Sixth Form talks
What a varied collection of speakers have agreed to address the sixth form this academic year. With every careers talk comes the possibility that doors unlock for girls in an unexpected way, that new directions are suddenly realised. In ten years or so, London might be awash with lady plumbers following the inspiring talk we had by Sarah the plumber, as she likes to be known(Oliver, Year of ’83), an alumna with a convincing passion for pipes. Incidentally, the best tool she passed round was a slimline torch with an extendable magnet on the end, so that you can easily locate a screw you’ve dropped behind a radiator. She was lucky to get it back! Should be on everyone’s Christmas list. If being a plumber is off your radar, perhaps Néha Obhrai’s talk about aeronautical engineering would have appealed, or Dorothy Pooley’s ((Saul, Year of ‘75) fascinating insight into becoming a flying instructor. There’s a chance to hear about careers in health (other than medicine) at UEA from Jennie Vitkovitch and about becoming a lawyer in April, when Kate Cofman-Nicoresti (Stevinson, Year of '04) talks about law. Later this term, Jane Broomfield (Year of ‘04) will be discussing Health Education programmes in developing countries, and in January Marina Wyatt (Year of ’82) Chief Financial Officer for TomTom might give the sixth form opportunity to discover all they could hope to know about satellite navigation. In February Tamsin Clarke and Sasha Milavic-Davies (both Year of ‘03) told us about about working in the theatre and Alex Steward (’97) revealed something about working at the Treasury, and specifically her role in managing the budget for 2012 Olympics. The sixth form have already had the benefit of hearing from Corinna McFarlane (Year of ‘99) about producing films.
Time in the sixth form is well spent in preparing to make that leap of faith into tertiary education and Head of Sixth Form Vikki Askew has arranged for practical sessions this year on Financial Education, study skills, finding the right course in further education, making UCAS applications and writing UCAS personal statements. Issues of personal safety, relationships and drugs and alcohol are also sensitively discussed.
JAGS sixth formers play a huge part in contributing to our energetic Community Action programme. They were moved by the speaker for the charity Invisible Children, which supports children forced to become child soldiers in central Africa. £1600 – the proceeds from the 2010 senior school multicultural evening – was sent to help them. Read more about Community Action projects at: JAGS in the Community
JAGS girls are quick to explore new opportunities to discover the world and to gain a sense of perspective on their own lives. We are always delighted to hear from alumnae and other supporters of JAGS who would be willing to share their experiences and expertise. Please contact the Alumnae Co-ordinator cindy.rutherford@jags.org.uk or Head of Sixth Form vikki.askew@jags.org.uk.
