6th form summer schools - thanks to mumsnet

[andisa]

So delighted, MN recommended a charity for Engineering experience - Smallpiece trust. Was worried would my young Yr 11 DS cope - agreed to go, just about, just completed and loved it.

"Looking forward to uni now " he said. Wow! Just what I wanted.

Built a robot, worked in a team, played football, learnt about the uni - very well supervised, nice bunch of youths.

Looking forward to my next Headstart application next year for taster courses for Engineering. Another MN tip

Thoroughly recommend you encourage your youngsters to sign up and do some Summer schools. Invaluable boost of confidence to be away from home in uni environmemt.

Where is the page for uni ed. and gap years on MN - or do they not exist?

Thanks again MNmembers. smile]

Fantastic. I tried to encourage my ds1 to apply for a Smallpeice Trust course this summer, but he declined.

OP information about college and universities is in the education section listed as Further Education.
Glad your DS enjoyed the Summer School.

I think it was me who recommended the Smallpiece trust, my ds never did go on one in the end but he still has time, but glad your DS enjoyed it.
Discovered today my yr11 ds has got a small scholarship for 6th form to encourage him to be an engineer. He will get Headstart courses through that.

So pleased your DS enjoyed his course. My DS has done them twice snd has a third one booked for the week after next.

Once your DS gets into y12, get him to apply for the head start courses. My DS has just returned from one at imperial which he loved.

I did a Smallpiece course 20+ years ago - fantastic. Good to hear they are still going strong and your DS enjoyed it.

Dear Roisin,

Do encourage your DS because they are so well organised. We argued he needed this experience o have a competitive UCAS form.

How soon should he apply for head start courses in Yr 12?

did not know about Arkwright scholarships and am wondering is there such a scheme to apply for in Yr 12 as he has almost finished Yr 11?

DS applied for the head start course quite early on in Y12, just keep checking the website, but they do get overbooked very quickly so try to check each week.

DS1 did a Salters chemistry course in Year 10. I put him forward after reading about it on here. His school is rubbish at that kind of thing although they did sign his application.
He had a week at a university and did all sorts. Most of the others were from very privileged backgrounds (which is a shame because it was heavily subsidised) and it was quite an eye opener for him.
Planning to try for DS2 next year.

Will keep looking for the head start courses - each week! Are they mostly run in the summer?

Thanks for all the tips.

Do Salters do Physics courses?

Uni of Exeter does a 3 day pre-U physics taster course in early July for Y12s.
Originally they told DS it was for local students only but he asked if he could be kept informed if it was opened up nationally. I think they came back to him in April and offered him a place.

Headstart mostly runs in the summer so similar dates to smallpeice. Last year DS had to cancel a smallpeice because he got the chance to do some fab work experience the same week. Smallpeice were great and refunded the deposit once he explained.

Just looked at those headstart course and they look brilliant. DS1 would love to do a physics or maths course. I've shown him the website and we are going to apply as soon as we can.

If you have younger dc its worth checking out the courses at Kilve court in Somerset. All 3 of mine have done courses there from English to rocket science

rocket science

Ok so not real rocket science, but they did set off model rockets and record lots of technical stuff about them, and compare the results.
Look out for the Adprian Dening run courses, his are very physics/engineering based, and he runs thenpm at a number of sites in the south/south west

Thanks to Mumsnetters, we discovered the Smallpeice Trust. My son is going away on his 5th one on Monday. he has thoroughly enjoyed every one.