By Miss Cagnino, World Ready Programme Leader

Earlier this month Matt Miller came to speak to Year 13 students last week as part of The World Ready Programme. He spoke candidly about his time as a student union leader and subsequently a parliamentary researcher.  Students explored the very topical idea of cancel culture at university and Matt’s experience gave us an insight into the complexities of free speech. We also got a very interesting insight into the world of politics and the important work that happens in parliament outside of the limelight. 

It was a thoroughly interesting session which formed part of The World Ready Programme of seminars. The aim of these sessions is to give students the opportunity to look toward the future and tackle the world with confidence no matter how challenging a situation. We set up the programme as we wanted to make sure that students are excited for what comes next – it is easy to forget that the world exists beyond our (now quite literal) bubbles. The sessions are interactive and students are encouraged to ask questions, hypothesize and think beyond what they have already experienced. They are a wonderful moment in the busy weekly schedule to put the realities of A Levels to one side and focus on why we are doing them in the first place.

Every Thursday afternoon Year 13s will either attend a lecture/seminar about a general world ready topic or their elected short practical course. The lectures will be delivered by either school staff or external providers.

Our Practical Courses include Self Defence (fun and engaging self defence techniques with Self Defence Academy), Bike Maintenance with Dr Pearce and his team, Healthy Cooking (a series of kitchen workshops with practical cookery lessons with trained chef and cooking coach Judith Manderioli), Sustainable Clothing with Dr Snook (a practical series of workshops where students will be reinventing clothing that would otherwise go to waste – all in time for the school fashion show!) and Introduction to Sign Language with Ms Hanbury and the RNIB.

We kicked off the programme in January with a fun ‘Game of Life’ event – from handling kitchen nightmares, to heading off on a summer road trip, competitors had to navigate challenges which tested their life skills to the full!

In March we have lined up an afternoon on Travelling and Working Abroad with Miss McHenry – the session will help you put in place measures to ensure that you are safe whilst taking on adventures of a lifetime. Next month we will also be covering Workplace Rights in a session which aims to give students the confidence, and the knowledge  of legalities of the working world, to stand up for yourself should you need to. This session will inevitably be underpinned by tolerance  of others and the respect we  should expect to be afforded to us and the  people around us as a fundamental life skill. 

We will also be holding a session on finance to give an insight into financial markets, investments, taxes – why you pay them and how to get the best credit health. We’ll be covering the basics – spend what you earn, live within your means and stay away from loan sharks, but also will be discussing what are the best ways to make the most of financial opportunities. 

Looking forward to some more great sessions this term!