Skills To Thrive

Personal Development

We want you to make the most of your time at Woodhouse to experience to world beyond your studies, to grow in confidence and experience a wide range of opportunities for personal development.

 

 
Skills To Thrive
 
Our Skills To Thrive Programme encourages students to develop a range of skills ready for their next steps after A levels. Students set skills targets for the academic year with tutors during their 1-1 sessions. As the year goes on, students log examples of these skills which they can refer to in applications for university, work or apprenticeships.
 
Students have access to a wide range of opportunities at the college and also access to further opportunities which are highlighted in the weekly student bulletin and careers newsletter.. 
 
 
 
Communication
 
 
Take part in student led tutorials, complete a short course or contribute to an article for Exposure magazine 
 
 
Creativity / Innovation
 
 
Complete a MOOC or complete a course on unifrog for free. These range from “Approaching medieval Literature” to “How to start a business”).
 
Critical Thinking
 
Complete an EPQ, or use the resources on Oxplore to develop critical thinking, attend the Solutions not Sides Bridge Builders conference, use the Read, Watch, Listen database on Unifrog, read a quality newspaper or journal such as the Economist, New Scientist. Subject review magazines are available for free from the library. Attend student led law society meetings or join the history academy.
 
Independence
Complete a MOOC or complete a course on unifrog for free. These range from “Approaching medieval Literature” to “How to start a business”), get a part time job or job over the summer, watch relevant TED talks or podcasts. Plan a trip with friends to follow up on an interest or hobby. Complete the DofE award. 
 
Initiative
Complete super-curricular activities e.g. Additional reading, online course, podcasts (Lucy Cavendish College), Enter an Olympiad e.g. or subject specific national competition, read some books from the University college Oxford reading bank, watch webinars - you can join live or watch past recorded webinars (Unifrog Webinars). Ask the librarians to direct you to resources for your subject.
 
 
Leadership
 
 
Help to run a student led society or start one, volunteer at your church, mosque, temple, synagogue, or other community or religious organisation. Volunteer with scouts or girl guides or help at a local school. Take an active role in the College Social Action project in the summer term.
 
 
Organising and Time Management
 
 
Help run a student led society or start one up. Run a student led event or charity competition e.g. chess, table tennis, badminton, organise a work experience placement, taster class, plan a trip for summer or go on a language exchange. Plan a gap year!  
 
 
Problem Solving
 
 
 
For physicists, mathematicians, and engineers work through the questions on Isaac Physics or I Want To Study Engineering . Complete cryptic crosswords, Suduku or other puzzles. Peer teach a topic or volunteer as a peer mentor. Take part in a Dyson design project or the ethics cup. Practise primary source analysis in history. Analyse economic data and case studies.
 
 
Reflectiveness
 
 
 
Keep a diary/journal, set goals and understand yourself better. Something such as the RSPCA wellbeing journal can help focus your thoughts. Reflect on your performance in tests and exams, for example by completing the reflection tasks in maths or the VESPA feedback forms in science. Take time out each day to practise mindfulness What is mindfulness? - Mind
 
 
Resilience and Staying Positive
 
 
Complete the Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition or a sponsored half marathon or other sporting events, do a park run each Saturday morning, learn a new skill such as cooking. Use the VESPA – Attitude resources to develop your academic buoyancy and growth mindset, learning from your mistakes and making use of feedback to get closer to achieving your goals.
 

Teamwork
  
Volunteer to work at a charity shop or local organisation such as scouts - London Borough’s have a list of volunteering opportunities. Join a sports team or take part in recreational sport such as badminton or volleyball at college. Work with the Student Council or EDI committee to represent student voice and help make the college even better.
 
 
 

Some Students write about what they did to develop their skills:

 
"I did an online course in smart, sustainable, and walkable cities relating to urban planning. The course looked at case studies based on New York and Paris. The online course helped me develop my critical thinking and my independent work. I also had to reflect on my performance in each section of the course."
 
"For work experience, I volunteered for two hours a week at the British Heart Foundation shop. I worked on the till, managed stock and listed items to be sold online to support the charity. The staff were really friendly and the manager was very flexible so i was able to fit the work around my studies. It was really useful for building my CV as it helped me build my communication skills and teamwork with other volunteers."
 
" I do parkrun every week. It clears my mind and so i am more productive when i get back to studying. I timetable exercise and time for relaxation into my work schedule for the week and I find this helps me stick to my study plan and managed my workload so i don't feel overwhelmed."
 
"Completing an Extended Project which is equivalent to half an A level helped me develop mu project management and time management skills. Managing time and keeping a detailed activity log is part of the assessment criteria for EPQ and so i needed to use a range of strategies such as prioritising and setting small goals in order to receive high marks."