Creating brighter futures

The Hospitality and Catering students have had many amazing masterclasses recently that have helped to develop their skills but also improve their confidence to produce show-stopping dishes that are delicious and presented to a very high-quality. 

Recently, the learners’ skills were once again put to the test when the Royal Navy joined the learners for the day and held an exciting Ready, Steady, Cook workshop. This MasterChef-style workshop was around 2.5 hours long and allowed the learners to use their initiative and creativity their dishes. 

The students were split into teams of up to 5 people and given a box of ingredients with recipe sheets for two dishes – a main course and a dessert. The learners had to work together to produce and present their meals which improved their communication, teamwork and delegation skills to prepare them for a professional kitchen environment. 

Each group had 90 minutes to create their dishes for tasting, with some guidance from the Royal Navy chefs as they went along. The chefs were impressed with how well their creations turned out, as well as their professionalism and team working abilities. 

Once the workshop was complete, the Royal Navy members outlined the pathways and perks to joining the Royal Navy as a chef. They discussed the benefits and opportunities of working in the Navy, the application process, and the required training. 

To work in the Royal Navy, the learners also discovered that no matter the role, you are required to go through at least three phases of training and you require a secondary role. For the Navy chefs visiting, they were both fully trained fire fighters in case of emergencies, but it also allows them to take the qualification elsewhere. 

The learners were very engaged throughout the session, hearing all the fantastic opportunities that the Royal Navy has to offer, as well as being the epitome of professionalism during their Ready, Steady, Cook workshop.  

We are deeply grateful to the Royal Navy for their exceptional support and commitment as a Career Excellence Hub partner. Their dedication to fostering opportunities and inspiring excellence provides invaluable guidance and resources for our students, paving the way for future generations to achieve their aspirations and gain professional development within the Hospitality and Catering sector. 

If you are interested in joining one of our Hospitality and Catering courses next September, click here.

Last week, as part of T Level Week, the Year 1 Health: Supporting Adult Nurse Team learners had an engaging and educational workshop session with NHS staff from University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW). The session was run by NHS professionals, Emma and Karen, along with Georgina and Simon. 

The workshop began with a discussion about the daily routine of healthcare assistants, focusing on understanding schedules, daily jobs, and the expectations placed on these vital roles. Learners explored the critical importance of recognising changes in patients, from routine observations like blood pressure and pulse rate to more subtle indicators of deterioration.  

Emma and Karen emphasised the need for vigilance and proactive reporting to ensure the learners understood the importance of patient safety. Students actively participated in testing their knowledge by answering questions, learning how to record observations both digitally and physically, and practised manual blood pressure measurements on their peers using stethoscopes. 

The session highlighted the significance of identifying serious conditions such as sepsis. Students learned about its common causes, symptoms like behavioural changes and altered mental states, and the importance of acting swiftly in such situations. The instructors ensured the learners understood not only the practical aspects of conducting observations but also the critical decision-making and communication required in healthcare settings. 

The second half of the session brought a hands-on, interactive approach to learning. Students explored ways to prevent injuries during patient care, using creative and festive methods. Mini gingerbread figures served as teaching aids, with learners mapping pulse points and high-risk pressure areas using icing. This activity blended fun with knowledge retention, providing a memorable way to identify areas prone to pressure build-up – and they got to eat them at the end! 

Learners then practiced proper techniques for unpacking and handling sterile supplies. They carefully opened bandages and gauzes, ensuring minimal contact with packaging to maintain sterility and avoid contamination. These skills are essential for maintaining hygiene and safety in real-world healthcare environments. 

This dynamic session provided the T Level learners with practical skills and valuable insights into the responsibilities and challenges faced by healthcare assistants. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical application, Emma and Karen from UHBW provided a deeper understanding of patient care to prepare the students for their future roles in healthcare. 

Thank you to the NHS staff that visited our learners! Your insight was invaluable and provided our future healthcare professionals with a greater understanding of what to expect in the industry. 

If you’re interested in applying for our Health: Supporting Adult Nurse Team next September, click here. 

Last week, our Year 12 Computer Science students at Sixth Form participated in the globally celebrated Bebras Challenge, showcasing their skills in computational thinking and problem-solving. Among our 13 Elite group participants, everyone performed exceptionally well, reflecting their hard work and dedication to the subject. 

One of our students achieved an impressive ranking of 1,703rd in this year’s worldwide competition. With over 15,000 participants in the UK alone, this is an outstanding achievement and a testament to their talent and perseverance. 

The Bebras Challenge is a 45-minute online event designed to engage young people aged 6 to 19 with interactive tasks that encourage logical reasoning and creativity. The competition is organised by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in collaboration with the University of Oxford and is an incredible opportunity for students to test their abilities against peers from more than 80 countries. 

This challenge is conducted online and marked automatically by the competition system, making it both accessible and straightforward for schools to implement. It is supervised by teachers, making it a collaborative effort between students, educators, and organisers. 

With its inclusive design and global reach, the Bebras Challenge continues to ignite young minds, preparing them for the ever-evolving world of technology and innovation. 

We are immensely proud of our learners’ efforts and successes in this year’s Bebras challenge as it portrays the potential of our Computer Science A Level students.  

We’d like to say a big well done to all the learners who participated, your success has not gone unnoticed! 

If you’re interested in joining our Sixth Form in September, click here.