Wirral Life February 2020 | Page 15

and international graduate schemes. In addition, our Futures Skills Advisers provide students with opportunities to develop their wider perspectives, critical thinking and research skills, as well as support with interview practice and tailored preparation for the various tests required for certain university courses. of others’ preferred way of working. This enables them to better adapt, connect and engage with their peers, an interviewer or potential employer and in doing so, develop greater authenticity, assertiveness, leadership skills and personal resilience – key skills in the contemporary workplace. "For those seeking a place at Oxbridge, we offer bespoke mentoring, in which an experienced member of staff will work closely with an applicant to set goals and suggest wider reading and investigations appropriate to the interests or requirements of the individual concerned. In addition, our Advanced Tutorial Groups, overseen by the UCAS Co-ordinator, encourage students to lead discussions on a range of current, challenging and thought-provoking contemporary topics. Thus, whether preparing students for Oxbridge, supporting and guiding them through an international application, or drawing on our established and extensive preparations for medical school, we have a team of experienced and specialist staff on hand to provide just the right support and advice. "Our Beyond the Curriculum programme also forms an important part of the Sixth Form timetable. Designed to encourage the development of new skills and interests, it offers students a range of courses which develop new aptitudes and broaden their personal horizons. The programme includes an eight-week core course in interview, presentation and research skills, as well as in critical thinking, all of which provide students with the very best and bespoke preparation for the years ahead of them. "Linked closely to the Futures programme are our industry- specific careers conferences, open to all students on Wirral, and organised by our Futures Co-ordinator. These specialised events offer students an opportunity to speak to experts in a variety of areas within a specific field. To date, we have hosted conferences focusing on professions in Healthcare, Engineering, Technology & Design, as well as Media & the Arts. In the new year, the focus will be on careers in Finance & Law with an event being held on Monday 10th February. Not only are students able to access first class information from a range of professionals, many of them Old Birkonians, but these events are also instrumental in providing extensive networking contacts, work experience placements, site visits and follow up mock interviews. "As part of our commitment to personal development, in the Sixth Form we provide students with unique opportunities through which to extend and enrich their experience. Since last year we have been delighted to offer students the opportunity to take part in a Discovering Personal Effectiveness Programme run by a leadership development organisation that encourages students to explore their self-awareness and gain a better understanding "During the Michaelmas and Lent Terms, each week concludes with a Friday lecture, as part of the Nicholls Lecture Series. This guest series, going back several decades, provides Sixth Form students with an opportunity to listen to a range of thought-provoking talks on a broad range of topics. In recent years we have played host to eminent speakers including the Archbishop of York, a Chief Financial Officer from a Premiership football club, our local MP and a Justice of the Supreme Court. "We pride ourselves on inspiring our students through the quality and breadth of opportunities on offer within a supportive community. The significant number of students who maintain their links with the School after leaving, is testament to this. It is our firm belief that the Birkenhead School experience furnishes students with the confidence, resourcefulness and independence to thrive in the world beyond school." Anyone interested in joining the Sixth Form at Birkenhead School or applying for an Access Scholarship is encouraged to attend the forthcoming Sixth Form Open Evening being held on Thursday 13th February from 6-8pm or to contact Ms Smeaton for an informal discussion. Further information on the evening and the Access Scholarships is available on the website. Deadline for applications is Monday 24th February. wirrallife.com 15