Dear Ms Jackson,
Thank you for your time and willingness to listen to the issues I raised regarding the use of Sixth Formers’ 2-hour period for the E3 program. I have recently discovered it is a concern shared by and affecting many students, some of whom prefer to revise during these hours. Therefore, for many including myself, the E3 period is proving to be a burden more than an effective use of time that could be benefitting us as individuals as well as our means of furthering in life after Sixth Form (CV, applications, records, etc).
Below I outline the proposed E3 program and ideas for how the period could be used that would prove as or even more useful than revising for our subjects.
Health and Wellbeing
All activities proposed for this area are essentially P.E options. Since 2 hours of our timetable are assigned to mandatory P.E activities, I think as well as existing options we should be able to choose from more activities not limited to sports. Keeping with the idea of health and wellbeing, we can: * Have sessions addressing stress and how to deal with it (possibly sessions helping us DEAL with stress directly rather than just suggesting ways how to) * Sessions to build motivation * Sessions addressing depression/other issues affecting wellbeing of students
Other relevant topics/skills that benefits our general wellbeing/life: * Learning about taxes/mortgages/financial matters in real life * Specifically, student finances – e.g for university * Learning how to be a good team member/leader * Building confidence in public speaking (many students still get severely anxious speaking in front of a crowd) – e.g we can get the Speaker’s Trust workshops to come in * Writing and building a good CV/personal statement * Learning other skills/hobbies that can improve our CV/personal statement (to ‘’widen horizon’’/be a ’’well rounded individual’’) * Studying/revision tips and methods
EPQ
I understand that this project was mentioned at the end of last year and also at the beginning of this year. Despite being in for the first 2 days of A levels, when fellow students told me this would have been mentioned, I do not recall this and nor could they. Possibly more time can be allocated to explain the program and its benefits so more student can get involved in the opportunity.
Work and Community Volunteering
I think what we ‘volunteered’ to do in school (doing trivial jobs for teachers which we would not include in our personal statements) are assignments younger years would do as favours to staff.
For 2 hours a fortnight, we can be involved in the school community in other and more significant ways. * Helping with/organizing projects/assemblies/lessons/other events * Mentoring younger students (with academics/other issues)
It should simultaneously be encouraged and be options to volunteer at institutions in the wider community. * Charities (shops/churches/helping disabled people) * Work places
Visiting Speakers
I appreciate the time and effort needed to book in visitors to speak to us. From the names you identified, I think the frequency of visitors can be increased if we look at more institutions/companies. * Charities * Organization targeting the youth (speaking/workshops about sex/health/drugs etc) * Universities’ representative talking about courses/opportunities for us/the application process and tips * Other businesses/organizations
Other than having visitors, we can have go to universities for visits/programs/residentials/lectures/etc that are only accessible to schools.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I hope some changes will be in progress for the better.