SUN Workshops
SUN Workshops
We are excited to offer a range of workshops to your school/college. Our offer encompasses a suite of interactive presentations that aim to inform young people about higher education opportunities and support them to make well-informed decisions about their future education.
All workshops are free, can be integrated into you school day and are delivered by certified SUN facilitators, who are all Enhanced DBS checked.
If you have any questions about our workshops, please email sun@soton.ac.uk
- Attainment Raising
- Boost Confidence
- Research Options
HOW LONG ARE THE SESSIONS?
50 minutes delivery followed by 5 minutes for questions and answers.
SUGGESTED COHORT SIZE:
1 class (up to 30 students)
HOW WILL THEY BE DELIVERED?
Our SUN workshops are delivered in person by one of our Project Facilitators.
Pre-16 Workshop Offers | Years 9 – 11
Boost Your Study Skills
Boost Your Study Skills
Boost Your Study Skills is an interactive session that helps students to develop key skills for independent study as they are working towards their GCSEs. The workshop also aids transition to further education and future careers.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Learn how to manage study time effectively
- Improve memory skills through a range of techniques
- Start developing a growth mindset by using positive language
YEAR GROUP: Suitable for Years 10-11
GATSBY BENCHMARKS: 2, 3, 7
Boost Your Study Skills: Note Taking
Boost Your Study Skills: Note Taking
Our note-taking workshop is the second part to our successful Boost Your Study Skills workshop. This interactive session allows students to consider the importance of note-taking during their school career and beyond, and provides them with practical methods in how take notes.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Understand the uses and importance of effective note-taking
- Understand note-taking methods useful to GCSE study and beyond
- An introduction to the Cornell method of note-taking
YEAR GROUP: Suitable for Years 10-11
GATSBY BENCHMARKS: 2 – addressing the needs of each pupil
Know Yourself: Get Career Ready
Know Yourself: Get Career Ready
Know Yourself: Get Career Ready is a workshop designed to help students make informed decisions about their future education and careers. It raises self-awareness through a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® test and explores career options linked to personality type, hobbies and interests. The session also highlights the importance of transferable skills for employability and includes ideas on how to gain more experience outside of the school curriculum.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Learn how to make informed decisions about the future
- Explore their personality and interests and how these can affect career choices
- Discover what to get involved in to help improve employability
YEAR GROUP: Suitable for Years 9-11
GATSBY BENCHMARKS: 2, 3, 7
Money Explorer: How to Budget Effectively
Money Explorer: How to Budget Effectively
The Money Explorer: How to Budget Effectively workshop is designed to get students thinking about the importance of budgeting and to help them find out more about the financial support available for Higher Education. The session helps students develop essential money management skills through an interactive budget challenge game.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Understand what budgeting means and why it is important
- Develop money management skills
- Discover the types of financial support available at university
YEAR GROUP: Suitable for Years 9-11
GATSBY BENCHMARKS: 2, 3, 7
Research Your Options
Research Your Options
The Research Your Options workshop is available in three levels: Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced. This workshop enables students to explore different options and qualifications available after GCSEs. Students will also learn some basic research skills to help them explore their own futures. This workshop helps students to explore which route may suit them, and outlines how and where they can find further information and support, as well as giving students an opportunity to practice these research skills.
BEGINNER: WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Encourages students to start thinking about their future and what’s important to them
- Find out more about Further Education and Level 3 options
- Enables students to make informed choices about their futures
- Learn how to effectively research the options available, and where to get more information
INTERMEDIATE: WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Encourages students to start thinking about their future and what’s important to them
- Learn more about further education, apprenticeships, and higher education
- Enables students to make informed choices about their future and know where to go for further support
- Equips students with research skills
ADVANCED: WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Encourages students to start thinking about their future and what’s important to them
- Learn more about further education, apprenticeships, and higher education
- Enables students to make informed choices about their future and know where to go for further support
- Equips students with the research skills to research their own future pathways
YEAR GROUP: Suitable for Years 9-11
GATSBY BENCHMARKS: 3, 7
Please note: this workshop requires students to access IT/internet. Please contact us if you cannot facilitate this.
What Makes You Employable
What Makes You Employable
The ‘What Makes You Employable’ workshop is designed to unpack the meaning of employability in a fun and interactive way. Students will begin to recognise what skills and qualities employers are looking for, alongside other factors that make them employable.
The workshop will cover the different application methods that can be required for college, university, apprenticeship and employment opportunities. Additionally, it explores why showcasing their skills and talents to prospective education providers and employers is so important. The workshop concludes with an introduction to CVs and top tips for writing one.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Learn what we mean by the term ‘employability’ and know what employers are looking for
- Recognise skills that are needed to succeed in both education and future careers
- Understand the importance of showcasing their skills and talents on applications and CVs
YEAR GROUP: Suitable for Years 9-11
GATSBY BENCHMARKS: 2, 3, 7
SUN Entrepreneurs
SUN Entrepreneurs
The ‘SUN Entrepreneurs‘ workshop is designed to allow students to explore their creativity whilst developing an understanding of business management and entrepreneurship.
Students are provided with a short project brief, and are then supported to work in teams through the key aspects of running a business; research, design, marketing, and financial planning. The day will end with a pitch from each group where students have the opportunity to present their ideas.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Develop their team-working skills
- Opportunity to use and develop their creativity
- Learn about key aspects of a business
- Develop their presentation skills
YEAR GROUP: Suitable for Years 9-11
GATSBY BENCHMARKS: 2, 7
*NEW PILOT* Flying Start: Preparing for Your Studies After Year 11
*NEW PILOT* Flying Start: Preparing for Your Studies After Year 11
You can now book a pilot of our brand new workshop: ‘Flying Start: Preparing for Your Studies After Year 11’. It aims to provide Year 11 students with a range of resources that will support their successful transition from school to post-16 education. The workshop is based around our Flying Start Online Resource.
You can choose between 3 workshop strands. Each focuses on different areas related to students experiencing a successful post-16 transition:
Your Options – Students will explore Flying Start to discover a range of educational options in their local area. They’ll also hear about higher education, future careers, and the support services available in post-16 education.
Develop Your Skills – Students will carry out various activities using Flying Start to improve their employability or academic skills, and their soft skills.
Health and Wellbeing – Students will reflect on how they are already looking after their health and wellbeing. They will use Flying Start to identify new ways to support their own health and wellbeing, and that of those around them.
YEAR GROUP: Suitable for Years 10 – 11
GATSBY BENCHMARKS: 7
Post-16 Workshop Offers | Years 12 – 13
Discover Your Options
Discover Your Options
The Discover Your Options workshop enables students to explore different options and qualifications available post-18 (and beyond). The workshop has a particular focus on higher education providers, and explains the range of higher education options available at Level 4 – Level 6. This workshop helps students to explore their next steps and consider which post-18 options may suit them best.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Encourages students to consider their next steps and what’s important to them
- Explore the range of opportunities at Level 4 and beyond
- Learn more about higher education, higher/degree apprenticeships
- Enables students to make informed choices about their future and know where to go for further suppor
YEAR GROUP: Suitable for Years 12-13
GATSBY BENCHMARKS: 3, 7
Money Explorer: How to Budget Effectively
Money Explorer: How to Budget Effectively
The Money Explorer: How to Budget Effectively workshop is designed to get students thinking about the importance of budgeting and to help them find out more about the financial support available for Higher Education. The session helps students develop essential money management skills through an interactive budget challenge game.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOUR STUDENTS?:
- Understand what budgeting means and why it is important
- Develop money management skills
- Discover the types of financial support available at university
YEAR GROUP: Suitable for Years 12 – 13
GATSBY BENCHMARKS: 2, 3, 7
I have learnt how to explore what you would like to do. I also have learnt about different colleges and jobs. The most important thing you need is skills and kindness.
Anonymous – Year 9 STUDENT
