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Schools and Colleges Projects
Parents’ Revision Sessions 2008
This year has seen the introduction of a new and exciting initiative. Revision sessions for parents of Year 11 students have been taken up by the King’s High school in Bournemouth. The aim of the sessions is to introduce revision techniques to parents in order that they can then support and understand the demands on their son/daughter. Parents could attend the workshops on their own or with their son/daughter.
The first evening workshop was generic, covering a wide range of revision strategies, interactive activities, motivational DVD clips and quick and easy ways to improve your memory. Participants learnt how to count from 1 – 10 in Japanese and how to memorise a pack of playing cards.
The second workshop, a week later, was focused on English and Mathematics revision. We put some ‘muscle into our writing’, found an easy way to learn our times tables on our fingers! Tips were given on what the examiner looks for and how to gain those few extra marks.
In addition the parents and students were given a ‘goody bag’ filled with equipment to aid their revision. Refreshments were served on arrival and half way through the evening a buffet supper was served to energise the brain cells!
A week later parents and students were invited to experience a campus tour of Bournemouth University to see a higher education institution in action.
Over 50 people attended both sessions and evaluations were very positive.
A sample of comments received;
- “Very easy to understand and put time and other issues into perspective”
- “Some excellent information”
- “….fun and enjoyable”
- “I loved it”
- “A bit earlier in the academic year would have been better – perhaps even before the Mock examinations then repeated”
Citizenship Taster Day at BU
March 2008
50 Level 3 Weymouth College students visited Bournemouth University for a Fair trade taster day in March 2008.
The day was designed to inform the students about Fairtrade goods and produce. Previous sessions have centred around the theme of food and cocoa, whereby they trade cocoa pods with each other and get to taste Fairtrade chocolate. However for this session the day was centred on fashion and clothing.
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During the talks and activities the students learnt a variety of things, including a brief history of Fairtrade and the enormous variety of products Fairtrade offer.
Students looked at their own clothes as well as the clothing provided to see where it was made, if it was Fairtrade or organic, and had to pinpoint on a map countries that the clothes came from. Students were amazed to see how far clothes had travelled and noticed how the same countries kept appearing. Then an interesting film was shown about these countries and how the working and living conditions for the workers have been improved by Fairtrade and received a talk from a guest speaker from 'Traid' one of the first Fairtrade organisations before the Fairtrade movement was started.
The day was themed around fashion, so clothes were available to try on and the day finished with a fashion show delivered by the students who modelled a mixture of different Fairtrade clothing. All the students and ambassadors had a great and informative day.
Childcare Taster Days 2008
On the 8th and 11th March 2008, 32 year 10 and 11 students from Glenmoor School participated in a Childcare Taster Day at Bournemouth and Poole College. These students are all currently studying on a Child and Social Care course at school and will be going on a work placement with a nursery in the near future.
The day was organised to give these students an opportunity to experience the types of activities they might engage young children in during their work experience and also to give students an insight into further career/study choices when they leave school.
For the first day, the students were read the books ‘The Rainbow Fish’ and ‘Pants’ by one of the tutors from the college. In the first activity they were shown how to conduct an activity which they could use with the children involving paint and washing up liquid, which equalled lots of bubbles!
They were then required to cut out different pieces of paper to stick onto an individual ‘Rainbow Fish’. Then using the bubble pictures, they had created their very own ‘Rainbow Fish’ picture.
Another activity saw the students making their very own pair of pants and it was explained that anything including the word ‘Pants’ is guaranteed to make young children giggle!
On the second day, the activities were themed towards Valentines Day and some of the tasks included making wreaths, heart lollipops and glitter heart shaped salt dough. Students were also read the book ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’. Which lead nicely into how to produce training aids for the children to help them learn to tie their shoes.
Staff from Bournemouth & Poole College and Ambassadors from Bournemouth University were on hand to talk to students about student life and choices post 16.
Professor Fluffy’s Roadshow
November 2007
Professor Fluffy and Ambassadors from Bournemouth University visited Heathlands Primary School, Bournemouth and Underhill Community Junior School, Portland in November 2007.
The day designed to raise aspirations in Yr 5 & 6 included an interactive website, Student Ambassador interviews and making a graduation outfit.
Pupils worked in small groups with Student Ambassadors and discussed what they liked doing and how one day this could lead them to choosing a course to study at College or Uni.
The sessions finished with a graduation ceremony where pupils were awarded with a certificate and had an opportunity to throw their mortar boards in the air!
Alan McKechan Headteacher of Underhill School commented after the event “I've had lots of positive comments from staff and pupils, one of our governors was really impressed when her son came home and picked up a book to read because he wanted to go to university!”
Citizenship Taster Day
September 2007
15 Year 10 students from Budmouth Technology College enjoyed the first of a new series of Taster Days developed to enhance the Citizenship curriculum.
Aimhigher in conjunction with DEED (Development Education in Dorset) devised an exciting Global Citizenship Day looking at aspect of Fair Trade including a trade game, taste test and dvd.
Pupils also got the opportunity to work in groups interviewing students and staff at Bournemouth University about their perceptions of Fair Trade, designing a marketing campaign and analysing whether Fair Trade products cost more.
For details, please contact Liz Gordon on 01202 961234.
Institute of Business and Law (IBAL) Taster Day
June 2007
Wadham School took part in a Business Taster Day delivered by academic staff from the Institute of Business & Law School at Bournemouth University in June 2007.
Throughout the day the Year 10’s worked on case studies based on success stories from Design & Engineering students at BU where some of the students have had their product designs turned into manufactured merchandise.
The day also gave students a chance to discover how art can be used in the business industry as well as covering branding and perception exercises.
Simulence Taster Day
May 2007
Science and Drama together as one? Why not?!!
Kath Shaw and John O’Brien of Simulence brought their high quality science/drama simulations to St Joseph’s school in May 2007 to show a class of Year 10’s how fundamental science can be in practical situations.
The students were required to stay in character for much of the day as they were each given roles as doctors and as representatives from different companies surrounded by a controversial indictment where the local river has been polluted and no one is sure who is responsible but everyone is only too quick to point the finger.
It was then down to the young doctors to scientifically investigate and essentially solve the mystery of the contaminated river, which has been causing the town so much grief.
Apart from science and drama, the students were able to get involved in other activities throughout the day such as debate and interviewing skills!!
Another Aimhigher success!!
The Professor Fluffy Programme Starts in Yeovil
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Children at Sticklands School in Yeovil were visited by a colourful but unlikely new member of the Aimhigher Schools Team as part of an initiative to introduce Further and Higher Education to primary school children.
Professor Fluffy – a cuddly character created to teach young children about student life - will visit primary schools in the LIFE area. The scheme is the first of its kind in the UK and was developed by the University of Liverpool. Current undergraduate students from Bournemouth University, called Champions, work with small groups of Year 5 & 6 children on fun activities to raise awareness of college and university.
Emy Onuora, Director of Aimhigher Greater Merseyside, explains “The Primary project is part of a wider initiative designed to inform primary school children about the education options available to them, to help with decisions about their future. Some children have already closed down their options in relation to Higher Education by the time they have reached secondary school”.
The children from Sticklands School visited an interactive website, interviewed their Champions about aspects of student life, made a graduation outfit and received Certificates for starting on their learning journey with Professor Fluffy.
Recycling Rocks
Aimhigher supported a team of Events Management students from Bournemouth University called The Event Co. who staged a spectacular Fashion Show called Recycling Rocks. Working with Year 9 students from St Edwards and Year 10 from Ferndown Upper schools, the show featured incredible outfits all made from recycled clothing.
As part of their course, the students were required to stage a not for profit event and Recycling Rocks was designed to raise awareness of recycling whilst at the same time showing pupils the practical side of studying a vocational qualification.
Around 200 parents, teachers and friends attended the show with prizes being given for best outfit, attitude and effort for both schools. Emma Tripp, one of the organisers, said “It was our first big event and we were really pleased with it. The place was packed and everyone seemed on a real high. The kids put on a great show. They loved it and that’s the main thing”. A highly successful event with the team gaining a mark of 85% for their hard work
Spring Term 2007
What type of Learner are you?
The Aimhigher Schools and Colleges team are in higher demand than ever. With the introduction of a new “Revision skills” PHSE session and the huge expansion of taster days on offer to schools, Aimhigher has never had such a diverse range of activities to offer students. The new PHSE session in particular has proved very popular with schools.
The session is designed for students who will be facing their exams in the next few months and covers a number of topics such as helping each student to find out what type of learner they are, whether they are visual, audio or kinaesthetic. Once students have found this out, they then discover many top tips on how to revise according to their learning style, such as using memory cards, or mind maps.
Finally the session gives them advice on health and staying motivated when it comes to revising. There are a few handy tips on what foods they should eat and what they should try and avoid eating during revision. Many students are disappointed to find out that chocolate is not a brain food, and should probably be avoided when they are revising. With exams slowly looming students have found this information invaluable. One student said “This has motivated me to start revising for my exams”. A good result all around!
Secondary College
Wednesday 19th - Friday 21st July 2006
Aims:
Using the, very successful, model of Primary College, the aims of piloting a
Secondary College with Year 8 students at Wey Valley School were that each child would leave:
- with new skills in a variety of subject areas of particular interest to them
- able to make more informed judgements about options in Year 9, and,
beyond this, about career choices
- aware of the wide spectrum of post-16 education opportunities, and
with aspirations of becoming a further / higher education student
- having experienced a most enjoyable and instructive end to the school
year
Project:
The pilot Secondary College ran for the final three days of the term. All 220 students in Year 8 were issued with details of 35 different day and
half-day workshops in February, and requested to return a slip
indicating their top ten choices. An individual three-day programme was then
produced for each student – in every instance this consisted entirely of
workshops that they had selected.
Outcomes:
From the evaluation sheets students completed, it is clear that the
students very much enjoyed, and were stimulated by, all of the workshops. Wey Valley School are keen to repeat the event..
More Information:
For more information please select the file below:
Report on the Secondary College Pilot 2006 (PDF- 137kb)
Contact:
Peter Vowles
Weymouth College
T: 01305 208818
E: Peter_Vowles@weymouth.ac.uk
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Primary College
Tuesday 11th - Friday 14th July 2006
Primary College is a four-day programme of workshops provided for the
Chesil Education Partnership by Weymouth College for all of its Year 6
children.
Aims:
The aims of Primary College are that each child will leave:
- confident, excited and with raised expectations about their transition to
secondary education
- aware of the wide spectrum of post-16 education opportunities, and
with aspirations of becoming a further / higher education student
- with a range of new skills in subject
areas of particular interest to them
- having experienced a most enjoyable and instructive end to their primary education
To ensure that all Year 6 children in the Chesil Education Partnership are able
to attend, Primary College is provided free of charge.
Project:
The 2006 Primary College broadly replicated last year’s very successful
event. A programme of 60 workshops, all running concurrently was provided for 772 Year 6 children from 16 different schools and the Compass unit. Each of the workshops aimed to present subject matter which would be new,
challenging, and perceived as ‘special’ by eleven year-olds.
Outcomes:
The range of workshops offered was rated particularly highly, with positive feedback about the whole event from all students and staff.
More Information:
For more information please select the file below:
Primary College Report 2006 (PDF - 92kb)
Contact:
Peter Vowles
Weymouth College
T: 01305 208818
E: Peter_Vowles@weymouth.ac.uk
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Aimhigher in Weymouth and Portland 'The Big Picture'
May 2006
The Project:
240 Year 4 school children from eight local primary schools in the Weymouth and Portland area took part in a massive art project at Weymouth College. (Southill Primary, St Andrew’s Primary, Chickerell Primary, Radipole Primary, St Nicholas & St Lawrence Primary, Underhill Junior School and Beechcroft St Paul’s Primary, Wyke Regis Junior), funded by Aimhigher.
The school children assisted by their teachers and project staff together with students already studying art each produced two paintings on canvas that formed part of one big picture. The 480 individual canvasses were then set out together to form a giant picture based on a painting by Georges Brague. The children spent the morning painting in various classrooms at the College before finally assembling the giant picture in the College Square. A helicopter provided a great end to the show and delighted the children by flying overhead and taking arial photographs.
Outcomes:
Adam Morgan, a pupil from Chickerell Primary School said: “This has been a great day out with all my friends. We really enjoyed doing the art classes and seeing the big picture now is really amazing”.
Zoe Norman pupil from St Andrew’s Primary School said: “The art work was quite difficult but after doing the first canvas the second one was easier. I’ve had a great time and enjoyed meeting all the other Year 4 pupils. I’m really glad I chose to take part in this project.”
Sarah Colwell, Project Manager at Weymouth College said: “This has been a fantastic project to work on, the children have all been very enthusiastic and the final Big Picture is just wonderful. We were also greatly helped by having such a sunny day so the children were able to assemble the picture outside. I would like to thank everyone involved in the project and particularly Frank Herring & Son art shop in Dorchester who gave us very good discounts on the art materials. Each of the pupils will also receive a copy of the arial photograph and a certificate as thanks for taking part”.
The Big Picture will remain at Weymouth College for the duration of Dorset Art Weeks at the end of May 2006. Finally an enlarged photograph of the final work will be produced for display in various community settings in the borough.
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Primary College
Tuesday July 12th - Friday July 15th 2005
The Workshop:
A four-day programme of workshops for 800 Year 6 children. Provided for the Chesil Education Partnership by Weymouth College, part funded by Aim Higher.
61 different workshops were provided for 797 children from Tuesday July 12th to Friday July 15th.
Aims:
The aim was to offer activities which would both appeal to eleven year-olds and to ensure that, wherever possible, they left carrying something that they had made to take home.
The aims of 'Primary College' were to:
- Give every child an enjoyable and instructive experience, which extends their horizons.
- Enhance the social skills required for a smooth and successful transition to secondary education.
- Make children aware of the wide spectrum of further and higher education opportunities which will be available to them, and instill the desire to continue in education beyond Year 11.
Some of the workshops were particularly innovative - the 'Primary College Echo' required a group of children to become journalists and produce a full one-side page of reports and pictures, which was then published in the Dorset Evening Echo on the following day.
Outcomes:
Evaluation sheets were completed by children for all of the workshops.
All feedback was almost universally excellent. 2,440 evaluation sheets were completed by the children and 300 letters were received thanking us after the
event.
Contact:
Peter Vowles
Weymouth College
T: 01305 208818
E:
Peter_Vowles@weymouth.ac.uk
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