Jan 1, 2018 - Here you will find all of the latest ... The teachers were great at queens, nearly every class I was in I
Queens’ Careers News Issue 1 January 2018
Welcome to the first edition of the exciting Queens’ Careers newsletter where you can learn all about the careers education and opportunities offered here. We are currently hard at work updating the Careers website and aim to roll this out in January in the Curriculum area on the school website. Here you will find all of the latest information about options, courses, apprenticeships, up-to-date labour market information, parental guidance and advice, plus our Alumni area. We will also be introducing a section called ‘Where are they now’, where our Alumni let us know how their careers have progressed since their time at Queens’. Here’s a short example:
Art Department Alumni; Harriet Cox Innovation researcher for GDR CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE With an education in 3D design, Harriet has five years’ experience researching and writing for the likes of Samsung, LG and Starbucks. Keen on all things design related, she has reported on trends in industrial design, FMCG and CMF. In her spare time you can find her navigating the waterways of England's South Coast in a very small kayak in search of a nice country pub.
We will interview Harriet so that you can learn how to become an Innovation Researcher. If there any news items or information you would like included please email Mrs Davies
[email protected]. To join our Alumni please register using Futurefirst.org.uk.
The interview on the next page will be a regular feature of this newsletter, so if you would like to hear about a specific career please let us know and we will try to find an Alumni who is working in the sector.
Callum Shinkwin Interview (Professional Golfer and former member of Drake House) 1.
What was your favourite year at school and why?
Year 9. I was doing nearly every sport at school and was always in the same classes as all my friends. 2. Can you share your thoughts on how to best prepare myself for a career as a Professional Golfer?
Working smart. You should know how much your body and mind allows you to work. Also ,have a great team behind you. 3.
How did your Queens’ school experience prepare you for your career?
It helped me stay in a sporting mind set. I never stopped playing sports. And then once I left school I knew what sport I wanted to do as a career. 4. What did you have to do to get where you are?
I trusted my dad’s judgement (parents always knows best). Also, I kept working at every aspect of my game. 5. What special advice would you give a person entering this field?
Work hard, don’t get distracted and enjoy what you are trying to do. 6. From your perspective, what are the problems or benefits you see working in this field?
Problems - The cost of playing golf even as an amateur is still very high. I was lucky to have a good team around me who said if you need the help Callum, the help is always there. Benefits - it’s a great life style with following the sun. Also the pay outs are great if you get to a fantastic level. 7. If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? Why? What would you change?
I would always play golf in my next life and one after that and so on. Only because I love the sport that much. I would change a couple of things, nothing too big but everyone looks back and goes I would change that. Example - the first 3 months of 2017 I was not working hard enough, I wasn’t seeing my coach enough and I was in a bad way with my game and I got a kick up the butt from my wife, who told me to do something about it. 8. What did you think about your teachers?
The teachers were great at queens, nearly every class I was in I had a great laugh and got told off a few times (I am a boy). a. Were there any that stood out?
For me there was only 2 main ones. Mr Hopwood. First ever time I met him he said you are doing every sport at this school no questions asked. I laughed at him and said no way. Year 9 I was doing nearly every sport. Mrs day. She was my form tutor from year 9 - 11. She was great, she was also my maths teacher for a year. Never once did she let me get away with not doing work but she was a great laugh too. b. What were the most useful classes you took?
There wasn’t many for me academically. But my best subjects happen to be Maths and P.E (the teachers helped that) c. What were the most fun classes you took?
Maths and P.E. 9. If there was one thing you would change about your time at Queens’ School, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change anything. I loved every minute of everyday there.
Year 12 Trip to Oxford University (15th September, 2017) As part of the quest for improvement, Queens’ Sixth form organised a trip to Oxford University at the start of the year. The day started in the Common room where Mr Smith was busy phoning latecomers, to make sure they were still coming. Oxford University is a bit strange in that each college could be regarded as a small university by itself and exists as a small community. The colleges are spread around Oxford, which is quite a nice town to walk around because of the nice architecture to look at. During the day there is the opportunity to visit several of the colleges as well as some lectures, but you are left with the feeling that “I would like to do this if I had more time”. Oxford University has a mythical status amongst English Universities along with Cambridge, and often is perceived as beyond the capabilities of normal students.
It was pleasing to hear from the Queens’ students that the day had been worthwhile and that for several of the group they now saw Oxford as a viable option. To ensure a balance between the two components of Oxbridge a trip is planned for the summer months to Cambridge. Organised by Mr E Smith
Dare to Know? 6th form enrichment lectures that are designed to inspire 12th October 2017: Lawyer of the Year nominee, Nigel Mackay, talking to students about his work representing Uber drivers, the gig economy, and employment rights more generally. Uber's appeal against the landmark ruling of the employment tribunal was recently rejected meaning the original ruling in favour of Nigel's clients still stands.
16th November 2017: Local MP Oliver Dowden talking about his journey from Watford school boy to Westminster politician (and getting a bit of a grilling from our feisty and well-informed Dare to Know audience along the way).
Issue 1 December 2017
14th December 2017: Dr Jerome de Groot, Senior Lecturer at Manchester University, fascinated Year 12 as he spoke about his research ‘Double Helix History’: understanding how DNA sequencing changes the way people think about themselves and their relationship to the past.
Thanks to all who came for their interest and thoughtful questions. To learn more go to: http://projects.alc.manchester.ac.uk/
Organised and run by Mrs O De Groot & Mr K Rooney
CAREER READY Y12 (Thursday 7 December)
The 'Capital Experience' gave students the opportunity to attend a conference at the Dominion Theatre with Career Ready students from all over the UK.
Following this Queens' students visited: Bain and Company - a leading international Management Consultancy in Central London. The day sets the scene for students' involvement in Career Ready in 2018 with business visits, individual mentors and summer internships.
The BTEC Business programme has the students planning, preparing and conducting interviews plus the planning, preparing and running of a business event of their choice.
The first event they organised was a Football tournament at Power League. Information from Ms N Akhtar
November 2017 Dan Jones 9DF London Zoo Skype interview
I learnt how to become a reptile specialist and got to where they are snake to get as my corn snake.
with a Reptile specialist.
how the London Zookeeper now. I was told the best first snake when I'm 14: a
I really enjoyed the experience as they answered all my questions and they put a Komodo dragon in the background, which was really cool. Some of the facts were amazing! Of course I would love to have a job with reptiles but just being with them is a lot of fun and it's something I will always enjoy. If I was able to be a zookeeper then I would be very happy in my work.
Organised by Mr P Lower
What’s coming up? Year 10: find Work Shadowing placements or 10th-13th July. All paperwork will be emailed to parents in January. Year 12: find relevant Work Experience placements for 9th-20th July. All the paperwork will be emailed to parents and students in January. Year 12 Business studies: New York in February where students will visit the United Nations, a behind the scenes tour of Macy’s, Madison Square Gardens and the Financial District. There will also be time for site seeing. Year 9—13 Careers Fair 20th March 2018, 6-8pm: If you would like any career specifically represented please email Mrs Davies:
[email protected] with your request and we will see if we can get a representative to attend?
Dare to Know? New speaker and date to be confirmed in the spring. We will be following the Business studies programme which includes visits to the Houses of Parliament, the Bank of England, behind the scenes at Thorpe park, Dragons Apprentice (competing Y12 groups with a mentors help create events to raise money for a charity), and a speakers programme. Francis from Erasmus has already been in.
