

Jayden Hay

Evaluation and Future Plans

This visit allowed the students to experience life at a top university also giving them experience of a university style lecture. It is hoped to continue our relationship with Cambridge University.

The Big Bang Fair (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Group – Year 7

A group of 40 Year 7 students attended the Big Bang Eastern Fair which was held at The Rowley Mile, Newmarket Racecourse. The aim of the fair was to bring Science and Engineering to life for young people and was sponsored by Engineering UK, SETPOINT Hertfordshire, Roche, RES and Johnson Matthey. Various other Science and Engineering organisations supported the event which focused on STEM subjects. STEM is one of the main buzz words in education at the moment which gives students an insight into the links between the STEM subjects, Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, and the numerous jobs and careers that our young people can aspire to. There were shows, workshops and have-a-go sessions which engaged the attention of the majority of our students for most of the day.

Sport Inspired/TUI Games and Work Experience (Aims fulfilled 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Group – Year 10

SportInspired are a charity who believes strongly in using the power of sport to connect communities and build confidence in young people. They do this through fun and inclusive programmes, called SportInspired Games, which bring together local schools, businesses, sports clubs, and councils, inspiring new connections, life skills and opportunities.

They are currently developing a programme in Luton in partnership with their corporate partner TUI and Putteridge have been invited to be involved. TUI is particularly interested in using the Games as a platform to develop close links with local secondary schools as they are devising a talent development programme.

A group of Year 10 boys became involved and took part in a leadership training session and attended a multi-sport festival with over 200 local primary school children where they acted at Young Leader Mentors. Three of the boys have also had the opportunity to undertake work experience with TUI.

TUI is keen to use the programme to make links with secondary schools and have identified Ashcroft, Putteridge & Stopsley as the schools they wish to work with.  They are also looking to develop a talent development programme and link this in to work experience opportunities for our students.

Motivational Speaker for Year 11 (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Jackson Ogunyemi aka ‘Action Jackson’ from Fix Up Seminars delivered an Exam Ready assembly to Year 11 students. The presentation was to train the students’ brains on how to cope under exam day pressure. There was also an aim to convince every student that they are brilliant, valuable and able to achieve whatever they dream of.

Engineering is not just for boys! (Aims fulfilled 1,2,3,4,5,6)

Year Group – Year 8 & 9

Putteridge High School welcomed Kris Harrison, Head of Lean Engineering at Finmeccanica based at Selex-ES, Capability Green.  In November 2015 Kris was awarded winner of the Inspiring Young Women Award by WISE (Women in Stem and Engineering) for her work with girls in Luton. Kris spoke to Year 8 & 9 girls outlining the opportunities for girls in Engineering and dispelling any myths they might have about what Engineering covers.

National Apprenticeship Show in Milton Keynes (Aims fulfilled 1,2,3,4,5,6)

Year Group – Year 9

About 40 Year 9 students were taken to the National Apprenticeship Show at Milton Keynes. The event is bringing together employers, colleges and providers with those wanting to find out more about what apprenticeships can offer. Over 100 exhibitors will be taking part making this one of if not the largest event taking place in National Apprenticeship Week 2016. Some of the guaranteed exhibitors are: Milton Keynes College, Mercedes, Civil Service, Army, Aldi, 3aaa Accountancy, Boots, Bosch, Bedford College, Halfords, Liebherr, Pizza Hut, Siemens, Oxford University, Volkswagen and Wickes.

University of Bedfordshire, Butterfield Park – Simulation Lab visit (Aims fulfilled 1,2,3,4,5,6)

Year Group – Year 10

The Year 10 Health & Social Care students were given the opportunity to visit the University of Bedfordshire, Butterfield Park Simulation Laboratories as part of their two year GCSE course.

The visit comprised a tour of the facilities and a presentation from university staff and students on the various career opportunities available in nursing, midwifery and other areas of the NHS.

This state of the art laboratory is used to develop the clinical skills of the large number of students each year who are educated in nursing, midwifery and paramedic skills. It can also be used to test and develop new medical procedures and assessment techniques.

The ward may look like real areas of a hospital, with its nurses’ station, operating theatre, delivery room and intensive care suite, but it also hides some important non-medical technology. There are audio-visual recorders above every bed so that proceedings can be monitored in real time and students can watch recordings of their techniques.

The lab also has a range of sophisticated mannequins which give students the chance to learn the basic skills they need on the wards, such as injections, catheterisation or mouth care. Others are computerised, so they breathe, have a pulse and blood pressure; they can speak, or it is possible to get heart rhythms from them. Students can put an IV line into them and intubate them. This is useful because where a skill is quite invasive, it means the students can practise before they do it for real. Midwifery students are able to monitor a pregnant mother through the stages of labour, delivery of the baby and monitoring of an infant needing specialised care.

Putteridge students were given a tour and detailed explanation of all the facilities, experiencing first hand some of the practices taught in the laboratory.

This was the third time that students had visited the facilities and it proved to be extremely successful, giving students a real insight into nursing and midwifery. They learned what qualifications were needed but the real highlight was the simulation lab. The students behaved impeccably, stayed engaged throughout the visit and all commented on the brilliant experience. 

Year 9 Aspiration Day to Pembroke College, Cambridge (Aims fulfilled 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

“On Friday 6th May, a group of 13 students from Putteridge High School and a group of 11 students from Challney Boys attended an aspiration day at Pembroke College, Cambridge. We had a warm welcome by the Schools Liaisons Officer and then we started our morning session by completing a survey. We then played human bingo so that we could learn things about university from the other students' knowledge. We then had three current students from the college who told us a little bit about their courses and general university life and then we asked them questions. One was in his final year of studying Classics, one was in her first year of Biology and the other was in her third out of six years of studying Veterinary Science. They told us a lot about their courses but we also found out about different clubs and activities that students can take part in. Some were very obscure but others were ordinary. It was very interesting and fun learning about them and it was helpful to have the viewpoints of current students.

 

We then split into groups and had a tour of the college with the students and we finished off in the university lunch hall where we ate. It was a very overwhelming but exciting experience eating our lunch in a big hall and being surrounded by students. After lunch we did an

exercise where we had to guess what degree some celebrities did and I was very fascinated to know that most of their degrees are not at all related to their current job. After that our questions about finances, accommodation and available courses were answered. We then each studied a different current student's timetable and we discovered that some courses are a lot more demanding than others. I was delighted to be looking at the timetable of a course I hadn't even heard of; Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic.

After that, we went to the Fitzwilliam Museum. We were taught by a professional how to examine and interpret paintings in a detailed way. We looked at two paintings in particular and then very quickly browsed the rest of the museum before departing. Back at Pembroke college, we finished by completing another survey; it was similar but different.

Overall it was a very informative, intriguing and fun experience and I learned a lot of very helpful information which will help me in the future when I am applying to university”

Ruth Judson – Year 9

Year 10 Life Skills Workshops (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

As part of our continued Careers Education, Information, Advice & Guidance programme, Putteridge High School is keen to provide all our students with some of the softer skills required when they leave school to enter further education and employment. Year 10 students recently participated in Life Skills Workshops provided by school staff and outside providers. The students learned about CV Writing, Interview Skills, What Employers Want and the Options available at 16. General feedback was very good with students commenting on how useful they found the workshops. Next year we aim to extend the day providing some of the suggestions from the students, eg Finance and Budgeting.

Year 8 Careers Day (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Here at Putteridge we believe it is important to begin the Careers process early and this year our Year 8 students took part in a Careers Day which was particularly useful as they have just chosen their GCSE options. All students took part in three separate workshops: Team Building with the RAF, STEM Careers provided by the University Technical College Central Beds and a Meet the Professionals session where students were able to talk to a variety of professionals about their jobs and the qualifications needed to pursue such a career. The students’ feedback was very positive and this is definitely something we will consider for next year.

Year 8 Media visit to the University of Bedfordshire (Aims fulfilled 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Putteridge High School has a very strong relationship with the University of Bedfordshire who provide a wide variety of events and taster sessions for our students across the year groups. Students who had recently chosen Media Studies as one of their choices for KS4 attended a Media Studies event at the Luton Campus. As well as a tour of the university students participated in interactive sessions surrounding TV Production, Broadcast Journalism and Student Stereotype awareness.

Year 10 Taster Day at Luton Sixth Form College (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Luton Sixth Form College opened its doors to 100 of our Year 10s in June. The students had to make their own way to college and the attention to punctuality was very impressive. Each student took part in six sessions throughout the day in a variety of subject areas, one of which was a presentation on General Application Advice, informing them of the entry criteria for AS/A Levels and the variety of BTEC courses on offer.

The students’ presentation and participation in classes was commended by the staff at the college. Despite the number of sessions separated only by half an hour lunch break, all the students enjoyed the day, offering some great comments as feedback on the opportunities.

“I’ve had a brilliant day. I definitely want to come here.”

“The staff were brilliant, the day was well structured. I had a great time.”

“Even though I know sixth form isn’t for me, I had a good time. It has helped me to know what I do want to do.”

Entrepreneur Day at the University of Bedfordshire (Aims fulfilled 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Year Group – Year 8

A group of approximately 40 Year 8 students visit the University of Bedfordshire (Luton Campus) to take part in an Entrepreneur Day organised by the university and Existence Ltd, a consultancy and ideas development company. After a brief introduction to Higher Education and a campus tour students embarked on their challenge, which was, as a group to design a subscription business for young people. They had to decide what makes a good business, define their audience and identify problems and potential solutions. The challenge involved team working and making a presentation which was delivered to a panel of judges at the end of the day.

The students all worked exceptionally hard and were complimented by the staff from Existence on their presentations.

The winning team were: Denis Ekhator Omoruyi, Robert Wells, Lee Karenga, Jake Farish, Clifford Coombes and Christopher Etienne.

Year 10 Taster Day at Barnfield College (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Historically, Year 10 students have always had the opportunity to attend a Taster Day at Barnfield College but in recent years this had not happened for various reasons. However, this year, as a pilot, about fifty Year 10 students attended taster sessions at both New Bedford Road and Enterprise Way campuses where they were introduced to subjects such as: Hairdressing, Beauty, Childcare, Music, Media, Art & Fashion, Business, Accountancy, Legal Services, General Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Body Work, Computing and Programming. The students who attended enjoyed the experience and were grateful of the opportunity to gather information about more Post 16 Options.

Using feedback from students and both staff at Barnfield and Putteridge it is hoped to provide an even better experience next year.

Army Personal Development Activity Day (Aims fulfilled 1, 2, 5, 6, 7)

Year Group – Year 10

Putteridge High School has a long standing partnership with the Army in Education Team which provides support to the curriculum in a number of ways. In this connection, the Army Youth Team delivered a Personal Development Activity Day at the school to a small group of Year 10 students.

These activities have been designed to give students an opportunity to take part in exercises designed to build and enhance their personal development skills, leadership qualities and logical thinking. For each exercise the students were given a full briefing to test their communication skills, followed by a series of challenges to test them, physically and mentally, both as individuals and team members. The challenges were fun and focused on teamwork, communication skills and decision making. The scenarios were allied to Personal Social Development and Effective Thinking Skills and mapped against mandatory curriculum units.

Evaluation

Due to the fact that we had to cancel the first date as a result of bad weather the re-scheduled event was booked as an alternative activity for those students who had not met the criteria for the reward trip to Thorpe Park (approximately 50 students). Unfortunately, attendance was depleted considerably and it has been decided that next year the event will take place on a day when we are able to have a contingency venue for wet weather and when the whole year group can participate.

Other Career opportunities for our students

This year Putteridge students have been exposed to various lessons in connection with their Careers Education delivered during PHSCE.

Year 7

Who Am I – Qualities and Skills – Getting to know yourself Stereotyping The World of Work

Year 8

Preparation for Option Choices Take Your Child to Work Day

Year 9

Options at 16 The World of Work Labour Market Information

Year 10

Preparation and Debrief around Work Experience Two week Work Experience placement

Year 11

Assemblies from various colleges Practice application Forms Labour Market Information