Trinity Diploma Newsletter Spring 2021

Spring Term 2021

Sixth Form Diploma Newsletter While half of the Spring term was spent in remote learning, the Lower Sixth have continued with their Diploma lessons throughout – working on their independent academic projects, as well as discussing mental health and employability. Meanwhile, students in the Upper Sixth were given extra time to study or spend off screen, before coming back to school for skills-focused lessons.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE LOWER SIXTH INDEPENDENT ACADEMIC PROJECTS Students have enjoyed five skills lessons focused on their individual, academic projects. This has introduced time management tools such as Gantt charts, planning with SMART targets, evaluation of sources including how to reference and cite, and tips on designing a thesis. They have also been given time to carry out their own, independent research, while students completing a Sixth Form Project have been able to submit a draft and receive detailed feedback.

Here are some of the students’ reactions to work undertaken so far: I learnt how to read articles and papers and evaluate how their source impacts their reliability, as well as how to compare conflicting information from two different sources and think about why they conflict, and what appears to be the truth in this. This is a very useful skill and will help me out with my Academic Project, particularly when I explore controversial areas.

-Jim Borland

I found the lessons teaching the main skills for writing

this research project very useful as I feel like these are skills that can be utilised in the future. The writing process for the SFP has been difficult so far, as I have never written 2500 words before. As well as this, the structure of this sort of essay is completely different which has been hard to get to grips with.

-Elliot Kallmeyer

EMPLOYABILITY Lower Sixth students also had two lessons focused on employability – given that they may soon be seeking part-time jobs and perhaps scholarships and internships. In a competitive world, it’s important to stand out from the crowd, for all the right reasons.

Employability sessions are designed to help the students picture their target (whether a university, a job or funding, for instance) and to work out how best to describe themselves in the most relevant, concise, and appealing way.

I feel that it’s been really useful to have these employability sessions as part of the diploma. I have found them to be extremely informative. The way that the session on developing your CV was taught showed us exactly what to do - and what not to do - through finding mistakes ourselves, which has taught me just how clear and precise your CV needs to be for it to appear professional.

-Tate Nicol

A CULTURE OF CARE During the Autumn term, some Lower Sixth Students connected with elderly members of the local community, writing to them and calling them. Students were delighted to receive responses, with recipients sharing their thanks for communicating, as well as stories of their lives and life tips. The following extract from one of the replies certainly provided food for thought for our students:

“

Ask yourself what ‘success’ is to you? Is it getting A grades for A levels or a distinction for an instrumental exam? Is it about getting to Oxbridge or a Russell Group university, graduating with a first then ending up with more postnominals than letters in the alphabet?

Is it earning mega money, living in a big house and driving a flash car? Or is it being a really nice person who has always strived to do his best, who cares for his family and friends who values all the things in life that cost not a penny of ‘mortal money’? We still grow so much as people throughout our twenties, so by all means pursue what YOU want to pursue, but safely in the knowledge that if that path suddenly veers off-piste it doesn’t make you a failure it merely sends you the correct way for YOU. I am 92. One thing that comes with age is a certain sageness… I say ENJOY life, for life is precious and life is for living not regretting. Take it by the lapels, give it a darned good shake and ENJOY.

”

MENTAL HEALTH During their Mental Health Diploma sessions, students explored what it means to have good mental health and how they can improve their own. They practiced self-care strategies such as meditation, outdoor breathing exercises and mindful drawing. They also discussed: different types of mental illnesses; how to identify when normal worries or low moods are more significant; and where they can find support when they need it.

As someone who has attended many less than helpful mental health discussions and sessions, I found the techniques we learnt and the direct approach to the issue in this diploma session far more interesting and insightful than more evasive approaches. The overly optimistic teachings that seem to undermine the issues of those with mental health was not an issue within this diploma discussion, as it was directed at understanding the issues that plague the youth of today, rather than an attempting to simplify the issue.

-Ted Cribbens

SPOTLIGHT ON THE UPPER SIXTH LIFE AFTER TRINITY - Managing Finances To prepare the Upper Sixth cohort for independent living and university life, students had two sessions focused on finances. The first illustrated the realities of the cost of living at university, including accommodation, basic necessities, going out and entertainment. It also introduced students to the tax regime.

To balance these costs, students explored how much they would be entitled to via the Student Loans Company and how to supplement this with a part-time job. They then explored the typical obligations that they would be asked to accept and understand under contracts for their phone and accommodation. This included practice at writing effective business letters to comply with the relevant terms and conditions.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 14 – 18 June - Lower Sixth Higher Education Week (Students)

From the finance session I learnt how to budget and how to plan expenditure according to future costs. I also learnt how to identify necessities and luxuries and to find cheaper alternatives.

-Aaron Blackman

The diploma session on contracts was particularly useful as prior to this session I did not know much about contracts.

-Ezra Jeyamugunthan

The most important thing I learnt was about Student Bank accounts. I had no idea that they were different to regular accounts or their policies on interest and overdrafts.

-Erin Edwards

26 May at 7pm - Lower Sixth UCAS Information Evening (Parents)