Importance of the creative industries

We take creative activities very seriously at Beaumont despite the pressures from national curriculum guidance and league tables. We value these for the student development opportunities they offer.

Pleasing to read that recent government figures place the value of the UK creative sector at £84 Billion a year and suggest that 1.9 million people are employed in this sector. We also have record numbers of students successfully taking STEM subjects. In other words we offer a balanced curriculum to a balanced economy.

Not an eye catching headline but it is important that the creative element of our offer is recognised in hard numbers with education finances being stretched and increasingly difficult choices having to be made.

Career Earnings for graduates

There are many good reasons to go to university (and also many not to). The option, if available, deserves considerable thought. Much of this should not consider the financial aspect, but it is unavoidable.

As the number of graduates available for work increase it is to be expected that the differential between graduate and non-graduate earnings will narrow. This does appear to be occurring but at a slower rate than many expected. This is likely to be due to changes in the overall labour market which are increasingly rewarding high-skilled versus low-skilled jobs.

Recent figures suggest that over a career lifetime a female graduate will earn on average £250,000 more than a non-graduate and the figure for a male graduate is £170,000. Given that the average student debt is around £50,000, there does still appear to be a considerable financial advantage.

However, the analysis deals in averages and therefore treats all non-graduates the same in terms of average earnings. Those who take up higher apprenticeships will possess much higher skills than the average non-graduate and these will have been moulded to a specific group of employers' requirements. This is likely to mean that these individuals will command a commensurate premium in the market and will not have the either the burden of student debt or the job insecurity which can surround many new graduates.

It is not therefor surprisingly that many of these high quality apprenticeships are highly sought and competitive not just in terms of academic qualifications but also people skills.

Sutton Trust Summer Schools

This educational charity has a great reputation for working to create greater social mobility via education. It has run a summer school programme for several years and is launching the 2016 one now. Places at courses at 11 "leading" universities available. Places are free but strict eligibility criteria apply:

• Yr 12
• 5A*/As at GCSE minimum
• First generation in family to attend university
• Eligible for Free School Meals or Pupil Premium or 16-19 Bursary Funds
• In care or "looked after"

Information poster up but best to check with Office over criteria if not sure on eligibility.

Valuable experience

This is the time of year when an increasingly broad range of enrichment opportunities, mainly for Year 12s, get promoted. Already we have seen local legal work experience, science lab work from GSK and various lecture series programmes to sign up to. Now we have the Balliol College Floreat Humanities extension opportunity opening up for its second year. By early January the university taster course season start sin earnest with the London University Taster Programme.

Never has there been more competition for university and higher apprenticeship places, but never also has there been so much support for the pro-active and focused students.

Credit-Suisee Insight Days

This is for Year 13s who HAVE applied to university this year. They are designed to explain a career path in investment banking. General one on 22/7/15 and one for females only on 24/7. Both held at Canary Wharf. travel expenses reimbursed.

You must have an AAB or better A level prediction and a "record of high achievement outside of academia"

Deadline to apply is 31th May.

See Sixth Form Office for more details.

Bristol University Taster Days

For Yr 12s. STEM day on 14th April and Arts & Humanities Day on 15th April. Involves three taster lectures either day.

In Easter Holidays so no need to miss school!

Students can book individually via:

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/teachers/post-16/taster-days/

Interested in Food and Nutritional Science?

Reading University holding a 3 day short course: 22- 24 July.

You need to be taking A level Biology and Chemistry. Details via link below:

http://www.reading.ac.uk/food/shortcourses/foodbio-sixthform.aspx

Headstart Courses

Great pre-university preparation/experience in the Science (STEM) subjects. Promoted earlier in school year, but deadline approaching. 2 -3 we know have applied., but we think there should be more who might want to consider it. See link for more:

http://www.etrust.org.uk/headstart/

Subject Masterclasses

At Cambridge University from February through to May. First wave in February in: History, Chemistry, Genetics, Modern and Medieval Languages, Medicine and Philosophy.

£10 a go see opportunities board for details.

Engineering Experience Day for Year 12s

Held at Loughborough University, which has one of the premier Engineering Degree programmes in the country.

Two days at a low £55 per person. Bursary funds may be available from us.

Don't delay, apply online at www.engexp.info

Summer 2015 Research Opportunities

Aimed at students considering STEM subjects at university - those in most shortage of supply for employers. Travel expenses paid and some £80 /week bursaries available for low income family backgrounds.

http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements

Places in high demand, so apply early. These are great opportunities.

Win a week's work experience at a top law firm

Opportunity for Year 12s to attend a skills and assessment day at Allen & Overy a top corporate law firm by writing in 200 words:

"what would you do on your first day as Prime Minister?"

http://www.mykindacrowd.com/Challenges

for details.

Deadline 8 weeks away.

Enrichment in Year 12

Of course, Beaumont Sixth Form provides this directly through its strong commitment to competitions, performance, visits etc, and indirectly by its championing of online resources such as the TED talks series, but students should also be aware of the large number of free public lectures that are offered on a variety of academic topics at local universities, including those in Central London which are easy to access of an evening.

Students are advised to check out listings and "follow" universities or departments that promote these vents.

Arts not just for Arts' sake

Very interesting intervention about the need for many engineers to have a creative side if their innovations are going to be successful. This article is the source:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30136921

It is made clear that skills in the STEM subject are, of course, essential in this field where the UK has a major shortage, but an ability to show creativity or be interested in the creative world should enhance the attractiveness of a candidate for a university degree and, ultimately, their career.

It is nice to see an argument for a broad education being made by an expert in the Engineering field.

Deep Thinker?

Philosophy study day (taster workshop) based around concept of "freedom" to be held at Oxford University 17/2/15. See poster on 6FC board.

Running a large scale sports event (very well)

One of the highlights of this summer's Rob's Festival was the large numbers of students given the opportunity to play in a football tournament that lasted over three hours, whilst contributing substantial funds for our Festival's beneficiaries.

James Banathy (then in Year 12) took on the role of tournament organiser, and this blog wishes to share his thoughts on the planning and execution of the event:

This guest blogpost is about the football tournament that I arranged for Rob’s Festival. This festival is a yearly event organised by the sixth formers at Beaumont School that has taken place since 2010 in honour of a past student Rob, who tragically died a few years ago in a skiing accident. He was a successful businessman and a great entrepreneur, so the school raises money for The Princes Trust in his memory. This year’s festival, which took place on the 28^th of June, raised £5,000. 

I began arranging the football tournament by promoting it at a number of assemblies and classrooms, and I was thrilled with how many teams entered the tournament.  In total we had 25 teams across all ages including a girls’ team, with over 140 students taking part. 

Although I was delighted with so many teams entering, it was a daunting task to organise it all.  A lot of planning and hard work was needed, including tasks like: speaking to other local schools to borrow their goals, working out how we would mark up all the pitches, organising all the fixtures and timings of the tournament, arranging for referees, buying medals for the winning team and gathering volunteers to help out on the day. 

Because of the large number of teams that entered the tournament, we ran 3 separate tournaments.  There was a competition between Years 7 and 8s, between 9s and 10s, and the sixth formers. There was a winner for each age group and these teams were Reus Crispies for the Years 7 and 8s, Lactose for the Year 9 and 10s and AFC Rios for the Sixth Form. I was very impressed with everyone’s attitude towards the tournament.  The matches were played in a great spirit and were very competitive. Despite the rain which became really heavy half way through the tournament, all the teams stayed towards the end and they didn’t let it affect them. 

The tournament raised over £700, which included the money teams paid to enter the tournament, and their ticket into the festival. The tournament was a great success, it ran very smoothly and it was well worth all the hard work and effort. I really enjoyed the whole experience. 

I would like to say a big thank you to all the people who helped make the tournament successful, including all the people who volunteered to help me set up the goals and mark out the pitches beforehand, and take them down again. Also thanks to the referees, the PE department, the other local schools for lending the equipment needed, and finally to all the students for getting involved and playing with such a great spirit. 

I would also like to thank Ms Dundjerovic for making the whole festival possible and giving us students the fantastic opportunity to be involved in organising such a great and worthwhile event. 

Here are some words from Ms Dundjerovic who oversaw the organisation of the whole festival:

"Supporting the Prince’s Trust and Beaumont School, Rob’s Festival was born after a group of friends from Beaumont tragically lost one of their friends and were determined to build a legacy to his memory. This year, we held our fifth festival with almost complete management of the event being handed over to the Year 12 students and the BSA (parent association).

There has always traditionally been a sporting element to the festival in memory of Rob's fantastic sporting achievements whilst at school and this year was no different except, this year, James Banathy organised the most successful football tournament since we started the festival in 2010.

James was handed the organisation late in the planning process but took it on with commitment and determination. Not only did he liaise with four different primary schools of his own accord to secure goals for the tournament, he also organised referees including teachers and his peers. The football tournament involved over 200 students from the school ranging from Year 7 to Year 12. James' communication skills were outstanding as all teams were prepped for arrival time and match times through regular updates in the days leading up to the tournament and also through a tournament briefing on the day. Matches, results and scores were clearly displayed throughout the tournament which kept teams up to date and prepared. As a result of this, the tournament ran like clockwork.

Working with James was an absolute pleasure. For me, it was like working alongside a colleague, such was his professionalism and diligence."

Elena Dundjerovic, Beaumont member of staff and friend of Rob's

More photos of this year’ festival: 

http://www.beaumontschool.com/gallery/school-activities/festival-2014.html?start=18

Websites for work experience and career choices

Following today's careers talk the ChannelMogo site now has a link from the Career Opportunities section and the Student Ladder has one in the University section (this could actually go in any of three sections, but it seemed the oen most central to likely next steps).

Charity Cookbook

Ex student now at Leeds University has put together a recipe book with all proceeds to Women International, a development charity working in some pretty harsh places.

£5 for students/U 18. Recipes are deemed to be both tasty and cheap. Could be a very nice pre-university purchase that you could also feel good about.

Go to www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/groups/19281 and create a guest login to shop.

Yr12s or Yr 13s can win a free summer course in Hong Kong

To win one of 6 places you need  to write about why British students should consider Hong Kong as a university destination. Deadline 22 April. All costs paid for.

If interested, look at British Council's Study Work Create website

Young Writer on Liberty Competition

The Adam Smith Institute are offering a £250 prize and two weeks' work experience for the winner of a competition to write three blog style article of no more than 400 words each on three separate topics about increasing liberty in the UK.

Deadline for submissions is March 21st, so you would have to get cracking. See us for more details.