On Thursday and Friday last week, Year 12 attended a range of activities focusing on developing the skills they might need for the future. Mr Blake ran a very useful self defence session, arming students with the skills they might need to fend off or avoid an attack. Mr Algar ran a ‘shopping on a budget’ session, during which students were given £5 to buy food for a meal, and then discussed how they would manage their future finances (all food was then donated to the St Mary’s foodbank). Miss Simpson delivered a tutorial on personal statement, guiding students through the process and ‘top tips’ for completing this vital part of the UCAS application. Mrs Buckley ran a session on alternative routes post 18 including how to apply for apprenticeships. We had an external instructor in school running sessions on basic first aid, including resuscitation skills alongside wound dressing and responding to emergencies. In addition, Mr Godfrey taught a group of students key presentation and public speaking techniques, while Mrs Usher guided another group through basic computing skills. Perhaps the highlight for some was the cake decorating, run by Mrs Baldry; while not essential to life, students enjoyed the opportunity to get creative! At the same time, a group of seven student attended a two day course on teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). The students were delighted to gain their qualification as this will allow them to teach English as a second language both in Britain and abroad.
