#LongRoadLife Edition 12 - June 2021

#LONGROADLIFE Long Road Sixth Form College Applicant Newsletter

KEEP IN TOUCH

EXPLORE YOUR MIND...

Hello, from Long Road!

Today we're exploring the mind with our A Level and Level Psychology courses!

We'll be telling you all about their trip to Poland early last year as well as the

Long Road Sixth Form

difference in studying Applied Psychology and A Level Psychology.

College Keeping positive is something that has proved difficult for many people

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recently, but Psychology student Michaela is here to share her research into how to stay positive in your day to day life!

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enquiries@longroad.ac.uk

01223 631100

Remember to keep up-to-date with everything Long Road on our social media.

Keep smiling!

Long Road x

www.longroad.ac.uk

LONG ROAD LIVE

WE'RE HERE TO HELP

Applicant Virtual Welcome

Our friendly Admissions

We are so disappointed that we are

You can even explore our campus by

unable to welcome you onto our

taking our virtual tour - click here to

campus this week following the

view it now!

final lockdown restrictions until 19th

LONG ROAD LIVE VIRTUAL EVENT

July. We know this was disheartening

Our student ambassadors were

news for many of you, however, this

delighted to meet you all at our

won’t stop us from giving you the best

Road Live virtual event yesterday

possible virtual welcome that we can

afternoon. You asked us some really

Long Road Live!

Long

great questions and we hope that you felt our students gave you some really

We have created a

Long Road Live

page on our website which contains all

and guide you through every stage of your Long

government’s announcement not to lift

with

Team are here to support

Road application.

If you have any questions, please get in touch!

Heidi Hauser Director of Admissions

great, insightful answers - we certainly think they did!

Tom Hammond

the virtual resources and information that you need to find out more about

If you missed our virtual event then

life as a Long Road student. On this

don't panic! You can watch it now by

page are links to videos where you can

clicking here to head to our

hear from our teachers, find out about

Live webpage

Admissions Officer

Long Road 01223 63 1125

your courses, learn about the additional support we can offer you and get prepared for your first day at Long Road with our 2021 summer work.

admissions@longroad.ac.uk

KEY MESSAGES TO APPLICANTS

SUMMER WORK 2021 GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE

Check your emails

One of the most important activities to

you will find their contact details at the

regularly for

help prepare you for your studies as a

bottom of the Summer Work page. All

Long Road student is completing the

Summer Work should be completed

summer work tasks for each of your A

and ready to hand in during your first

Level, Level 3 Applied and Level 4

lesson at Long Road.

communication from our Admissions Team

Summer work is now

subjects.

available to download These activities aren’t here to trip you

from our website! Click here to get started.

All summer work explanation videos are

Our teachers cannot wait to meet you

up or catch you out, they’re designed

all, in fact, they are so enthusiastic to

to give you an extra taste of what you

start working with you that some of

will be learning during your time at

them have created “Summer Work

Long Road and we hope you have fun

Explanation Videos” to introduce

completing them!

now live on our YouTube channel -

themselves and help get you started on

don't forget to

their summer task activities. You can

subscribe!

view these videos, after half-term, by

All of our summer work is now LIVE on

clicking here to visit our YouTube

our website! Click here to get started

Channel – don’t forget to subscribe!

You can also watch all of our summer

If you have any questions before joining us in September please email

admissions@longroad .ac.uk

work explanation videos over on our If you do find that you have some

YouTube channel... don't forget to

questions then please don’t hesitate in

subscribe!

contacting your Course Team Leader,

Life offers you so many doors, it is up to you which to open and which one to close. #MONDAYMOTIVATION

DAISY, LONG ROAD SCHOLAR MEET OUR LONG ROAD SCHOLAR AWARD STUDENTS Name: Daisy Year Group: 1 Secondary School: Chesterton Community College Studies: Biology, Politics, Psychology Progression Goals: Clinical Psychologist I chose to study at Long Road because

I would definitely encourage Year 11s to

liked the courses offered at the

apply for Long Road because it is a

college, particularly the A Level Biology

brilliant place to learn more about

course. I felt that Long Road had a

topics that really interest you, to

welcoming environment where I could

explore your favourite subjects in more

flourish.

detail and to become an independent

LONG ROAD SCHOLARS' AWARD Do you feel inspired after meeting our Scholar today?

Why not click here and meet the rest of our Long Road Scholar

learner.

Award team!

I chose to apply for the Scholars Award because it is an impressive

My favourite thing about Long Road so

achievement and will enhance my

far has been being able to study

personal statement. At the moment I

independently and dictate my own

am saving the scholarship money while I

work schedule more than I could at

decide how best to spend it.

secondary school.

If you are thinking of applying for the Scholars Award – go for it! It is a great opportunity.

"I found the recent trip to Poland very interesting and eye-opening.

I found Schindler’s museum to be very useful in my studies and it showed me reasons to why an event like the holocaust was ever able to happen and how the general public was controlled through fear."

PSYCHOLOGY A Level

Psychology is the scientific study of the

On day 1 we visited the market in

human mind and behaviour. This

Krakow; had lunch in the old town; had

popular subject combines fascinating

some free time to go shopping and

content with a scientific approach to

explore the city; went for dinner and a

investigation. Psychologists study a

folk show.

range of influences from early childhood experiences and

Day 2 was our trip to Auschwitz and

socialisation to biological factors such

Birkenau; we had a tour guide

as genes, hormones and brain

throughout and this really brought

structure.

home the scale of the atrocities that occurred there. This was then followed

Last year, our Psychology students went

by a 3-hour salt mine tour that had a

on an exciting residential trip to

depth of 327 metres, that extends via

Poland. This trip was aimed to

horizontal passages and chambers for

increase, enlighten, and give insight

over 287 kilometres (178 miles). We

into our social influence topic that we

went for dinner at the Hard Rock café

study in psychology. This has direct links

which was a well-needed pick up for

with social psychology where we look

us all ad time to reflect.

at how we can explain why the Nazis followed Hitler’s orders and apply

On Day 3, we had a walking tour of

knowledge of conformity to real-life

Krakow’s Jewish District and met a

examples.

holocaust survivor.

APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY Level 3 Extended Certificate Psychology can be defined as the

However, their method of assessment is

scientific study of mind and behaviour.

different. Unlike A-level, the National Extended Certificate allows

The National Extended Certificate in

students to complete modules and sit

Applied Psychology course offers you

assessments as they go rather than

the opportunity to engage in this

doing 100% examined assessment at

scientific process through studying the

the end of 2 years.

various theories of human behaviour and conducting a research project that

Furthermore, the National Extended

requires you to collect and analyse

Certificate offers coursework whereas

data.

A-level does not.

How does Level 3 Applied Psychology differ from A Level Psychology?

Both courses try to explain human behaviour and cover similar content.

Both are basically science subjects and both require learning a lot of terms to understand theories.

"I find looking at case studies and analysing them fascinating. The way in which an idea is explained engages me, and I want to learn more.

Different areas of Psychology are looked at in depth.

Right from the start I found that I had absorbed a lot of information. “

“Michaela has certainly demonstrated enthusiasm and passion for psychology during her time at Long Road.

She has an extensive knowledge beyond the A level specification and would often share that wisdom with the rest of the class."

Katie Hodson Psychology Teacher

THE BIG P-WORD An article by Long Road Alumni, Michaela Today I shall be telling you all about

The happiness I find myself improving

the big P-word…Positivity. With

every day and getting the most joy out

techniques and advice on ways to

of is Eudaimonic well-being which is a

improve your positivity during difficult

very broad term used by most positive

times such as this lockdown, but also

psychologists when referring to

during your academic studies and your

happiness that’s gained from: meaning,

day to day life.

purpose, gratitude etc. How is this relevant? I hear your internal

Positivity is more complex than you

monologue asking, well as clinical

would think and happiness isn’t a

Psychologist DR Paul Wong once said

simple word that you make it out to be.

“A life without purpose is like a ship

Happiness can be broken up into 2

without a rudder, you need it for

different categories: Hedonic and

stability and steering”. Ask yourself

Eudaimonic. Now Hedonic is referred

questions such as “what do I want to

to the happiness you receive from

be remembered for?”, “am I living a life

pleasure in the moment. For example,

that makes me happy?”, “in the future,

buying something online or in a shop

if I look back on my life will I be

makes you feel happy in the moment,

happy?”. If the answers to the last two

however sadly the effects don’t last

are no, then maybe look at small

very long, and you would find yourself

changes in your life to add meaning

having to buy something again in order

and purpose to it.

to feel that kind of happiness again.

THE BIG P-WORD An article by Long Road Alumni, Michaela A way you could improve your

week. Now I know waking up at 7am

Try it out yourself! If you can’t think of

positivity within your job is to view it

on a Saturday morning doesn’t sound

any then I shall give you some ideas

as a “calling” as daft as that may

very fun, but once you’ve made it a

of what I am grateful for:

sound. Try it with the job you currently

habit (which can only take 3 weeks)

1. being alive

do, whether that be working in

you could find yourself feeling more

2. having food on my table

hospitality, retail as a carer etc. View

positive and inclined to do so.

3. not living in a war zone

your job as the people you meet and

4. having the right to speak out

the skills you learn are a “calling” and

So back to earlier where I mentioned

loud

that your job will help you better your

gratitude. Why is that relevant? I hear

5. being able to share my ideas

future self rather than money is just

your inner monologue asking. Well

with you.

money.

personally I have found that it plays a big role in my day to day life, and I

When you first start making your life

Purpose and meaning will also help

want to share my secrets to my

more positive it can be really difficult,

with your academic years. By giving

positive mindset with you. When I’m

because our brains are wired to

whatever course you are/will be

trying to think positive when I have

detect when something is wrong and

doing purpose or meaning will give

been feeling low I decide to try and

to put emphasis on this to protect

you the motivation you will need to

use CBT on myself to change the way

you (it relates to the cave man times/

carry on when “the going gets tough”.

I view a difficult time In my life, which

evolution where we had to be alert

For your academic studies I also

is where gratitude comes to surface.

and to put emphasis on the bad

found that routine helped a lot,

I look at the situation I am in, be it:

otherwise a woolly mammoth

following the same routine on the

stress, anger or sadness and I make a

probably would’ve eaten us). So don’t

weekends as you may during the

list of the things I am grateful for.

be hard on yourself if it doesn’t

THE BIG P-WORD

An article by Long Road Alumni, Michaela happen overnight, just be more

is so incredibly powerful, more

comfortable to you. Then take deep

aware of the good when difficult

powerful than you, trying to control it

breaths in (slowly) filling your tummy as

times come around, as “where there

and captivate it just simply doesn’t

well as your lungs then focus on that

is good there is bad and where there

work, but changing the way you think

breathing of yours, drawing all your

is bad there is good”.

does work (it does take a long time

attention to it, you could also focus on

however so don’t be hard on yourself).

background noises.

isn’t as daunting as it may sound.

Mastering meditation is also very

By being steady with your breathe it

Meditation helps improve your

difficult and will not happen overnight,

relaxes you, and when a thoughts pops

positivity through mindfulness, being

so again don’t be hard on yourself.

into your mind, acknowledge it but

aware of your thoughts but not trying

Remember Thubten the monk I was

don’t explore that thought, if you feel

to control them. As the Tibetan Monk

telling you about? It took him 4 years

your mind is drifting bring your

Thubten says “meditation is like when

with no help to try and master

attention back to your breathing. Like I

you’re stood at the bus stop, except

meditation and make it a routine.

said guys to have that level of focus

You could also try meditation, which

you are watching the buses go by but

just doesn’t happen over night and

you’re not getting on them. Those

Don’t worry it won’t take you that long!

there’s millions of ways to meditate

buses are your thought”. Being a

As I am going to give you a little head

that can be found through our good

Psychology student myself and have

start. Find somewhere quiet or with

old friend google.

been dedicating my life to it as well

background noise where you will not

as the rest of my life will be

be disturbed, you can either lay down,

Now I couldn’t write this article during

dedicated to it, I found that the mind

sit up etc, whatever feels the most

a time like this without mentioning the

THE BIG P-WORD An article by Long Road Alumni, Michaela dreaded word lockdown. It’s a difficult

have enough time to look after our

time for all of us right now whether

minds. For so long you have sad

you’re working or not, not knowing if

sleepless nights, rough nights etc and

we should stay inside, go out or cycle

you have accumulated a sleep debt to

there, missing our families, friends etc

yourself, now is the time of all times to

however that doesn’t mean we can’t

be able to pay off that debt. Maybe try

be positive. Think about it ladies and

eating healthy, doing some exercise,

gents, when will be ever have this

practice mindfulness meditation as

amazing opportunity to have this

well as all of the other ways to improve

amount of time off again? With work,

that positive mindset of yours that you

your studies etc and for those still

will create, because we all know we

working and studying when will you

now have some time to do this and get

ever have the chance to do it at home?

the ball rolling.

With very minimal contact! The answer is probably never again, so lets use our

So as you now see, difficult times arise

time wisely.

in your day to day living and especially during this lockdown but there are

When struggling with difficult times, be

many ways to keep a positive mindset

it grief, your own mental health or

and to improve it. I hope this helped

whatever else is on your plate, we tend

many of you with ideas of what to do.

to ignore it due to our busy work lives,

Bye for now! Stay safe, stay positive,

or we simply feel as if we just don’t

go for your walks or don’t or cycle to it!

"Michaela's kind nature and willingness to help others will make her an excellent psychology student when she goes onto study at Lincoln University.”

Katie Hodson Psychology Teacher

JUNE 2021: EDITION 12

#LONGROADLIFE L O N G

R O A D

01223 631100

enquiries@longroad.ac.uk

www.longroad.ac.uk

S I X T H

F O R M

C O L L E G E

A P P L I C A N T

N E W S L E T T E R

Long Road Sixth Form College

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