Keep Going Higher – A newsletter from Immanuel College
As Go Higher continues through Phase 2 and works on despite COVID-19, Immanuel College students have still had lots of opportunities to try out new experiences to prepare them for their post-18 plans. Activities this term have been mainly for Years 9, 10 and 12.
On the 6th March, Year 10 students attended an English Focus Day at the University of Leeds. The lead teacher from Immanuel College, Ms Bowman said, “The day went really well. They were a fab group of Year 10s and seemed to really enjoy the day. They were definitely the most vocal of the school groups, contributing ideas and getting engaged, which was really nice to see. A few of them were particularly taken by Leeds Arts University- their creative writing workshop really was fab! I think the students took a lot from it. Thank you to the outreach team at the University of Leeds!”
Student from the college also attended the Go Higher Policing Taster Day at the West Yorkshire Police Training Centre in Wakefield. Throughout the day, the students learned more about the different aspects of policing, for example working in the mounted division. The students also were able to investigate simulated crime scenes and find out about the highs and lows of every day policing. One student who attended the event reported,“It was brilliant. Lots of fun moments, very interesting and insightful.”
For International Women’s Day on 7th March, a group of Year 9 girls went along to a day of engineering workshops at the University of Leeds. What was most striking was the range of engineering opportunities that exist and that it is a field that offers great scope for women to progress. The most fun challenge on the day was a competition to design a new splint for broken bones. Other activities included transporting nuclear waste safely and budgeting for flood defences for a village unwisely built on a flood plain – very topical. Immanuel students chose a combination of a £6 million dam, a river diversion and a beaver settlement!
Also in mid-March a group of Year 9s visited Leeds Trinity University to meet current university students and to learn more about the courses available at university and the possible careers they can lead to. Thanks to Leeds Trinity too for the lunch!
We asked the students to write on a post-it note a sentence about what they would take away from the day. They said:
“Student life can help with life after university and impact your life massively.”
“After today’s visit I realised that there are a wide range of options I can study for.”
“A better understanding about university courses and accommodation.”
“What a degree apprenticeship is.”
“What course I want to do at university.”
“Today I have learnt that there are a lot of things that interest me, not just joining the police. Like photography.”
“I have learnt how much I might earn for my career and what grades I need to get there.”
“How many different options I have and what I could do later in life.”
“Thinking about studying abroad.”
Go Higher continues to challenge students to think about their post 18 choices and, sometimes to move out of their comfort zones and try something new!
Joanne Welding, Immanuel College
