End of Year Trip for Ignite and Year 10 students

We have limited availability for students to get involved in an adventure course hidden in the treetops of Brockhole on Windermere.

Students will be met with zip lines, climbing obstacles and a stunning view of the iconic Lake Windermere. 

When? Thursday, 17th of July.

The full cost of the day is £45, which includes the activity and travel.

Payment can be made via WisePay, if you would like more information, please contact student services.

Work Experience at Skyhook Games

On the 20th of June, Antony and Ellis, two of our talented sixth form studio students, completed 4 days of work experience at Software company Skyhook Games Studio. We asked them how they found their time at Skyhook. Antony said, "My past week at Skyhook was an amazing experience. Meeting and talking with many people who work in the game industry was a great way to understand the process of game development."

Ellis said, "I found it great, it succeeded what I was looking for when I signed up for this experience, as I wanted to find out more information about the game industry as a whole, and that’s what I received."

We asked Antony and Ellis how their work experience helped them. Antony shared, "I have always been greatly interested in game development. I was able to speak to people who do exactly what I want to do. It was extremely helpful as I was able to learn about the steps I need to take to get into this industry. As somebody who has been into game development and gaming as a whole, I feel really lucky to have had this opportunity."

Ellis said, "I now have a great understanding of what type of studio I would like to work for after completing my education, as I spoke to someone who worked for Sony PlayStation who now works for Skyhook Games. I’m also now aware of what tools I should use and utilise in my free time to develop my portfolio as an artist."

In terms of the aspect of learning that they particularly enjoyed, Ellis highlighted, "Seeing a project come together and how different teams worked with each other was fascinating. I was also intrigued by how much goes into bug-fixing, as I thought it was just playing a game and seeing if anything breaks, but there are so many layers and skills you need for it that I was surprised by."

Antony expressed, "I am honestly interested in all the different aspects of game production. The parts that stuck out to me the most were the design and marketing parts."

We would like to say a huge thank you to Susan Burns, Head of Studio at Skyhook Games and the rest of her team for giving such an invaluable experience to our students. We can't wait to see what's in store for them next!

Technical workshop at Hope University

On Monday, we took a group of Ignite students who are interested in technology to the beautiful surroundings of Hope University for a Liverpool city region innovation day to help students understand what is currently happening in the city region and why their skills will be vital in the future.  After a lively introduction, including a quick-fire quiz, we moved into workshops.  First up was the NHS digital team, explaining how they use AI currently to help speed up diagnosis of various conditions, but how we also need human input to ensure accuracy and as a check and balance.  Students then had a chance to develop their own idea for an NHS application and there were some amazing ideas. 

Next up was Lyva Labs, an early-stage investor in the city region, who explained what they do and then got the students to pitch, dragon's den style their ideas.  Some very brave students pitched their amazing ideas. After lunch, we had 2 more workshops, kicking off with Ramboll, an architecture and engineering firm, who set a challenge for students about what do we do with all the data. Students had to think about the implications of huge data centres and where in the city region we can position them.  Students needed to think about power, heat, water, etc., as well as access and cost. 

Finally, we saw LMA, a performing arts provider, who ran a session on character design where students had to think about the back story to a character and what attributes they would have.  Again, some very brave students then presented their characters in from of the overall group. Overall, a really interesting day for students to really think about how and where they are going to use their technical skills in the future.

Big Bang Competition

Last week, Ignite students Emilia, Willow and Olivia won the Junior Science award for their project ‘Cool Comfort’. The Cool Comfort project is a novel product that supports women going through menopause as it works to alleviate symptoms. Our students originally developed the idea in their All about Stem Unilever Inspire Programme, and they then really took off from there in terms of producing different formulas and developing samples.

This topic is largely ignored, and in most cases, women who are suffering simply need to deal with it. Our students saw this and wanted to make a difference.

Holocaust Survivor visit

We also had the honour of meeting a Holocaust survivor, who shared their powerful testimony with students. This emotional and deeply moving session gave our students a rare chance to hear first-hand about resilience, history, and the importance of remembering the past to build a better future.

Pharmaron Biologics Trip

This week, our Year 12 Liverpool Life Sciences UTC students visited the Biotechnology company in Liverpool. They were amazed by the lab tour and couldn't believe how much work is involved in producing biologics.

A huge thank you to Jamie Griffiths, Rob Oliver and Linda Randall for giving up their valuable time to talk to our students about Pharmaron Biologics and Cell & Gene Therapy and for showing us around.

Thank you also to all the staff from the different labs and departments who took the time to tell our students about their roles. These experiences are extremely valuable to students to help them make informed career decisions.

Tropical Medicine Talk

Last Friday, students were treated to a range of fascinating talks from five researchers at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). We learnt about disease vectors, malaria and HIV research and routes into careers at LSTM. Our visitors also brought some live samples of adult and larval mosquitoes for the students to see. Thankfully, all of the container lids stayed closed!

We would like to say a huge thank you to Amy Guy, Sian Wakley, Dylan Postmus, Saffron Mackey and Danielle Logan for giving up your valuable time to inspire our students. We have had such good feedback from the students, with one saying, "It was the most fascinating morning I have had at school" 

Also, a big thank you to the amazing Dr Elli Wright, for organising such brilliant speakers for us and for all of the other incredible experiences you provide for our young learners.

Upcoming University Open Days

Liverpool Hope University

• Saturday, 28^th of June - Click here to register.

Bangor University

• Saturday, 5^th of July
• Sunday, 17^th of August
• Sunday, 12^th of October
• Saturday, 1^st of November
• Saturday, 22^nd of November

Click here to register.

Each one-hour session is delivered online by university lecturers and gives you the chance to take part in thought-provoking topics and discussions.

Upcoming sessions include:

• Can AI Teach You Business Management?
• War as a Driver of Serial Killing?
• The Gender Pay Gap: Glass Ceilings, Discrimination, or Personal Decisions?
• Beyond the Courtroom: What Can You Do with a Law Degree?
• Crime in the Life Cycle
• Totalitarianism Unveiled: Arendt’s Warning to the Modern World
  …and many more!

Whether you’ve applied to university or are still deciding, these sessions are a great way to explore your options and experience university style teaching - Click here to register. 

Discover their degrees in Animation, Games, VFX, Concept Art and Motion Graphics, designed with an impressive range of industry partners. You'll hear from our expert tutors and get to ask all your burning questions! 

Undergraduate On-Campus Open Day

• Wednesday, 16th of July, 2:00-4:30 pm

Clearing Q&A

• Thursday, 14th of August, 12:00 - 1:00 pm - Click here to register. 

Work Experience Opportunities

Arm Technology Work Experience Event: Tuesday, 1st of July, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (students aged 16-21) - Click here to register.

KPMG Virtual Work Experience Day

Thursday, 3rd of July, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (students interested in apprenticeships at one of KPMG's UK Offices) - Click here to register.

National Cyber Force Application Masterclass

Wednesday, 9th of July, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (year 12 and 13 students) - Click here to register. 

Lloyds Virtual Insight Session

Wednesday, 16th of July, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (year 12 students, will be going into Year 13 in 2025-26) - Click here to register. 

The link to register can be found here. Everyone registered will also receive a recording of the webinar, should they not be able to attend.

Hollywood Bowl Group: Hospitality Degree Apprenticeship 2025

• The Opportunity

An exciting 3-year Hospitality Apprentice Programme where you’ll gain real-world experience in a dynamic industry while working towards a BA (Hons) Degree in Applied Leadership and Management, tailored specifically to the hospitality sector.

• Entry Requirements

Predicted, or achieved 112 UCAS points, which is equivalent to 3 A Levels (grade C or above) OR A recognised Level 3 Qualification ALSO experience in a customer-facing role to set you up for success from the start

• Who is it for?

Whether you're finishing school or already working in hospitality and looking to develop your leadership potential, this is your opportunity to combine academic learning with practical experience. 

Click here to find out more information.

Horizon: MersEsports festival

A brand-new e-sports and games festival is coming to the city this summer. Under 14s go free!

When? 12th and 13th of July. 

Find out more and book tickets here.

AI Fundamentals

Breaks down the magic behind Artificial Intelligence and shows you how it’s reshaping the way we work, create, and solve problems. We’ll also explore how AI is changing day-to-day tasks and how you can use it in your future careers. Launch module here.

Using AI for Career Preparation

Using AI for Career Preparation! In this module, you’ll discover how AI tools can become your time saver for career research, CV building, and networking. By the end, you’ll not only understand how AI can enhance your career prep but you’ll also have the practical skills to make it happen. Launch module here.

Using AI for Interview and Assessment Preparation

Using AI for Interview and Assessment Preparation! This module is designed to show you how AI tools can support your journey to becoming interview-ready, helping you refine your skills, craft standout responses, and boost your confidence. By the end, you'll have actionable insights into leveraging AI for career advancement. Launch module here.