Photo – Megan, Outreach Ambassador from Newcastle University
By Ms Drapela (Careers and Sixth Form Administrator)
On Wednesday 8th February, The Bridge Careers Service hosted their annual Higher Education event for students and their families.
Beginning in the afternoon, the Lower Sixth students were off timetables and participating in an afternoon of discovery. The event started with a session on How to choose the right University or Course, attended by all. Shortly after students broke off to attend two specialised breakaway sessions of their choosing which included, Future Options, Intro to STEM, Creative Careers, Applying to Medicine and Dentistry and Aspiring to Oxbridge. We aimed to represent all of our students’ diverse passions and goals with the chance for them to explore their interests and options. Students then joined us back in the Assembly Hall for a final, but important, session on Personal Statements.
We were pleased to be joined by representatives from different universities both near and far including Newcastle University, University of Birmingham, University of Sheffield and the University for the Creative Arts. It was a fantastic afternoon and a wonder to see so many students captured by each presentation and the valuable information our speakers had to offer. Additionally, this was an essential start for Lower Sixth students beginning to prepare for the year ahead and their journey into Higher Education.
Continuing on from the excitement in the afternoon, we soon began our evening portion of the event where we welcomed Lower Sixth parents for refreshments and another proceeding of presentations similar to those in the afternoon.
Parents gathered in the Assembly hall for a brief introduction led by our Director of Sixth Form, Mrs Helen Woolley and Head of Careers Mrs Kate Whitlock. Not long after were our parents directed into specialised breakaway presentations of their choice, similar to those in the afternoon but with the inclusion of UCAS Guidance for Parents and Carers and Student Finance. In addition to inviting our guest speakers back for the evening we also had a small Q&A forum with Mrs Woolley, Mrs Whitlock and Mrs Pearl, Oxbridge Coordinator, who were keen to set aside some time to meet with parents one-on-one and respond to various queries.
Many parents were left well-informed and appreciative of the time they had with each university representative, as well as members of BGS.
We thank all of our guest speakers for being a part of our event, as this was an important time for both student and parent to explore the necessary tools needed to prepare and support for the road ahead, and we hope to invite many of our guests back next year for another remarkable information event.
View the full programme from the event here.
