LWC + Issue 1: August 2022

FROM THE HEADMASTER

As you head beyond the Acorn Gates, I have no doubt you will do so with many cherished memories, lifelong friends, and a sense of expectation for what your future holds. There are endless paths that lie ahead; so much to explore and experience. You will all take differing routes, but there will be numerous moments along the way when paths will cross and connections reform. Savour those times.

You have become accomplished young adults and all of us at LWC have taken great pleasure in seeing your hard work and dedication pay off. Our school has evolved considerably since you joined, and no doubt as you return in the years ahead it will have done so still further, but at the core, we remain a school where you can breathe, seize your opportunities, and tell your story. Admittedly, the 1200 acres helps…

The best schools keep evolving, never settling, pushing expectations and boundaries. Venturing out beyond your comfort zone will be a key component of your success. I trust the lessons you have learned from your time at LWC, underpinned by a true sense of emotional intelligence will stand you in good stead as you carve your way in the world. Be curious, be creative, be collaborative, and keep exploring the power of technology.

Even though the pupil-part of your journey is behind you, your bond with LWC will be lifelong as one of our valued Sternians, who, I say without hesitation, are the beating heart of our school’s legacy. In this new phase of your life, we are still here to support you, along with the rest of our Sternian community, through exciting events, reunions, and interactions on LWC Connect. Please keep engaging. Our mission was for you to leave as ‘inwardly self-confident and outwardly modest, passionate and curious individuals who are ambitious to make a positive difference in the world.’ I wonder, how did we do?

The sunset of your school career has dipped below the horizon, but the sunrise of this next phase is dawning fast. Work hard, be kind and live a life that matters.

Lord Wandsworth College Upper Sixth 2021

2022 Leavers Magazine. Connecting you to your future as a Sternian

Farewell from LWC, welcome to The Sternians’ Association.

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR FIRST YEAR IN UNIVERSITY

Professor Andy Schofield Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University

I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to share my thoughts on how to make the most of your first year at University. It’s an incredibly exciting time, with so many opportunities, and I encourage all new students to make the most of them.

Above all, that means trying new things. Be adventurous. University will give you opportunities to pursue interests you already enjoy, but it’s also an amazing opportunity to discover new passions. At Lancaster, for example, we have more than 100 clubs and societies covering everything from art to adventure sports to activism. They are open and accessible to all, so take advantage from the very start.

Please don’t worry about fitting in or finding friends. Universities are wonderfully diverse and welcoming places that attract people from all over the world. It’s somewhere you can be yourself and feel confident that you will be accepted. However, you should also realise that it can take time to find your niche: the people who became my closest friends I did not really meet until the second term and in some cases the second and third year of my time at University. In fact for me every year was better than the one before so don’t rush to judge your time by how you feel at the end of the first week, or first term.

Relish learning alongside people at the very cutting edge of their field. Universities such as Lancaster are home to worldleading researchers. They are not simply your teachers; they are part of your academic community. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and contribute your thoughts. I promise you, they are interested in what you have to say.

Find out about all the support available to you beyond your lecturers too, and use it. Careers experts, study support, financial advisors – they’re all there for you, and it’s worth spending time in your first year understanding what they can offer and how to make best use of them.

You should also expect to face challenges and be ready to talk about them. Universities are supportive places with specialist teams who care about your wellbeing, so please reach out to those around you.

University will provide you with many of your most memorable experiences, as well as friends, lessons and skills that will last you a lifetime. I envy anyone about to begin that journey – enjoy it.

Best wishes,

Andy Schofield, Vice-Chancellor

MAKING A SUCCESS OF YOUR FIRST YEAR AT WORK

Matt Evans Managing Director, Talent Acquisition at JP Morgan gives his views

As Head of Talent Acquisition for Europe, the Middle East and Africa and Global Asset & Wealth Management at JP Morgan, I lead recruiting teams responsible for running several school leaver programs and onboarding a significant number of graduates and experienced external hires every year.

The bullet points below are just a few of the tips I would pass on to those starting a new job or even moving to a new company. There are plenty of other things to think about, but the list highlights a few of the most important in my view.

 Be realistic, accept you are new to working life and the company. Give yourself time to learn the culture, be inquisitive and do not be afraid to ask questions. There is no such thing as a “stupid” question and the more you ask, the more you learn. You must show you are interested, keen to learn/develop and eager to progress.

 Be ready for feedback – in the workplace you will (hopefully!) find a culture of continual feedback. This is designed to help everyone improve. Be sure to take it in the way it is intended, it’s not there to offend or upset you, it’s there to help you grow. You will be managed proactively against objectives so understand your deliverables and over-deliver. At JP Morgan I receive formal, written feedback on a twice-yearly basis BUT more importantly, I receive daily / weekly feedback from peers, my clients, and my team.

 Be open to every opportunity – as a new starter, you’ll naturally get some attention and people will want to know more about you or the programme you’re on. That tends to lead to people giving you opportunities to get involved in things beyond your day-to-day. Whether that’s extra

work projects or outside work social-type events. Get involved as much as you can with extracurricular activities/ opportunities. It is a great way to build your “brand” and add value to the company.

 Build your network and look for mentors – it’s all about networking and you can start this from day 1. Think about what you want to know more about and find people who can tell you about it. Don’t just use networking or mentoring as a chat – have a purpose to it.

 Communicate professionally – and figure out what channel is appropriate for what message. Are you just providing info? Then maybe an email is the way to go. Is there a discussion needed? If so, schedule a meeting but have minutes and actions with clearly defined deliverables, owners and delivery dates. Also, not everything has to be done on zoom….don’t forget the impact of a face-to-face meeting.

 Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, but don’t hide them either – mistakes don’t age well but a good firm will never be overly harsh with you if it’s an honest mistake made once – ultimately that could be because the training wasn’t good enough! Do not be afraid to look for relevant changes and suggestions for innovation….we don’t hire people to accept the status quo, we hire people to help us move forward.

 Understand how to best manage your wellbeing in the new company culture. This is hugely important to all employers, but you must take responsibility for your own situation and be clear on what works best for you.

Best wishes,

Matt Evans, Managing Director, Talent Acquisition

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful and I’m happy to receive suggestions to enhance my list. Good luck in your new role and don’t forget to keep an eye on relevant opportunities at JP Morgan!!

https://careers.jpmorgan.com/

I really enjoyed my time at LWC, whilst my mates were considering University, I realised that I would be more suited to taking a more vocational course, which is why I joined the Royal Navy to undertake a degree apprenticeship in engineering.

It’s given me the opportunity to gain valuable engineering skills by working alongside experienced and highly trained colleagues, whilst gaining my degree at Portsmouth University. In your first year of work, I would definitely recommend speaking to as many people as possible; asking as many questions as you can as that’s the best way to learn and build on your knowledge.

Ollie Suatt (School, 2017)

5 STEPS FOR PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL GAP YEAR

The Leap, founded in 2002, specialises in experiences in Central/South America and Africa and have been helping people plan their gap year adventures for over 20 years. Milly Whitehead, a director shares her top five tips to make the most of your gap year.

If you are thinking about taking a gap year but have no idea where to start, then we are here to help. So, to start the ball rolling let us start with the first 5 steps...

1. Structure

Do not look at an 18-months of unplanned time. Break it up into chunks of time. As an example, this is a well-trodden timeline:

 Finish school

 Have a happy summer – festivals and holidays

 September – get a job (or several)

 January or Feb leave the UK. (Trust us everyone leaves the country then and if you are still here – it is lonely)

 Return in May/June

 Return to work

 University starts in September

2. Get a job

We recommend that you save £300 for each week you are away. You should try to save at least £1000 for each month you are travelling. Some countries are more expensive than others so consider this when making your plans.

3. Ask yourself what kind of traveller are you?

This is an important question to ask yourself (and be honest with yourself) as it will determine what you do in January and how you travel.

 For example, if you are a team person then you might want to look at doing something with other people, so a social life is guaranteed.

 Or are you a lone ranger (or with one of 2 friends) who wants to pop a backpack on and hostel hop your way around the world – happy to find jobs or volunteering experiences as you go? You are responsible for making all your plans and going with the flow.

4. What type of travel experience are you after?

How you answered the last question will influence your travelling style:

 If you are a team player then look for “team experiences” where you meet new people, have constructive days planned such as The Leap team volunteering and adventure programs, doing a ski season, working on one of the summer camps etc

 Want to travel independently – then head off with a friend in tow, plan your route, seek great overseas contacts, and don’t buy cheap insurance!

5. Try to head off the beaten track?

Whilst many gappers tend to hostel hop their way around the world, consider making your gap year meaningful. If you can, try to join some sort of volunteering or charity work whilst you are away, and we promise it will be far more rewarding than just spending your day sightseeing. You will come back home with a deeper understanding of the country, and you will have made a positive impact on the communities you have visited. Trust us –this gives you a magical insight into your experience.

Finally, you will never get another year off so grab it and make the most of this opportunity!

For more information:

 Download our free gap year guide: www.theleap.co.uk

 Email: milly@theleap.co.uk

 Instagram: @gapyearexperts

 Telephone: 01672 519922

A great way to earn money before your travels or while you are abroad is to work as a Barista! Winchester Coffee School offers a range of courses teaching you everything you need to know about being a Barista. They have given our pupils a 20% discount code on their training courses over the summer. Please quote LWC20 when booking.

STILL FINALISING YOUR PLANS?...

If you have decided not to apply for a university or an apprenticeship place this year don’t worry, we are still here to help and support your application for 2023 entry. This also applies to anyone that may decide to change their course after a gap year. As a Sternian, we really hope you’ll stay in touch with the College and especially with the Futures team. We would be delighted to work with you on your personal statement, CV, letters of application, course advice, finance and funding as well as overall guidance and information.

So if you intend to apply/reapply in 2023, please let us know ASAP. We can then ensure your application is linked to LWC (if you wish) and that your references are in place.

With that in mind, below are some key things to be aware of and dates for your diary:

April – August 2022

Applications for 2023 are already open! You can use the UCAS search tool to look at courses as well as start to prepare your undergraduate application using the UCAS Hub.

October 2022

15 October 2022 (18:00 UK time): 2023 entry deadline for the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and most courses in medicine, veterinary medicine/science, and dentistry.

September 2022

6 September 2022: Completed 2023 entry UCAS Undergraduate applications can be submitted to UCAS.

November – March 2023

25 January 2023 (18:00 UK time): 2023 entry deadline for all UCAS

Undergraduate and Conservatoires applications, except for those courses with a 15 October deadline. Degree apprenticeship vacancies will be released. Make sure you are registered on company websites for vacancy alerts as well and keeping an eye on websites such as: www.amazingapprenticeships.com and www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

Keep in touch, and remember we are here to support you!

STUDENT DEALS

As a new student, money management is going to be key! Here at Student Beans, we make saving money easy! As the top-rated money-saving app for students with over 10,000 discounts, deals and competitions for students, a Student Beans account is going to be an essential resource for you.

We work with the biggest brands to bring you exclusive student deals. Our partner brands include McDonald’s, ASOS, GymShark, Amazon Prime, PrettyLittleThing, UberEats, MissGuided, KFC, Boohoo, Apple, ee, NastyGal, Schuh, Lenovo, Alton Towers, Pandora, Gregg’s!

It’s free and easy to sign up, all you need is an academic email address (e.g. university or apprenticeship), and you can access loads of student discounts online and in-store for free. You can also use Student Beans if you are studying for an apprenticeship.

Download the app for a more personal experience and unlock hundreds of exclusive student discounts handpicked for you. You can also check out our Gen Z Blog for hottest Gen Z trends, our events calendar for in-person and virtual meetups, as well monthly webinars!

www.studentbeans.com

So, sign up, register within seconds, and start saving money on your shopping!

Dear Sternian, Welcome to The Sternians’ Association!

The time has come to say goodbye to you as pupils, but your journey with LWC does not end here. As you embark on the next chapter of your life, whatever that may be, we wanted to give you a bit more information about what being a member of The Sternians’ Association means for you.

Named after the founder of Lord Wandsworth College, Sydney Stern, The Sternians’ Association offers all our Alumni:

 A network of Sternians from all around the world.

 An exciting events calendar, including our renowned Sternian Saturday at LWC in June and several regional and LWC+ gatherings throughout the year as well as the opportunity to represent The Association in a variety of sports matches against the college.

 The opportunity for you and your parents to join one of our societies – at the moment we have the Golf and the Mountaineering Societies but we are looking into a Cricket Society amongst others too.

 Regular E-News about Sternian events and opportunities, as well as updates from the college to keep you connected.

 A copy of the annual magazine, The Sternian (and the opportunity to contribute to this!).

 The chance to give back by offering careers advice to current pupils at one of our various Futures events like the Futures Fair, Mock Interview Mornings and our popular Round Tables.

 An invitation to join LWC Connect, LWC’s very own professional networking platform where you can connect with other Sternians, current and former LWC parents to help build your industry networks, find work experience, advice and much more.

 A website containing information, latest news bulletins and photographs. You do not need to do anything to sign up as we have automatically added you as a member of The Association, and your parents become Associate members too. We really hope you and your family stay in touch with us via the LWC Development Office – Justine Lammin, LWC’s Alumni Relations Manager, is here to help so please do contact her should you need anything.

The Sternian Committee wish you well for the next chapter of your life and we look forward to hearing from you in the near future and hopefully meeting you at an event soon!

Peter Booth President of The Sternians’ Association

John Bacon Chairman of The Sternians’ Association

MEET THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM

We are here to help you stay connected with each other and with the College through our events and LWC connect platform. Whether you are looking for careers advice, wanting to connect with Sternians and Parents or are keen to give back by donating or volunteering please do get in touch.

Sam Corfield Development Director

Development@lordwandsworth.org | 01256 860297

Kate Boyd Development Manager

Development@lordwandsworth.org | 01256 860297

Justine Lammin Alumni Relations Manager

Sternians@lordwandsworth.org | 01256 860356

Nicola Hirst Head of Futures

hirstn@lordwandsworth.org | 01256 860521

Claire Faherty Centenary Events Co-ordinator

LWC100@lordwandsworth.org | 01256 860392

A message from Justine

Hi, I’m Justine! Now that you are a Sternian you have reached the LWC+ part of your journey, and as the years go by you’ll receive invites to events such as LWC+5/+10 (this will be in 5/10 years’ time) etc. Please do stay in touch and let us know if you need anything – you will hear from me regularly now that you are a Sternian (all fun stuff I promise!), so do keep an eye out in your inbox for our E-News, follow us on social media and listen out for an update on the next Sternian magazine coming Spring 2023. Don’t forget to keep me updated on your contact details as well so that you don’t miss out on anything! Good luck with you next endeavour and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

 Mentoring – Launching early next year – keep your eyes peeled for updates.

 Jobs – You can use this jobs board to look for great opportunities that may interest you.

LWC Connect will be an essential tool for you as you take the first steps on your career path. It offers LWC’s very own network of Sternians and Parents from a vast range of industries – and they are all ready and waiting to help you propel your career forwards!

Now that you are a Sternian, (and after much anticipation we are sure), you will be given full access to the platform –hurrah!

You should have all seen the entire platform at some point during the past year so hopefully it looks familiar, but we wanted to just jog your memory about the fantastic features and benefits.

 Newsfeed – Just like any other social media platform, this is where you’ll see posts to everyone, and you can use this to reach out to the entire membership.

 Groups – These will be essential to you! There are a range of industry, university and leaving year groups for you to choose from. In each of these you will see tabs to view other members in the group who have worked in the industry or are in the same boat as you. There is also a mini newsfeed where you can post and ask for help, advice or share your achievements and you can also set up your own groups too!

 Resources – You should all know what lies behind the resources tab which will be updated regularly with different tools, articles, and materials for you to refer to at all stages of your professional life. We would love to add more there so do send us your suggestion of what we can include and if you get any resources from university that may help others, please do share them with us. If you would like to help us by creating a video reviewing your university/course/apprenticeship, then let us know.

LWC Connect is designed to give you the tools and network to kick-start and develop your career, but if you ever need any support, please do reach out to us – we are still here to help!

 Directory – This lists every member on the platform, so you can search for a particular person, or have a browse to see who is working in your desired industry and message them directly. You’ll see a lot of “Willing to help” banners so please do not be afraid to ask other members for help and advice. Haven’t signed up yet?

Don’t worry! Sign up here:

GIVING BACK

The opportunities available to Sternians to give back are brilliant! Since leaving LWC last year I have already been back for the Sternian Hockey/Netball event and to exhibit at the Future’s Day in February to talk to current pupils about my career. It was rewarding to network with current pupils and inspire them to think about their future options.

I also hosted a group of pupils who visited my company, Tonic, for an Industry Insight Day in June! I would recommend you get involved with as much as possible and make the most of the unique opportunities you have as a Sternian!

Alisha Thomas (Gosden, 2021)

STERNIAN EVENTS

We have an exciting event program each year that we will continue to grow. You will be invited to a variety of events including year group and regional gatherings (we may be coming to a city near you!), sports events and fixtures against current pupils, London Drinks and so much more, so there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved! You will have (hopefully!) heard that next year marks the beginning of our Centenary year and we have a special programme of events to celebrate the first 100 years of LWC –we hope you can celebrate with us!

Key Dates For Your Diary

The next Sternian Regional Gathering will be:

Sternian Regional Gathering, Exeter

Thursday 20th October 2022

Lunch at The City Gate Hotel

And/or

Evening pizza and beers at On The Waterfront! (Sternian University Students can enjoy this one for Free!).

If you’re heading off to the University of Exeter – or can get to Exeter for the event, then please do book your place when registration opens!

The Beckwith

Saturday 24th September 2022

Come back and celebrate the start of our Centenary and raise money for The Foundation with a 5K/10K walk or run around LWC’s beautiful campus.

LWC Connect Networking Drinks

Autumn Term 2022, London

We’ll be adding to our events calendar over the next couple of months but if you would be interested in a uni get together then do get in touch, we are considering Manchester at the moment but let us know if there is somewhere else you would like us to visit.

Morocco Adventure Challenge

23rd – 28th February 2023

Centenary Festival Weekend

23rd & 24th June 2023

As the Centenary year comes to a close, the entire LWC community, family, friends and Sternians are invited to celebrate with us over a fun-filled two days of celebration here at LWC. Both days will be jam-packed with events, performances, games, music and more.

Group: Sternians’ Association of Lord Wandsworth College

“Wishing you all the best.”

Nicola Hirst and Justine Lammin, Editors.