Lloyds Banking Group Virtual Work Experience

Young Professionals have two fantastic Virtual Work Experience programmes taking place with Lloyds Banking Group for students looking to up-skill, learn new things about the industry and get a real understanding to what it’s like working within the industry.

These are two exciting 2-day events where you will get to spend time with professionals from the Banking & Finance sector, take part in workshops, engage in real world projects and networking with representatives from across the bank.

Lloyds Banking Group Business WEX

  • Tuesday 8th April & Wednesday 9th April 2025, 10am – 2pm
  • Learn practical business skills, take part in projects and learn the art of mastering the corporate application process with a mock assessment centre!
  • Application Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LBG-Sim-8th

Lloyds Banking Group Technology and Data WEX

  • Tuesday 15th & Wednesday 16th April 2025, 10am – 2pm
  • Learn the basics of data, how to use it and why it’s so important, lots of activities using Excel or Google Sheets to manipulate data and present results as well as getting to grips with analysing complex data sets and case scenarios
  • Application Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LBG-2day-Data-Tech

Food Science Fascinates Assembly

In this assembly we looked at the fascinating world of food science with some experiments that demonstrated the incredible properties of everyday foods. I was assisted by Ash (8E1) and Josie (8C3) to make ice cream using milk, ice cubes and salt. Whilst they took turns to shake a very cold bag, Alice (8D2) came on stage to help me with a second experiment.

We put a raw egg in a measuring jug and covered it with white vinegar. Alice described the white film that appeared immediately over the surface of the egg. This film was actually very small bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. As this experiment takes several days, I had two eggs that I had prepared earlier. What we observed was remarkable. The vinegar, which is an acid, (acetic acid), had dissolved the calcium carbonate found in the eggshell. The shell, which usually protects the egg, dissolved away entirely, leaving behind only a soft, translucent membrane. I think everyone agreed that the residue left in the vinegar was pretty yukky! I could see how rubbery the egg was.

We also recreated a volcano using bicarbonate of soda and vinegar, which for effect I had coloured with food colouring. Again, it was carbon dioxide that was the star of the show, with a bubbling mass of ‘lava’.

Alice helped make a bowl of Oobleck, which the students correctly identified as a non-Newtonian fluid, otherwise known as cornflour and water mixed in the correct proportions to produce a solid. Alice was able to mould in her hand then pour it back into the bowl.

Meanwhile Ash and Josie were getting very cold hands but unfortunately, the experiment was not successful, as the milk did not freeze as expected. I do hope they enjoyed trying however.

The assembly ended with me experimenting how strong the rubbery egg was and Year 8 certainly enjoyed seeing that it wasn’t as bouncy as it looked as it smashed on the floor, creating a bit of a mess. I particularly enjoyed hearing the suggestion by one of the students as he left, that I should have dropped the egg into the Oobleck to see it would protect the egg. What a show of enthusiasm and involvement!

Mrs Wenlock

Head of Food

Year 12 Destinations Fair

On March 19, all of our Year 12 students had the opportunity to attend a destinations fair in the school hall. Students were able to gather information and talk to a range of post-18 providers, both University and Apprenticeship, about different course options and the application process. This event was part of our careers program to support students in their next steps, alongside our Vodafone apprenticeship day and the UCAS Fair, which all Year 12 students will attend in April. Thank you to the organisations who supported our destinations fair: AWE, David Wilson Homes, Gardner Leader, Jones Robinson, New College Swindon, NHS radiography, Oxford Brookes University, Pathway CTM, Portsmouth University, Royal Holloway – University of London, University Centre Sparsholt, University of Reading and University of Winchester.

Ellie Evans, a former St Bart’s student who is now part of the AWE apprenticeship programme, said: “I had the pleasure of returning to my Sixth Form at St Bart’s to support a STEM Careers Event. It was a fantastic opportunity to engage with students and aspiring early careers, sharing insights about my own career and how they too can become part of AWE’s mission. It was great to reconnect with many of my former teachers and fellow career representatives too”.

If you work for a post-18 provider, or know someone who does, who would be interested in supporting our careers program and meeting St Bart’s students at future events, please contact St Bart’s Career Lead, Mrs Seward – dseward@stbarts.co.uk

Business & Accounting Easter Work Experience

Business & Accounting Easter Work Experience – Thursday 17th April, 10am – 3pm – Apply today!

Are you interested in breaking into the world of business and accounting? If so then this work experience is for you! This Easter break, we have teamed up with 5 of the worlds biggest accounting and professional services firms to give students an incredible insight to what its really like working within the industry and becoming a top business professional at a leading international firm.

We have big 4 firm KPMG, BDO, Grant Thornton, S&W and CIMA joining us to run hands on practical workshops with you to show you what it’s really like working in the industry and how you could grow your career as a successful accountant, consultant or tax adviser. You will have the opportunity to work on business projects, conduct a profit and loss on a company, work on a consulting project as well as getting the chance to pitch your ideas and work to the professionals across the day.

On top of this we will be setting up dedicated workshop / networking booths so you can have 1-1 conversations with people from these companies to get your questions answered and find out about all the key programmes on offer, deadlines to apply as well as summer work experience opportunities along with graduate and apprenticeship programmes.

Key Details:

  • Business & Accounting Work Experience during the Easter Holidays
  • Thursday 17th April 10am – 3pm
  • Employers involved are; KPMG, BDO, Grant Thornton, S&W, CIMA and the University of Law Business School
  • An opportunity to take part in business and accounting workshops, hear from 5 international firms as well as the UK’s biggest university offering business degrees
  • Networking opportunities in the virtual booths
  • Certificate of completion sent out to all students who take part in the day

If you would like to secure your place, please apply on the below link.

Application Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Business-Finance-Easter

Level 6 apprenticeship at Network Rail

Are you ready to take your career to the next level with a Level 6 apprenticeship at Network Rail?
Network Rail is offering exciting degree-level apprenticeships, providing a unique opportunity to earn a qualification while gaining hands-on experience in the rail industry.
These apprenticeships allow you to develop valuable skills, work on real-world projects, and build a strong foundation for a successful career—all while getting paid.
Don’t miss out—apply now and take the first step towards a rewarding future with Network Rail!

  • Level 6 Digital and Technology Solutions Apprenticeship
  • Level 6 Rail & Rail Systems Engineer Apprenticeship – Track
  • Level 6 Rail & Rail Systems Engineer Apprenticeship – Signalling & Control Systems
  • Level 6 Rail & Rail Systems Engineer Apprenticeship – Signalling Design
  • Level 6 Rail & Rail Systems Engineer Apprenticeship – Modelling
  • Level 6 Rail & Rail Systems Engineer Apprenticeship – Electrification & Plant
  • Level 6 Rail & Rail Systems Engineer Apprenticeship – Electrical & Mechanical
  • Level 6 Rail & Rail Systems Engineer Apprenticeship – Civil and Geotechnical Design
  • Level 6 Construction and the Built Environment (Quantity Surveying) Apprenticeship
  • Level 6 Rail & Rail Systems Engineer Apprenticeship – Building & Civils

Visit the Network Rail Apprenticeship Careermap Page Here

A Great Night With The PA!

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Parents’ Association Quiz and Chips Evening that took place last Friday. The event was hosted by Quiz Masters, Miss Brenton (Head of Humanities) and Mr Langton (Head of Citizenship and Politics), who took time out of teaching students to test parents’ knowledge over a series of 6 rounds, including a music round. The event was won by team ‘Ste Lin the answers’. Teams were fuelled by an excellent bar and some delicious Fish & Chips provided by Skippers. Thank you to everyone who entered a team and who supported the raffle on the night. A huge thank you also to our Quiz Masters, the Site team and Mr Weller who helped with hall and AV set up, and of course our brilliant Parents’ Association volunteers who organised a superb evening.

£1187 was raised which will be matched funded by Vodafone. A tremendous effort, well done!

If you would like to get involved with the Parents Association – whether joining the committee, organising or helping at events or even just keeping in touch with our news – please visit: Parents’ Association – St Bart’s School

Over £1,500 Raised For Comic Relief

Thank you to everyone who supported St Bart’s efforts in aid of Red Nose Day for Comic Relief last Friday. Lots of students took time to cheer on their House in the hotly contested House Staff Netball, with Curnock being crowned victorious! Alongside Non-School Uniform donations, the House Bake Sale was also a brilliant success and we are most grateful to all those who brought in yummy contributions. In total, the amount raised by the school, including Gift Aid, was £1,555.77. Remember, if you have not had a chance to do so there is still time to donate as the donation page will stay live for another week.

School Lunch Recipe Competition Results

Congratulations Martim (8E2) on winning the School Lunch Recipe Competition!

Over 150 students came to the Bart’s Bites kiosk at the end of February to taste both selected recipes, Chicken Briyani by Andrew (7P3) and Martim’s Chicken a Bras. They voted for their favourite dish. Both dishes were delicious and everyone enjoyed them; it was a very close match.

Their achievement will be celebrated in assembly and Chicken a Bras features on the school lunch menu this week allowing all students to experience the joy of this dish!

Well done to all those students who submitted recipes to the competition, they demonstrated much creativity, we hope they will all will keep going with their culinary interests.

Thank you the school Catering team for supporting the competition, especially Angela and Michaela for judging and preparing both dishes for tasting.

Kew Gardens Trips

A few weeks ago, our Year 9 Geographers visited Kew Gardens in London, exploring the Palm House, Temperate House and Princess of Wales House as part of their new topic ‘Fragile Ecosystems’.

Throughout the day, students discovered the life-saving capabilities of plants, got a birds-eye view of the plant acrobatics of the rainforest and gained a better understanding of the threats humans are posing to our ecosystems. They even exemplified our ‘Brave’ value as they scaled the dizzy heights of the Treetop Walkway and collected questionnaire data from willing members of the public. All of this forms part of a fieldwork enquiry that students have continued in lessons.

BartholoNews 26 March 2025

St Bart’s German Week is a great success and Year 7 & 8 get a visit from an award-winning author in this week’s BartholoNews.

St Bartholomew’s School, Andover Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 6JP

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