EDITORIAL NOTE:

Welcome back for another exciting year at Little Heath School! I hope that you all had a lovely summer break. A special welcome to our new students, parents and teachers who I hope will find this weekly pamphlet useful and interesting.

Please can I ask at the start of a new year, that you try to encourage our young students to get into the habit of looking at the Careers Bulletin weekly. This is a very simple and easy way to introduce the idea of career research early and hopefully, one week, a little article or paragraph, may spark a tiny interest in a student who one day develops this interest into a phenomenal career – that’s my dream!

If any parent or governor works for a business who would like to support our students by doing a careers presentation, run an activity at LHS, has a schools outreach programme,or could provide work experience/job shadowing please do not hesitate to get in touch:

Finally, I would like to thank you all forthe support and encouragement that the careers department received last year – this was very much appreciated!

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ROUTES INTO STEM

(Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths)

The Engineering Development Trust (EDT) has arranged an insightful and innovative local course over the October half term(24th-26th October 2017) to provide students aged 13 to 15 years oldwith an understanding of the amazing opportunities offered by STEM based careers. Students will engage with a college, university and a business. They have put together an interesting agenda to showcase STEM courses, apprenticeships, degrees and careers, which will hopefully give studentsthe best chance to make informed decisions and to also meet role models.

Benefits include:

  • Engages all students no matter their academic ability
  • Practical taster sessions of STEM courses at College and University helping with decision making
  • Visualisation of future STEM career opportunities and how to access them through apprenticeship & graduate schemes
  • Gaining a bronze industry led accreditation from Industrial Cadets

(inspired by HRH The Prince of Wales)

  • Meet role models

Cost:

The course costs £135 for all three days. Pupil Premium can be obtained from school. For more information please contact EDT: or 01707 386 151

Application is online: (scroll down to “Students” tab to access application form)Application deadline: 300917

SKILLS CAMP OPPORTUNITY WITH BAE

Farnborough College of Technology

The Engineering Development Trust (EDT) is developing a new scheme in collaboration with BAE Systems for students in Year 11, 12&13 to experience participating in an industry led engineering project. The scheme will give pupils an introduction to the skills and competencies needed to thrive as an Apprentice or Graduate engineer. The Skills Camp is set up to replicate working in an engineering project team and the students will follow a structured project timetable with the support of an engineering mentor/project manager. At the end of the week, students will give an assessed 10 minute presentation to a group of engineering managers about their project and recommendations and will graduate at the Silver Level Industrial Cadet Award.

Skills that will be gained:

  • Project management
  • Communication & presentation
  • Engineering decision making
  • Technical
  • Teamwork

Students interested in this opportunity should register their interest on the following website:

STUDENTS INTERESTED IN STUDYING ABROAD

The US-UK Fullbright Commission is part of the US Department of State’s Education USA Network.They offer British students free, accurate and comprehensive information about how to study at an accredited university in the USA. The UK’s largest US university fair, hosting over 150 different US universities is taking place at the ILEC Conference Centre, London, on:

29 September 2017 4:30pm-7:30pm

30 September 2017 10:30am-3:00pm

This is a free event if students register at:

THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE (2017)

“Uni in the USA : The British students’ guide to University in the US”

This book is available in the sixth form library as a reference book. It contains articles and university reviews written by British students and walks readers through the application process, scholarships etc. Advice and assistance is available at all times by calling: 0800 368 7694

PERSONAL STATEMENT CHECKING

Monday 25 September 2017

Mr Glen Cosby from the admissions department at Bristol University will be at Little Heath School all day to look at our students first drafts of their very important personal statements. Students will be able to spend up to twenty minutes with him

to get some guidance on content and suggestions for improvement. If you would like to book a slot please email: He has also agreed to do a short presentation to our Year 12 students.

EMPLOYER & UNIVERSITY FAIR

If you would like to meet the top UK employers and universities there is a free event at Olympia in London on 6 & 7 October 2017. To book a free ticket please refer to:

ASPIRING MEDICS AND LAWYERS

Working in partnership with the Royal Society of Medicine, the Bar Council and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, the Career Portal is a valuable free resource of information for aspiring medics and lawyers. If you are interested in these career areas please do have a look at:

MEDICS (BMAT)

Students interested in pursuing a medical career are required to take the Bio Medical Admissions Test which is generally referred to as the BMAT test. This test can now be taken in September as well as November, it can be done in school but students must register in order to take this test. By taking the test in September students will have their result before the deadline for applying to university. The advantage of taking the test in September is that if students are unsuccessful in this test they have not wasted an application chance for a medical course at university and will still be able to apply for five university courses. More details are available at:

MEDLINK

Medicine and Health Science Fair

London – Kensington Town Hall

Monday 2nd October: 10.30am to 4.00pm

This is ideal for students in Years 10 – 13 (younger students are also very welcome!)

This is a free day of seminars and an exhibition to help students apply for a degree in medicine or the health sciences. To book a free place, please go to:

MEDLINK INTENSIVE

University of Nottingham

17th – 18th December 2017

This is specifically for students in Years 12 -13, it is a two day residential conference for students applying to medical school. The residential course will cover the following:

UKCAT – hear from people who set and mark the test

Personal Statements – step by step guide to a winning CV

Free personal statement assessment

Medical Schools – Presentation

MMI- Practice stations with feedback, advice and rules of success

Interview Skills

Chemistry Masterclass

Social Media – make it work to boost your application

Medical Students share their tips for success

Free Deluxe Stethoscope and guided auscultation practical

The cost for this is £295 which includes full board, accommodation on university campus, de-luxe stethoscope, and personal statement analysis. To reserve a place please refer to:

VET-MEDLINK INTENSIVE

University of Nottingham

This is specifically for students in Years 12 -13, it is a two day residential conference for students applying to veterinary school. The residential course will cover the following:

Veterinary Schools Presentations

Personal Statements – step by step guide to a winning CV

Free personal statement assessment

Work Experience – what counts?

MMI- Practice stations with feedback, advice and rules of success

Interview Skills

Chemistry Masterclass

Social Media – make it work to boost your application

Veterinary Students share their tips for success

Free Deluxe Stethoscope and guided auscultation practical

The cost for this is £295 which includes full board, accommodation on university campus, de-luxe stethoscope, and personal statement analysis. To reserve a place please refer to:

LAW (LNAT)

Students interested in taking a degree in law must take the LNAT - Lawyers National Admission Test for Law-no later than 20 January(1st November for Oxbridge applicants)in the admissions cycle in which they are applying. Students must register for the LNAT before the 15 January at a local test centre.Students must link their LNAT registration to UCL, failure to do so could mean that the application is unsuccessful due to missing results. Applicants who register for the LNAT just before the registration deadline may experience difficulties obtaining an available test slot by 20 January due to high demand. Students who do not take the LNAT by the 20 January deadline, will be regarded as late, and would not be considered for a place on one of the LLB degree programmes, even if the original application was submitted by the UCAS deadline of 15 January. For more detailed information and booking, refer to the official LNAT site

STAIRCASE 12

University College Oxford has created its very own on line resource for students aiming to go to a top university. It is packed full of very interesting resources aimed to help students develop their interests further. For example it contains book reviews from current undergraduates to help students “read around” their subject of interest, suggested ideas for stretching knowledge and experience beyond the limits of the school curriculum. The site also contains information about student life at university:

EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES

The 26 September 2017 is the European Day ofLanguages. To celebrate the linguistic diversity of our continent and to advance our own language learning the European Commission Representation in the UK is organising two public events to mark the day.

Saturday 23 September

Aday of activities at and around the European Bookshop in London.

Tuesday 26 September

An evening talk at Europe House by author and polyglot Mr Daniel Tamment, on the Mysteries and Meanings of Language

For more information on this and other events to mark this occasion, please refer to:

HEADSTART

Y12 students are invited to apply nowfor Headstart residentialcourses in 2018. This is aimed at Y12 Maths,Science and Computer Science students at various abilities.

Students will be able to:

Get up to a week long summer school placement at their choice of top university so that they can experience the reality of university life

Choose from a large choice of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects so that they can decide if a course is right for them before applying to university

Explore options with university staff and meet peers, make friends and contacts.

Gain experience so that they can make well informed decisions.

Application is online at:

INSPIRE PROGRAMME (EDT)

This programme is aimed at girls in Year 11 who are interested in STEM based subjects.This is a three day residential course at a leading UK university. Each Inspire course is a mixture of exciting hands on activities and personal development sessions. These courses take place immediately after GCSE exams and run in June and July 2018.

Students will:

Be introduced to several branches of engineering or science to provide a

flavour of what to expect at undergraduate level.

Take part in hands on STEM projects, lectures and workshops.

Learn to manage a project, develop research techniques or write reports.

Hear about university life from lecturers, admission tutors and post graduate students.

Meet engineers, researchers and professionals who will talk about their own achievements

Be confident and enthusiastic about the next level of study in STEM subjects.

To find out more and to apply online before 1st September 2017 please refer to:

Mrs Wooller

Careers Officer

Job Spotlight

Historian

Susanne Christian12 March 2013

Historians use sources to study the past. Their work in heritage sites may overlap with that of researchers.

An historian's work may overlap with the work of researchers, archivists andarchaeologists.

What is the work like?

Specialising

Historians study the past. The subject of history is so vast that historians specialise. This could be in:

  • a time period - such as pre-history, the Middle Ages or the sixties
  • an aspect of history - such as industry or sport
  • an area or place - such as Europe, London or the Far East
  • an organisation - a company, charity or public body.

Other specialist areas of history include:

  • social
  • oral
  • scientific or medical
  • military
  • environmental
  • family history.

Much of what historians do is research. Their work, therefore, may overlap with the work of researchers. It may also share aspects with archivists and archaeologists.

Using sources

Historians look into the past by identifying and using sources, which can include:

  • documents
  • maps
  • official records
  • photographs
  • other objects from the past
  • verbal accounts (oral history).

They then analyse what they find. Part of their work may be interpreting the history –either for other experts or for the public.

Historians can be employed by:

  • museums
  • heritage organisations such as National Trust or English Heritage
  • university departments
  • large private companies.

Working styles

Historians may work alone or as part of a team. The team may include other historians or specialists such as archaeologists, scientists, conservators.

Some historians work freelance. They usually work on a range of projects within their speciality.

For example they may:

  • help people research their family history
  • use their knowledge of specialist archives and collections to advise people where to look
  • undertake specific projects for organisations or individuals
  • publish their finding as books or on websites.

Historians may work indoors or out, depending on what they are studying. Some time is spent indoors writing up their findings.Most historians have a degree and many have a Masters or PhD as well.The work may involve travel to heritage sites in the UK or overseas. You may meet with other international experts in your field at meetings or conferences.You may make presentations and give lectures on your research. If you are a university researcher, teaching students may be part of your work.

How do I become a historian?

You need to be very interested in history. Your fascination is likely to lead you to a specialist area of interest. You will also need:

  • an enquiring mind
  • good research skills
  • determination
  • good writing skills
  • the ability to write and talk enthusiastically about your subject, often to non-specialists
  • a desire to keep learning.

Qualifications and training

To become a historian, you need to study history. Most historians have a degree and many have a Masters or PhD as well. Usually the first degree is in history, but it may be another subject which interests you. Your Masters would then be in aspect of history or heritage.There is a huge range of history degrees available at universities across the UK. Many of them combine history with other subjects, such as:

  • politics
  • philosophy
  • languages (including ancient languages)
  • archaeology
  • religious studies
  • sociology.

Some degrees allow you to study more than two subjects.

It is very important to look carefully at the course content to help you decide which course will be right for you. Details of degrees are available on the UCAS website and postgraduate courses on UKPASS.Like much heritage work, this is a very competitive area to get into so it is essential to get as much experience as possible. Either paid or voluntary work will help you to build up your knowledge and your skills. Most museums and heritage sites welcome volunteers (although there can be competition for these opportunities as well).With a degree and some experience, you could become a trainee in a museum or heritage organisation. Once you have your PhD you can apply for post-doctoral posts, which may combine research with teaching.Depending on your interest and how you want to develop your career, you could move into another aspect of heritage work. You could become a curator, for example. It is also possible to move into museum or heritage management.

What can I earn?

As a trainee you could earn around £14,000. A university research historian could earn around £32,000.A head of department in a major museum could earn £35,000 to £45,000. Deputy Directors and directors can earn £50,000 or more, with directors of national museums earning over £150,000.

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