Law Visits
Year 12 students have recently welcomed two former A Level Law students who came to speak about their experiences to AS Law and Business Studies students. Calum Ross, currently at the University of Law, Bristol, explained how the unique experiences he had while a student at the college enabled him to stand out from the crowd in his applications to universities. He singled out his exchange visit to Japan and a college trip to Ecuador, and particularly his work as Head Boy, as significant formative experiences that taught him presentational skills and the ability to work with groups of different people. Calum had some very useful advice for current students – make the most of what Tavistock College has to offer, and start your revision early!
Lara Hopkins, at present at Exeter University studying Law, came to speak about her life as a student so far, including successfully completing the Oxbridge application process, to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford. Lara also spoke about making the most of university life, making friends through societies and sport, and planning funding through university. She explained how important it is to take up opportunities relating to potential employment, and how to succeed in the interview process – be confident and be yourself. The most important advice she gave was work hard, attend all lectures and complete all work, and then play hard to make the most of the university experience. It has obviously worked well for Lara, who has recently been offered a training contract with Clifford Chance, one of the top London law firms, to work in the field of commercial law.
Both of these former students, now high achievers, provided inspiration for the year 12s as they are considering their own futures after Tavistock College – the plan being to aim high.
Pendennis Shipyard Visit
A group of ten ‘A’ Level Product Design students from Tavistock College had a very inspiring visit to Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth this January. The visit aimed to enrich the students’ understanding and awareness of different types of design, engineering and manufacture whilst hopefully really inspiring the students by showing them some really high specification outcomes. Pendennis are famous across the world for building and refitting superyachts. The students were given an extensive tour of the dry and wet dock facilities and were able to board an 85 metre superyacht which was in for a substantial refit. The students were amazed by the quality of craftsmanship as well as the problem solving nature of the works that were being carried out.
In the afternoon we visited Falmouth University’s Sustainable Product Design BA course, our progression partnership university. The students were given a real insight into the course and the facilities as well as being able to have their ‘A’ Level work critiqued and have valuable discussions about sustainable design with the course leaders and degree students. Mr Keegan who organised the trip said “Seeing the students presenting their work to degree students and then taking heed of the invaluable feedback is extremely rewarding as a teacher.” The A Level Product Design students will work with The degree course on numerous occasions through the year and the partnership which is now in its second year is having a very inspiring effect on the students and aspirations are really rising. Year 12 student Dominic Newton commented “I found both the Pendennis and university visits very beneficial. It was great to see an amazing workplace to aspire to and then see the degree course which looked fantastic. I really enjoyed the day and plan to study Product Design at Falmouth University after my A Levels.
Having the link in place is allowing me to start bridging the gap towards degree level study in my favourite subject.” We hope to run the same trip next year for a new cohort of students as opportunities like these are really helping to give students a path into some extremely exciting careers.
