News and events

Last week, as part of T Level Week, the Year 1 Health: Supporting Adult Nurse Team learners had an engaging and educational workshop session with NHS staff from University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW). The session was run by NHS professionals, Emma and Karen, along with Georgina and Simon. 

The workshop began with a discussion about the daily routine of healthcare assistants, focusing on understanding schedules, daily jobs, and the expectations placed on these vital roles. Learners explored the critical importance of recognising changes in patients, from routine observations like blood pressure and pulse rate to more subtle indicators of deterioration.  

Emma and Karen emphasised the need for vigilance and proactive reporting to ensure the learners understood the importance of patient safety. Students actively participated in testing their knowledge by answering questions, learning how to record observations both digitally and physically, and practised manual blood pressure measurements on their peers using stethoscopes. 

The session highlighted the significance of identifying serious conditions such as sepsis. Students learned about its common causes, symptoms like behavioural changes and altered mental states, and the importance of acting swiftly in such situations. The instructors ensured the learners understood not only the practical aspects of conducting observations but also the critical decision-making and communication required in healthcare settings. 

The second half of the session brought a hands-on, interactive approach to learning. Students explored ways to prevent injuries during patient care, using creative and festive methods. Mini gingerbread figures served as teaching aids, with learners mapping pulse points and high-risk pressure areas using icing. This activity blended fun with knowledge retention, providing a memorable way to identify areas prone to pressure build-up – and they got to eat them at the end! 

Learners then practiced proper techniques for unpacking and handling sterile supplies. They carefully opened bandages and gauzes, ensuring minimal contact with packaging to maintain sterility and avoid contamination. These skills are essential for maintaining hygiene and safety in real-world healthcare environments. 

This dynamic session provided the T Level learners with practical skills and valuable insights into the responsibilities and challenges faced by healthcare assistants. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical application, Emma and Karen from UHBW provided a deeper understanding of patient care to prepare the students for their future roles in healthcare. 

Thank you to the NHS staff that visited our learners! Your insight was invaluable and provided our future healthcare professionals with a greater understanding of what to expect in the industry. 

If you’re interested in applying for our Health: Supporting Adult Nurse Team next September, click here. 

Last week, our Year 12 Computer Science students at Sixth Form participated in the globally celebrated Bebras Challenge, showcasing their skills in computational thinking and problem-solving. Among our 13 Elite group participants, everyone performed exceptionally well, reflecting their hard work and dedication to the subject. 

One of our students achieved an impressive ranking of 1,703rd in this year’s worldwide competition. With over 15,000 participants in the UK alone, this is an outstanding achievement and a testament to their talent and perseverance. 

The Bebras Challenge is a 45-minute online event designed to engage young people aged 6 to 19 with interactive tasks that encourage logical reasoning and creativity. The competition is organised by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in collaboration with the University of Oxford and is an incredible opportunity for students to test their abilities against peers from more than 80 countries. 

This challenge is conducted online and marked automatically by the competition system, making it both accessible and straightforward for schools to implement. It is supervised by teachers, making it a collaborative effort between students, educators, and organisers. 

With its inclusive design and global reach, the Bebras Challenge continues to ignite young minds, preparing them for the ever-evolving world of technology and innovation. 

We are immensely proud of our learners’ efforts and successes in this year’s Bebras challenge as it portrays the potential of our Computer Science A Level students.  

We’d like to say a big well done to all the learners who participated, your success has not gone unnoticed! 

If you’re interested in joining our Sixth Form in September, click here. 

T Levels are a new and emerging Further Education (FE) qualification that is available to all learners aged 16 to 19. It is the perfect blend of an apprenticeship and classroom study where you can gain a great amount of work experience in a real-life environment. It allows students to get 20% classroom time to broaden their theoretical knowledge, and 80% work placement to gain hands-on experience. 

Recently we asked lecturers to nominate a standout student for not only their hard work, but also their attitude and willingness in both the classroom and on placement. One of our Health and Social lecturers, Jazmin Murray, nominated a Health: Supporting Adult Nurse Team T Level learner, Sophie, for being a fantastic student inside and outside the classroom.  

Sophie is not only a dedicated and hard-working student, but she is also a full-time carer in her personal life. Despite the challenges and responsibilities that she faces, she is a very positive and supportive learner to her peers, helping them in any way she can whilst always being eager to learn. On top of this, Sophie is now a peer mentor for new T Level learners to provide support and guidance for new students based on her experiences. 

Jaz Murray says, “Despite her huge level of responsibility in and outside of college, Sophie continues to go above and beyond to support her success. What truly sets her apart from other learners is her unwavering commitment, positive mindset and the personal growth she made last year. It has been a pleasure to have Sophie on the T level, and we are excited to see what the future holds for her. 

Sophie has been one of the most optimistic, passionate and dedicated learners I have had the pleasure of working with. She also received glowing feedback from her placement about the impact her time there had on the people accessing services.  

She has left such a significant impact on staff and learners and has overcome so much, highlighting the importance of individuals like Sophie within the health sector.” 

During Sophie’s Health: Supporting Adult Nurse Team T Level, she is currently completing placement at the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) NHS Trust Foundation. During her T Level, Sophie must complete 315 hours of work placement to gain real-world experience and work alongside professionals, providing great networking opportunities. This creates the perfect blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience to provide the learner with a holistic understanding of the healthcare industry. 

Sophie is now in her second year of her T Level, with aspirations of completing a BSc in Midwifery next year. 

Well done Sophie for this fantastic nomination and all the hard work you have put in throughout your T Level so far, it has not gone unnoticed. 

If you are interested in applying to Health: Supporting Adult Nurse Team T Level next September, click here.