On Friday, 08 December T-Level Business and Healthcare Science students across Year 12 and 13 had the opportunity to attend a workshop organised by GateOneConsultancy, a consultancy firm based in Central London. We learnt about how to write a CV and cover letter.  The focus of the session was to show us how to build our skills, develop ourselves personally as applicants to showcase what we can bring to different organisations. They introduced us to a method called the Ikigai, a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a sense of purpose, a reason for living.

This method used four questions:

1. What I am good at? 

2. What I love? 

3. What the world needs? 

4. What can you be paid for? 

This helped me to analyse and see the variety of career paths that I could pursue based on my skills. As part of the session, we were also introduced to the STAR technique, a significant technique to use during an interview. We worked in pairs, practising the different interview questions using the STAR technique. It was challenging, as thinking on the spot was difficult, however as time passed we did learn how to use the technique and were able to refine our answers to be clear and concise. The benefits of the workshop experience was very insightful and helpful to allow us to prepare for interviews in the future.

Wasi Syed [13F] T-level Management & Administration 

Fifteen aspiring poets from across KS3 visited Lampton School to meet published poet, Neal Zeller. Zeller explained how he uses poetry as therapy but also for fun, performing a range of his own poems covering topics as diverse as frustration on tube trains, to a fear of dark alleyways, to a love of peanut butter!

His quirky and individual poetry style engaged the students, who experimented with vocal recitation and public speaking skills, before finally working on their own poems.

Zeller coached each student, giving them the freedom to really express themselves. Their poems covered serious topics from anxieties about exams, to gratitude to parents, to fear of darkness and uncertainty about identity. The finished poems showed emotional maturity and courage; they were also beautifully accomplished in terms of technical skill. Some will be published in the next issue of the Heston Voice and we hope they will resonate with all of our readers.

“I really enjoyed the trip because we learnt more about poetry and different types of poems. We also got to write our own poems, which I found fun - I wrote mine about clowns! We listened to poems being read aloud and even performed a choral reading of some poems, too. At the end, we got to read our poems in front of other students and teachers, which pushed me out of my comfort zone. Overall, I found the trip interesting and educating.”  

Kaia Hall, [9Y] 

 “The poetry trip was fun, enjoyable and an informative experience. I have learnt new writing styles and I would love to develop even more writing skills. I think this day was beneficial to all of us interested in poetry.”  

Arlynn Rodrigues [8Y] 

Over the first Half Term, Year 12 students took part in the 'Controversial Question' Essay competition. The title was "Being part of a state-funded sixth form is mostly about how well you do in your academic studies. Discuss". It was great to read so many conflicting views and well-thought-out arguments. Congratulations to the following winning students: Rianna Ludhra, Sara Daci, Arun Kharaud, Saniya Sharma, Salha Abdallah, Harmiter Kular and Shiv Padhiyar. 

Please find Rianna's winning entry below

"This evening’s Open Evening was fantastic. I learnt a lot about the Post-16 options offered at Heston and gained an insight into the subjects I might choose. Our school offers a wide range of subjects, from humanities, sciences to art and graphic communication. Personally, I was more interested in Arts and Maths, so I went to those rooms first and achieved a wider perspective on what the course work is like along with the specification. As well as A Level courses, I made sure to learn more about the BTECs offered and it is reassuring to know that, as well as doing a BTEC, you can also pursue an A Level. Overall, this open evening was quite useful and informative and makes me feel more confident about the future and what I aspire to do after obtaining my GCSEs."

Mancy Dutt [11P]

Overall, the Sixth Form Open Evening was incredibly insightful for those curious about the courses that they are considering taking after GCSEs. Both internal and external students were able to visit different classrooms, each specialising in different courses available at Heston, such as A-Level Chemistry, History, BTEC Business, etc. The teachers guided us through the summary of content on their chosen course, and its curriculum. There were also fellow Post-16 students who answered our concerns about workload, as well as how they manage and utilise their study periods.

As a Year 11 student, I feel that it has widened my understanding and knowledge of the possible pathways I could take after my GCSEs.

Ilhan Abdullahi [11Y]

I was thrilled to share my experiences of transitioning from GCSEs to A Levels with students and with their parents.  I reassured parents that whilst the workload was significant, the expert guidance of teachers and the Post 16 Team made the transition seamless for us all.

Manshveer Longani Deputy Head Boy [12C]

Yr 10 Basketball v Kingsley - Won 38-14

The first game league game for Year 10’s saw a win for Heston. Some good open-court play from Amrit and Rageh, kept a good supply to Matas who was dominant under the basket, scoring 28 points. Lots of positives were taken from this game and the team will look to build on this performance in further games. Player of the match for Heston - Amrit Webra 

Matas Luksas [10Y]

Team: Adnaan Abdi, Amrit Webra, Matas Luksas, Kamram Merchant, Joshwa Henry, Rageh Jaamac, Emmanuel Satta, Ahmed-Hadi Abdi [Y8]

Year 9 Netball v St Marks Lost 3-1

The game against St Marks was nice and fun and even though we lost, I think we played fantastically and each one of us played with passion. We all played as a team and not one of us gave up and in our next game we will play like we've never lost. Player of the match for Heston - Sonia Arora

Erika Gridan [8B]

Team: Elena Nedelshavic [Y9], Unnathi Sanyasi [Y9], Sonia Arora [Y7], Bianca Bolbocean [Y7], Migle Berankyte [Y8], Arushi Vashisht [Y8], Erika Gridan [Y8], Sahjepreet Kaur [Y8], Pearl Kaur [Y8]

Year 7 Football v Reach Academy - Draw 4-4

A slow first half saw Reach take an early lead. Heston came back with a goal from a corner scored by Zak. A few defensive mistakes saw Reach score a second goal in the first half. At half time, Heston was losing 2-1. The second half saw a much better performance from the team. As a team, they looked to pressure the Reach team more. This created more shooting opportunities for the team. Heston scored the next goal. A cross from Raphael which was then scored by Roshan. Reach then struck with two more goals. Heston was down 4-2 with 10 minutes to play. Heston rallied with a good individual goal from Enver, dribbling through the defence to score Heston's third. The final goal came with one minute to play from a corner with Ahmad scoring the final goal to draw the game 4-4. Player of the game for Heston – Enver Daci.

Team: Rashad Ahmed, Raphael Connor, Enver Daci, Ahmed Grama, Roshan Madhas, Krone Mwanza, Stephen Ojedele, Alex Princ, Cezar Stavarachi, Jaiden Verma, Zak Vohra

The Careers Cluster programme was an opportunity for the T Level Healthcare Science students to have access to a local labour market tool, which would support their research of career opportunities locally; as well as employer engagement.

In December 2022, the students took part in a virtual employer panel session, where they had the opportunity to talk to the employees from GSK about the range of roles available within the company.  

In March 2023, the students went to GSK headquarters and took part in employability based sessions to gain a greater knowledge of the working world. Following this visit, students had access to an online Hounslow Borough funded online labour market tool, where students had the opportunity local opportunities related to their skills and interests.

Through taking part in this pilot, students had the opportunity to explore and understand a wider range of employment opportunities related to Healthcare Science. The panel session opened student's awareness of employment opportunities and allowed the students the opportunity to ask questions.  The GSK visit was a great opportunity to see a Global biopharma company and understand the research roles which are available. Student's had the experience of seeing a workplace in action and  access to valuable employer contact. The EMSI pilot session, allowed student's access to a useful and invaluable tool, that opens the opportunity to research a wide variety of realistic roles; within the local labour market. Overall this was a fantastic opportunity and will contribute towards the student's career aspirations in the future. A Laing [Careers Advisor]

"In my exploration of healthcare related careers, I had the opportunity to delve into the diverse world of healthcare professions through the EMSI Careers Coach digital tool. This valuable resource provided me with insights into the healthcare careers in my area, shedding light on the various specialisations within the industry. My journey extended further when I visited GSK and interacted with healthcare professionals. Theirs firsthand experiences showcased the range of responsibilities and the importance of teamwork within healthcare. This immersive experience not only broadened my understanding of healthcare careers but also influenced my thinking about future career paths in the healthcare field, highlighting the potential of making a meaningful impact on people’s lives". Elisha Kudhail Year 13- T Level Healthcare Science

​"Having participated in the careers cluster programme gave me an opportunity to learn and develop my skills in a wider spectrum. I was involved in a video panel, visited GSK and also used an online platform that showed me lots of opportunities that are local to me. In the video panel and when visiting GSK I was informed about a range of job roles within the pharmaceutical industry that I didn’t know existed. Having played around on the online platform, I was able to find so many job opportunities local to me based on some questions that I answered which was fun to do as well as informative." Simarpreet Kaur Year 13- T Level Healthcare Science