Super-Curriculuar Activities

Introduction

This page provides course specific advice. Please see Mrs Hawkins if your course is not here and you need some help.

Accounting

1. Attend insight days at accountancy firms e.g. PWC
2. Be able to show awareness of why accounting is so crucial to business and economics
3. Useful resource: accountancylive.com

Architecture

1. Visit inspiring buildings and make notes on why you find them interesting
2. Keep up-to-date with new architectural methods and building techniques
3. Study the work of one or two famous architects in great detail
4. Useful resource: The Architect’s Journal, Architecture review and the RIBA journal.

Art and Design

1. Visit art exhibitions and design shows frequently
2. Choose a few favourite artists and designers (past and present) and familiarise yourself with their work
3. Learn how to use programmes such as InDesign and Photoshop
4. Useful resource: creativereview.co.uk

Business and Management

1. Read The Economist and the FT regularly and follow 2 or 3 stories in detail
2. Participate in business challenges such as the McKinsey Leadership Programme
3. Apply for placements at small companies and get experience in a range of fields within a business
4. Useful resource: uk.reuters.com/business

Computer Science

1. Set up an IT club at school
2. Get work experience in local organisations, or at school
3. Create your own website/programme
4. Keep up-to-date with developments in technology
5. Useful resource: www.t3.com

Dentistry

1. Try to get work experience at a dental surgery
2. Volunteer to teach younger children about dental hygiene
3. Read journals such as the Dental Update
4. Useful resource: Dentistry Info sheet

Drama and Performing Arts

1. Try to get a prominent role in the next school play (on or off stage)
2. Visit the theatre as often as you can
3. Read a play a week and make notes on how you would direct key scenes
4. Ensure you have knowledge of all genres and styles of theatre
5. Read reviews and understand how to critique them
6. Useful resource: thestage.co.uk

Economics

1. Follow news stories about the economy —national and global, that interest you
2. Ensure that you fully understand the UK’s current financial position
3. Try to get work experience or attend an insight day at a leading financial firm
4. Read The FT and The Economist regularly
5. Useful resource: economics.about.com

Engineering

1. Study five structures that you admire in great detail and understand how and why they work
2. Think about your favourite gadgets — what problem do they solve?
3. Try and invent something that solves a problem
4. Understand the different areas of engineering
5. Useful resource: learnengineering.org

English Literature

1. Read, read, read! Novels, plays and poetry too
2. Watch adaptations of the books and plays you have read
3. Undertake some creative writing
4. Start a book Club at school
5. Useful resource: literaryreview.co.uk

Geography

1. Research current global issues such as the environment and population
2. Become a member of the Royal Geographical Society
3. Useful resources: National Geographic, Geographic Review

History

1. Visit historical sites, museums and exhibitions. Be able to demonstrate an understanding of biased and flawed evidence. Research courses carefully.
2. Useful resource: royalhistoricalsociety.org

Law

1. Attend insight days run by top law firms
2. Try to secure work experience with a local firm of solicitors
3. Follow high-profile cases in the news
4. Visit the Magistrates Court in Peterborough and The Old Bailey, if possible.
5. Useful resources: The Lawyer, Lawyer 2b and The Law Journal UK.

Mathematics

1. Research mathematical theory that is outside the A-Level curriculum eg Fermat’s Last Theorem, Euclid’s Proof of the Infinitude of Primes and Pythagorean Triplets
2. Enter UKMT Maths Challenges
3. Make notes on the ways in which mathematics can be applied in society
4. Useful resources: ukmt.org.uk and plusmaths.org.uk

Medicine

1. Attend a summer school for budding medics
2. Secure work experience/volunteering at a hospital, GP, home for the elderly or a hospice
3. Read the British Medical Journal
4. Follow interesting cases in the news and keep on top of the latest breakthroughs in medical care
5. Useful resources: The Medical Portal Medical Portal, bma.org.uk, bmj.com

Politics

1. Read articles from Politics Review and Talking Politics
2. Show an interest in politics by joining your local Youth Parliament
3. Start a debating society at school, or join online debating forums
4. Keep up-to-date with global current affairs
5. Useful resource: theweek.co.uk

Primary Education

1. In addition to work experience, a good understanding and knowledge of factors affecting education and children’s learning and development is important.
2. Useful resource: getintoteaching.education.gov.uk

Psychology

1. Read articles from the British Journal of Social Psychology and The Psychologist
2. Join the British Psychological Society’s student member group
3. Attend lectures such as Psychology 4 Students, or a summer school at a leading university
4. Useful resources: bps.org

Social Work

1. Get work experience in a school for children with special needs
2. Volunteer at your local community care centre or residential home for the elderly
3. Follow interesting cases in the news
4. Useful resource: British Journal of Social Work.

The Sciences

1. Formal work experience will not be required but there is still a lot you can do. You can read the New Scientist, attend lectures at universities that are easy to reach. Taster days are very useful as well. Wider reading is important—mainly as a prompt for you to go and undertake more independent research into the subject.
2. You can also read The Week’s science section and the science section of the BBC News website.