Enrichment

If you are proficient in all four areas of language (speaking, listening, reading and writing) you may take examinations at A2 Level. It will be your responsibility to look at past papers and prepare yourself for the examination. Recent subjects taken include: Spanish, German, Turkish, Urdu and Arabic. Other Language examinations are available.

All students participate in the course in Personal and Social Education, including Careers Education, Citizenship, discussion of moral issues and lessons in the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse.

Employability Skills

All students participate in a number of employability and WorkSkills sessions that are run throughout the year, including the following areas:

• CV and Applications
• Interview Skills
• Time Management

Students will also have the opportunity to take part in a two week Work Experience placement in the summer term.

We also offer Industry Insight days and apprenticeship opportunities to students throughout the school year. We offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award at Gold Level.

The Extended Project is a single piece of work of a student’s choosing that requires evidence of planning, preparation, research and independent learning. It is available as a stand-alone qualification for A Level students or may form part of a diploma qualification.

An Extended Project might be:

• a design;
• a report with findings from an investigation or study;
• a dissertation presenting an argument;
• an artefact;
• a performance.

The Extended Project offers opportunities for learners to:

• have significant input into the choice and design of an extended piece of work;
• develop and apply decision-making skills, problem-solving skills, initiative and enterprise;
• extend their planning, research, critical-thinking, analytical, synthesis, valuation and presentation skills;
• use their learning experiences to support their personal aspirations for Higher Education and career development.

The skills that students develop through the Extended Project are directly relevant to, and useful for, university-level study. Students can refer to the Extended Project in their UCAS personal statements and at interview to demonstrate some of the qualities that universities are looking for.

Future Learn offers you a powerful new way to learn online. Every course has been designed according to principles of effective learning, through storytelling, discussion, visible learning, and using community support to celebrate progress.

We learn best when we share and debate ideas with fellow learners, to understand their different experiences and perspectives and to fill the gaps in our own knowledge. But not everyone likes being social, so rather than sending our learners off to separate discussion forums, you can add your comments alongside the content.

You can start by reading what other people have to say about the topic, and then join in when you’re ready. If you particularly like a comment, you can choose to follow its author so that you can easily find the people and comments that are of the most interest to you.

Each partner university has designed a complete learning experience, presented by leading academics in their field. Rather than broadcast long classroom lectures, ideas are introduced via high quality videos and articles. You can then discuss what you’ve learned, testing your new knowledge with interactive quizzes that offer helpful responses and the opportunity to try again if an answer is wrong. Every course tells a story, step by step, with challenges and helpful tips along the way, to test and build your understanding.

https://www.ecaterham.net/267/careers-information

vInspired is a program actively engaging students, or young people, with volunteering opportunities. Not only does it offer a range of volunteering opportunities but also rewards students for their volunteering efforts.

VInspired works in a way that is flexible for students so that it does not get in the way of academic studies or exam preparation. The students either find opportunities themselves, get presented opportunities by a teacher or both.

Students complete a number of hours of volunteering which are then recorded the VInspired website, which keeps track of how many hours a volunteer does. It also sets milestones or goals in the form of set hours for the student to achieve when volunteering. The goals are 10 hours, 30 hours, 50 hours and then 100 hours. Once the student has completed a level of volunteering, say 10 hours, they are then eligible for a reward in the form of a certified and recognized certificate that looks amazing on CV’s and is a good topic of conversation in an interview or personal statement.

My vInspired journey began when Mr Ali introduced the program to Sixth Form students.

As part of my volunteering for vInspired, I volunteered at a Care Home in Barkingside, where I go twice a week and visit residents who otherwise might have anyone, or very few people to talk to and interact with. I visit multiple residents within the home and speak to them about their lives, and mine. I believe the work I do at the care home is beneficial for the residents as it gives them a break from the normal routine of the Care Home, and gives them a fresh face to interact with.

I also volunteer at my old scout group helping young scouts with skills I learnt as a scout myself -  interacting with them, helping organizing and running activities, which is beneficial for them as it teaches them more practical skills outside the academic world.

I have also helped with school events such as Parents’ Evening and Open Evenings. I feel that my voluntary contributions to my school, as well as that of other Sixth Form students helps to allow these kind of events to run smoothly.  

As a result of my voluntary contributions I have received the V50 award, which is 50 hours of volunteering, and I am now currently working toward the final V100 award.

I would definitely recommend the vInspired program to other students, and people in general who want to give back to the community. vInspired has allowed me to show that I have gone the extra mile by doing something different and devoting time to a cause, or multiple causes, which is something well worth doing.

I am very glad that Mr Ali decided to run this Program within the Sixth Form as it has helped me and am sure it will help other students in gaining new experiences, and helping other people and causes.

Morgan Barlow- Clark, Year 13

Students in year 12 will be given the opportunity to complete a 2 week work placement. This gives the student an insight into the working world, allowing them all to gain practical knowledge. There are many benefits of work experience:

1. Careers education and guidance: raising pupils’ awareness of the factors which may determine career choice and the requirements of particular employment sectors.
2. Attainment in individual subjects: enhancing pupils’ understanding of the skills developed within the curriculum.
3. Support for vocational qualifications: improving pupils’ understanding of the areas they are studying and acquisition of relevant knowledge and skills.
4. Learning about the world of work: preparation for the transition from education to work and recognising a wide variety of employability skills such as problem solving, flexibility and the ability to work with others.
5. General personal and social development: enhancing their self-confidence, maturity and their interpersonal skills.
6. Breadth of curriculum experience: support for pupils’ learning in a range of areas which will prepare them for adult life, such as understanding of social, economic and industrial issues, citizenship and enterprise.
7. Health and safety: helping raise pupils’ awareness of the importance of following health and safety requirements in the workplace.
8. Key Skills: offering opportunities to collect evidence which can go towards developing key skills.
9. Career Planning: contributing to the development of a young person’s career plan, including applying to university.
10. Motivation and achievement: helping raise pupils’ motivation and self-esteem through experimental learning.​

The Sutton Trust support programmes for students from low income backgrounds, but their summer school programme will soon open for applications

sutton trust

in2science summer science placements could be useful, which I’ll raise at the group session tomorrow (again for students from low income families)

in 2 science

The Nuffield Foundation also run bursaried summer science work experience placements

nuffield foundation placements

Paid School Leaver Programme - Step Forward - see powerpoint on right hand side

Hospital based work experience

For students looking for hospital based work experience and interview training there are places available for a Summer 2016 Camp at project India. This is perfect for those applying next year or the year after.

hospital work experience

Summer work experience camp for your aspiring doctors:

There is a special two-week camp between 14th -28th August 2016 that is designed to help prepare students for medical school entry.

The camp includes shadowing different doctors for up to 10 days, mock interview training, clinical training sessions and advice from current UK medical students on entry to medical school.

Full details of the camp can be found here

Medical Work Experience Courses

Work Experience Course Letter

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the world’s leading achievement award for young people. It aims to give all young people the chance to develop skills for work and life, fulfil their potential and have a brighter future.

Its balanced programme of activities develops the mind, body and soul in an environment of social interaction and team working.

The students achieve an Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections:

• Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community
• Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities
• Skills: developing practical and social skills and personal interests
• Expedition: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad

At our Sixth Form, we have students availing of the opportunity to complete the DofE Gold Award. The groups are coordinated by Ms Marsh who provides the necessary support for them to achieve their goals and complete their award.

The DofE promotes independence and encourages students to undertake in rewarding volunteering projects both in and outside of school. Examples include working in charity shops, assisting primary schools, participating in community work and running countless lunch and after school clubs. 

In addition to volunteering students develop their own skills both mentally and physically by undertaking in a range of activities. To round off their award they undertake in an expedition, two weekends away learning to camp, cook and navigate, working as a team to complete their objectives.

Please click on the link below to register for the FT Secondary Schools Programme for information on preparing for life after school.

https://www.ft.com/stream/dc4eb395-7eaa-4cea-a0c8-4ad46ec26347

Please click on the link below to access the Financial Times:

https://www.ft.com/  

Please note this link is IP restricted and will only open within your school's network. 

We recommend that you register with FT.com and create their own individual accounts. This will give you access to the FT from anywhere, allow you to download and use their app and other tools.