Since the start of lockdown, the Partnership Development Office team have been finding new ways of reaching out to partner schools and colleges. Here is an overview of some of the activities that are available for bookings at the moment
Since the Partnership Development Office started working from home and all our work went online, we have been thinking about how to adapt our curriculum to make it accessible to learners online, at home, as well as in-school, and self-guided, as well as led by us or a school teacher. We have been creative, we have tried lots of new things, and have developed some exciting alternatives to help us continue to reach our learners.
Our in-school offer remains, and schools are booking onto face-to-face classroom lessons with our Schools team. However, some schools won’t be able to support the same level of in-class outreach, due to their covid-safety guidelines. As and when we get bookings for the sessions you know and love, like Build a University, and Confidence in the Classroom, we will assess the risks and see how we can make it work.
We wanted to let you know about some of our outreach programme that we have developed for online work. Not everything will have work opportunities attached, but all have been developed with Ambassador contributions and we hope will continue to put the Ambassador voice at the heart of what we do.
With all these work opportunities, there will be a full briefing given. Please read all work opportunity notes carefully, as some work may happen at a time other than the one in the work opportunity. If the session is in-school, there will be a full risk assessment and you should only apply if you are comfortable with going into the school.
In addition to our outreach sessions with students, there will also be other types of work this term, such as contributing to workshop development or evaluation. We hope that there will be lots of opportunities for you to try new things and develop your skills.
Year 7 and 8 | Da Vinci Challenges
Some of you may have worked on the Da Vinci Days programme at our Medway campus, working with Year 7 students from University of Kent Academies Trust (UKAT) schools, Brompton Academy and Chatham Grammar School for Girls. Inspired by that activity, this set of three interdisciplinary challenges is designed to deepen students understanding of science and art, and the way that different subject areas interact.
Work opportunity: Yes! Judging the entries
Year 9 | University Life
We have been redeveloping University Life and it has been updated as an online and in-school session, designed to give students an introduction to university life.
Work opportunity: For the in-class face-to-face version, there will be, but not for the online version
Year 10 | Year 10 University Experience
This activity is an online version of the Year 10 visit day. It is designed to give students an introduction to academic life at university, with students watching mini-lectures about what life after COVID will be like, and videos of Ambassadors sharing insights into their courses.
Work opportunity: None at the moment
Year 9 / 10 | Mind the Gap
This self-guided resource page is designed to help students catch up on their skills whilst being out of a school routine
Work opportunity: None at the moment
Year 9 / 10 and 12 / 13 | Introduction to Debating and Debating Club
The debating sessions have been designed to help students feel more comfortable articulating and expressing their opinions, as well as increase their confidence in public speaking. The six-week programme is run live on Zoom, and there will be a face-to-face version, too.
Work opportunity: Yes! We will work with Debating Tutors and Supporting Ambassadors on the online and in-school sessions
Year 11 | Exam Success Package
This is an online version of our popular in-school programme. Students have the chance to develop their exam taking skills, thinking about how to get organised for exams, revising, and tips for working through exams with confidence.
Work opportunity: For the in-class face-to-face version, there will be, but not for the online version
Year 12 and 13 | Sixth Form Foundations: Skills for Success
This six-week programme is designed to help students step up to the demands of Sixth Form by developing skills needed to succeed. Students will work their way through a booklet, accessing additional resources online.
Work opportunity: None at the moment
Year 12 | Year 12 Research Skills Support
Supporting students to build research skills for their level 3 studies, and to help them transition to HE. Especially students conducting independent research (coursework or EPQs).
Work opportunity: None at the moment
Year 12 / 13 | Where Next? Post-18 Options
This is an online version of our popular series of talks for Sixth Form students, to give them an insight into what it is like to study at university and whether HE is the right option for them.
Work opportunity: Yes! For the online version, there will be live lessons that we need support with
Year 13 | Beyond Sixth Form (Phase 4)
Supporting students in their applications to university, including understanding the UCAS cycle and writing personal statements.
Work opportunity: Yes! For the online version, there are live elements such as virtual Q&As with admissions officers, and we will need support for these. Also, if we have in-school bookings, we will need Ambassador support.
UKAT
We will continue to work with the UKAT schools, and there will be work opportunities for sessions including an online games club, and creative writing club.
FE College
Colleges are asking for talks on the UCAS cycle, Higher Education, and application support. These talks will be virtual.
Work opportunity: Yes! Leading and supporting these live presentations