Cranford Review 2018

Year 12 Taster Day Experiences
My taster day at Queen Mary’s was a great opportunity to experience a day as a university student, learn more about the
biomedical course they offer, and to explore the Mile End campus, and get advice on preparing your UCAS application.
It helped me find the perfect course which suited my interests and abilities, whilst enabling me to develop my existing
knowledge and gain new skills. For example, the lecturer discussed the course elements such as biotechnology,
which develop technologies and products to improve our health, this
increased my passion to study the course as I would like to be part of
the system that supports such a major organisation such as the NHS
to provide care.
Muna Aden (year 12)
I attended a four day ‘DentView’ course which included a clinical
placement at Kings College during the February holiday. We were
given access to the Dental Institute at Guys Hospital to see the
dental students in different years of the course and in this short
time, my interest in dentistry had increased as seeing all the dental
students working in their areas explaining to me the different types
of procedures they need to carry out before even starting with a
patient. This made me realise that being a dentist is more than just
teeth and it includes the relationships you build with your patients
and the safest ways to carry out procedures. During the placement we
were put in scrub uniforms to look the part and the nurses explained
the importance of uniform and the correct uniform to wear and it
all linked back to health and safety. I had the privilege to shadow dentists/orthodontists during their work and was a
helping hand by handing them utensils for example. I asked questions as to why they
did certain things such as wrapping the dentist chair and the light with aluminium for
each patient. These four days helped me finalise my decision into becoming a dentist
and I was fortunate enough to be able to attend.
Hamdi Herse (year 12)
Taster day at City University. On Thursday 24th May I went to City University for
an optometry taster course. I learnt so much and it did truly give me an insight into
optometry. I wasn’t really sure about what course to choose at university and after
going to this taster course I made my mind up about optometry. The staff and students
were extremely helpful and they didn’t mind us asking a lot of questions. Even though
it was only for a day, it really taught me a lot.
Kirthiga Thangeswaran (year 12)
VESPA In Science
Cranford’s Science Department has always looked to be innovative in
its practice; this year the teachers seized the opportunities given by the
new linear courses to change the way we teach A Level Biology. This
year students took part in specialised activities to teach them different
methods of writing up their notes and actively teaching them how to
revise. Students could be seen trying Cornell note taking for the first
time and discovering the Leitner technique for flashcards. Students new
to Cranford commented that for some of them it was the first time that
they had been taught how to study effectively. Staff took the challenge
further and introduced concepts such as Growth Mindset by Dweck and
marginal gains as practised by the successful Team Sky in the Tour de
France. This encouraged students to make small but successful changes
in their activities to help them achieve. Although in its early stages we
are looking forward to building on this next year. ​
Bradley King (Science Department)
59