Wider Skills Week Round-Up
Check out an incredible week of extracurricular learning – from surfing and lacrosse, to life skills in cooking, museum trips, MUN and work experience in France. You packed a lot in!!!
On the last week of the summer term, the 6.1 timetable is cleared to allow students to explore new activities in a range of different subject areas.
Courses offered to Humanities, MFL and Social Sciences students, included the chance to experience life as an economics undergraduate at Surrey University; An introduction to criminology at the Royal Courts of Justice; Play the diplomat in Model United Nations; Argue like a Roman and visit the British Museum.
Courses offered to Creative Art students included The London Film Experience; Collaborative music workshops led by Jamil, bass guitarist for Asian Dub Foundation; Pixel Art for computer games; Workshops with a fashion designer.
The Mathematics, Science and IT division offered trips to the Royal Society of Chemistry museum; a chance to join the Carbon Literacy Project; Trips to Brooklands Museum, Royal Holloway University and the Greenwich Observatory; And a Geography field trip to Devon.
While our Life Skills, Sport and Wellbeing team offered courses in everything from Bridge for Beginners, to Creative Cooking, water sports activities on the Thames and an opportunity to work with the elderly in the community.
Exploring Physics and Engineering
Physics students experienced real world applications of physics and engineering with visits to Brooklands Museum in Weybridge; A day at Royal Holloway University in Egham to experience life as a physics undergraduate; And a trip to Greenwich Observatory.
Argue Like A Roman
Classics and Philosophy A Level students attended The British Museum to see the Parthenon metopes, pediments, frieze, the temple of Apollo at Bassae’s frieze, and appreciated a range of Black and Red-Figure vase paintings.
Geography Field Trip
Esher Geographers enjoy a packed week in North Devon, combining learning about the geography of the local area with outdoor activities.
Monday started with a visit to Cheddar Gorge en route to our accommodation. Students learned how this stunning limestone scenery was formed, and visited Gough’s cave under the gorge to see stalactites and stalagmites, a replica of Cheddar Man, and a skeleton from the Mesolithic era discovered in the cave in 1903. Cheddar Man is the oldest complete human skeleton ever found in our country and he lived in the Cheddar area 10000 years ago. He even has a present-day relative living nearby!
On Day 2, students investigated local coastal scenery and had a surfing lesson, along with an investigation into regeneration in Westward Ho! Understanding the local geology, cliff profiles and longshore drift as well as an appreciation of wave activity preceded an afternoon in the surf, where there were wipeouts-a-plenty, but great fun had by all!
Day 3, we went to Lynmouth on the North Devon Coast to learn about the devastating floods that destroyed the village in 1952, and the hard engineering flood defence scheme used to restore and protect Lynmouth thereafter. The nearby Valley of the Rocks, and its dramatic scenery, was one for the memory bank, as students scaled the heights of the valley sides to appreciate the extensive views over the Bristol Channel.
Thursday saw a focus on regeneration of the local area and a talk on rural rebranding from the owner of the Big Sheep, a small farm-based theme park outside Bideford. Students heard how this business had adapted to the changing economic climate and Covid, and then took advantage of the opportunity to ride the park’s roller coaster and merry-go-round, feed the animals, and enjoy a local Devon ice cream.
Other activities included the high ropes challenge, archery and mountain boarding, an evening game of rounders, a spectacular Geography Quiz and the final evening raffle. The aqua wipe-out challenge on the final evening rounded off an enjoyable week!
Many thanks to the accompanying staff and students who made this a great trip!
Find out more about studying Geography at Esher Sixth Form College.
History in London
Students enhanced their knowledge with trips to the Imperial War Museum’s Holocaust Tour; the Docklands Museum – Trade and Empire exhibition; A Black Cultural Archives session about the Brixton Uprisings of 1981; and a trip to the Tate Museum.
Model United Nations
Students got a fast-track introduction to how MUN works. They could try their hand as diplomats, investigate international issues, deliberate, consult, lead discussions and then, develop solutions to world issues.
Every year, more than 400,000 people from primary schools, secondary schools, universities, and beyond take part in a Model United Nations (MUN).
By role-playing meetings like the Security Council and General Assembly, participants get a unique insight into how the United Nations works.
Exploring the Natural World
Biology and BTEC Science students interested in studying Zoology, Animal Behaviour, Animal Science or related degrees, took part in three days of activities, learning about biodiversity and conservation. Trips included a conservation talk and guided tour at Kew Gardens; a visit to the London Aquarium and the Natural History Museum, and a rat dissection and lessons in live animal handling.
Creative Cooking
Using equipment and the sort of facilities typically found in student accommodation, students learnt to plan, budget, shop, prepare and cook tasty, cheap and nutritious meals. Over three days they learnt to do Cooking for yourself; Cooking for a crowd; and Cooking to impress.
Working with the Elderly in the Community
Health and Social Care Students worked with elderly people in our local community. Students spent three days at Linwood Care Home, Thames Ditton, and organised a garden party for 45 residents.
Find out more about our Health and Social Care BTEC course.
Introduction to Sports Coaching
Students played and gained a basic understanding of coaching skills for a range of sports including; rounders, cricket, table tennis, lacrosse, and tag rugby.
Acting for Film Workshop with Finn Cole
Dance, Drama, and Performing Arts students were given a plethora of professional theatre and dance industry workshops over three days.
Day One was an Acting for Film workshop with former Esher student, and celebrated actor Finn Cole (Peaky Blinders).
Performing Arts BTEC student, Maxim, said, “I felt that Finn’s advice was incredibly insightful and useful, as he explained his work ethic as an actor, and how other actors’ work ethics can vary eg. Learning lines, research carried out to understand the character, audition technique. He helped me figure out what angles my body should be facing based on where the camera was positioned while I was acting. A brilliant workshop!”
Drama and Theatre A Level student, Libbi, addded, “The Acting for Film workshop was thoroughly enjoyable as it was incredibly insightful to learn about acting techniques for the camera and how it differs from theatre acting. We watched various clips from famous films to understand the importance of light nuisance. Then we learned about the different parts of the camera and the different angles used in film. It was lovely getting a chance to speak to Finn Cole as he told us about his personal experiences acting on film and took his time with me and other students answering questions to advise us on progressing further in acting.”
Find out more about Dance A Level, Drama and Theatre A Level, Performing Arts Practice BTEC.
