Year 13 BTEC Science students had the opportunity to take part in a three day Hounslow Council Careers Cluster Kickstart employability programme.

Day 1 was a full day of workshops led by Spark, focusing on employability skills and career pathways. 

The focus was for students to develop knowledge about different job sectors and roles. Looking at what employability skills are the most useful in the workplace and the importance of company values. The National Physical Laboratory came into school to talk about opportunities and skills needed for roles in the organisation. A Data Architecture Manager from Suez came in to talk about his career journey and opportunities relating to Tech.

NPL came into school and with a few students did a lesson. There was a lot of information given out along with talks that helped gain an insight into different job sectors. One person gave a talk about her background and how she got into NPL. It was also quite a productive lesson as she made us do different activities, like getting into a line on a topic she spoke about but without talking [e.g. age/ number of siblings]. Overall, it was very beneficial and helped me understand that it is possible to get into different jobs even with a rough background. Joana Dias [13F]

Day 2: Industry Insight day at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital Campus.

 

Students had the opportunity to tour the laboratories and find out more about the work undertaken by scientists. Employees networked with the students over a working lunch. Students asked questions and found out more about the range of roles available within the world of Science.

 

 

    

On day 2, we all visited the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences. We were first told about the health and safety, and we were told a bit about the history of the laboratory and science. We then had to dress up, split into 2 groups and were given a tour of the building, in which we saw equipment around the labs, people working, and we saw the different things that are in the laboratory. This helped us gain a better understanding of laboratory work and whether we are willing to pursue a career in that field. We had to wear lab coats before we entered any labs and our hands had to stay in our pockets, so that nothing gets contaminated. After the whole tour, we then had a networking lunch, at which we got food and had a chance to network with some of the people that work there. I had to chance to speak with Katie; she helped me get a better understanding of what I wanted to do and where I should go and what path I should follow to get to where I wanted to get too. Lastly, we got gift bags from the MRC LMS and a certificate of attendance and taking part in the day. Overall, it was a great experience for me and everyone and it really helped us gain a better understanding of the workplace. I would also recommend it to anyone else who is invited to take part to take part. Gurvinder Singh [13F]

Day 3: Mock interviews and employability skills reflexion

An Enterprise Technology Engineer came to school to talk about his career journey and his role at BP. Students learnt about industry sectors that make up BP. Students took part in mock interviews and had the opportunity to reflect on best practise.

I quite enjoyed learning about the different career paths of the different professionals, and I liked working with my group to do the mock interview, as I think it helped prepare us quite a lot. Smriti Bisht [13D]

When we went to the Treaty Centre we were all watching a play called Robin Hood. It was about a man called Robin who was trying to save a girl from the evil chief. Overall, the play was interesting to watch and funny.

Laara Bussunt [7G]

The trip overall was very enjoyable; my friends also loved it as they found it entertaining too. My friends and I laughed a lot and the show was very interactive. It was really nice to have a day away from school as a reward for our positive behaviour.

Zahra Khan [8R]

There was an external company that came to teach us about road safety with a small pantomime. 

It was interesting as the play addresses the common scene that we see every day; people walking with their phones out, not paying attention to what is happening around them.  

The road is a busy place with lots of moving vehicles, bikes and cars with so much more.  I really enjoyed it because it was a type of real-life scenario. This assembly was crucial for the ages 11 – 15, this is because we now gain access to the ability to have a phone. We get older and develop new abilities but forget the main warnings our teachers and parents teach us. Some people are so addicted they cannot live without phones, this assembly showed us the dangers of paying attention. 

Erinpreet Kaur [7Y]

We had the pleasure of having external speakers enter our school and put up a show for Road Safety. 

It was a great way to showcase the potential dangers of using our phones on busy roads, emphasising the need to be aware of our surroundings.  

This assembly was crucial for 11-16 year old students, as now that we are older, we believe that we can do things that we were taught not to do before. These thoughts can lead to impulsive decisions that may affect our lives or surrounding ones. 

During the assembly, I learnt that you should not have any distractions on the road and one example is your phone. Normally, when you enter secondary school, your parents will give you a phone and the screen can be addicting to the point where your eyes are practically glued to them. Now this is a large problem, especially on the road as there might be a car coming and, since you are not looking, you won’t notice it approaching. 

Mila Chen [7G]

Alumni Visit from Tanisha Anand, Class of 2021,14 November 2024

It was a truly rewarding experience to return to Heston Community School and deliver a talk to students. From discussing Russell Group university options and career paths with Year 7s to providing in-depth career advice and degree breakdowns to Sixth Formers, it felt amazing to share the knowledge and insights that this school helped me to obtain. Now working as a Marketing Executive in Mayfair, London, it’s easy to get caught up in busy daily life, but coming back to the School that shaped me into who I am today was a powerful reminder of my journey.

I was inspired by students’ ambitions; one student, aged 11, even shared their worries about university, only for a peer to reassure them, saying they looked up to older siblings who had been to university and found success. Sixth Formers also shared their thoughts about moving away from the comfort of Hounslow, something I experienced when I went to the University of Warwick – some of the best years of my life. I felt proud to share my story and talk about how those experiences helped shape my career today. Tanisha Anand [Class of 2021]

On the 14 November, I had the opportunity to attend an alumni meeting where I was given useful information and advice about potential universities and the various opportunities available within the Russell Group. Tanisha, an English graduate who studied at Warwick University, shared valuable insights regarding the prestigious nature of Russell Group universities, emphasising their academic excellence and the benefits of studying in a rural area rather than city-based universities! As she studied at Heston Community School, she also stated how teachers in our school gave her informative advice and encouraged her to take part in important roles to enhance her CV. Overall, this event was incredibly informative as she also explained her struggles and ways to overcome them, which has given me a better understanding of my options for my future path. Liya Ludhra [12A]

My experience of the visit to the British History Museum was amazing. There were many different statues that depicted different countries and their customs, along with clothes, belongings and, at one point, projections on the walls telling a story. The thing I really liked about this experience was learning about so many different religious pieces, such as a turban from early Sikhism.

Sanvi Dhal [9P]

On this trip to the British Museum I saw many things, but the one that really interested me was the mummies and the fact that they were the actual bodies of the Kings. It interested me because it was amazing to see how they were wrapped up and in their original coffins from Ancient Egyptian times.

Brandon Amblavaney [9P] 

“Participating in the Sky trip was an incredibly enjoyable and educational experience. I had the opportunity to act as a director, honing my skills in green screen editing and filming. The advanced equipment we used was impressive and added to the overall excitement of the experience. Watching the process unfold in real-time was fascinating, especially when I observed a professional news reporter at work. Additionally, meeting the Head of Sky Sports and having the chance to ask him questions was a highlight, providing valuable insights into the industry.” 

Noor Waris [12C]

Upon arrival at Sky, we were first introduced to staff members who helped us find our way around, as well as assist us with certain tasks we had to do. We had to sit in our arranged groups and then assigned specific roles to do once we reached the Studio. We made our way to the Studio where we were greeted by a member of staff who played us a short introduction video and answered any questions we had. We were introduced to Sky's history and its role in the media industry. We then saw the rooms in which the intricate process of live news, which required a lot of precision and coordination. As we headed back into the Studios, we chose our topics of interest to speak about, we prepared our speeches and then recorded our video. When that was done, we edited the video to our liking, which we then watched as we came back to the Centre. As a whole, I would agree that the Sky trip was an enriching opportunity to enhance our communication skills, as well as our vocational and confidence skills. It enhanced our knowledge in this particular sector of the world and allowed us to have a deeper understanding of the media industry.

Natalia Baranowska [12D]

The recent trip to Sky proved to be a memorable and fun experience. The opportunity to explore surroundings I was unfamiliar with, which allowed for broadened perspectives. I would argue the trip helped me come out of my comfort zone, as I was confidently speaking on camera as a news reporter. The trip also provided valuable time for relaxation away from my daily routines. I'm thankful I was offered a place on this trip, because I personally feel like I've picked up a lot from it, such as the ability to work in a team under pressure and being able to improve my time management skills.

Sarah Khadar [12C]