Core Skills Analysis
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)
Brad attended several Open Days and Taster Days at local colleges, where he explored different learning environments and observed campus life. He compared the courses offered and considered how each aligned with his personal interests and future career aspirations. By asking questions of staff and current students, Brad practiced effective communication and decision‑making skills. This experience helped him develop a clearer sense of his own goals and the steps needed to achieve them.
Mathematics
Brad planned the logistics of his college visits, calculating travel times, distances, and the cost of public transport tickets. He used percentages to compare tuition fees and scholarship opportunities presented at each college. While completing the taster day schedules, he organized his timetable to avoid overlapping sessions, applying basic algebraic reasoning. These activities reinforced real‑world applications of arithmetic, ratios, and proportional thinking.
English Language
During the Open Days, Brad listened to informational talks, took detailed notes, and summarised each presentation in his own words. He drafted a series of follow‑up questions that demonstrated his ability to infer meaning and seek clarification. By comparing promotional brochures, he evaluated tone, purpose, and persuasive techniques used by the colleges. This practice sharpened his reading comprehension, note‑taking, and written expression skills.
Tips
Encourage Brad to create a side‑by‑side comparison chart of the colleges he visited, rating each on factors such as course variety, campus facilities, and cost. Have him interview a current student from each institution and record the conversations for a podcast‑style project. Ask him to write a reflective journal entry after each visit, focusing on what surprised him and how his expectations changed. Finally, organise a mock “college fair” at home where Brad presents his findings to family members, using visual aids and persuasive speech.
Book Recommendations
- The Future Is Yours: A Teen’s Guide to College and Careers by Megan R. Collins: A practical handbook that walks 15‑year‑olds through choosing a college, understanding course options, and planning career pathways.
- How to Choose a College: A Step‑by‑Step Workbook by David B. Smith: Interactive workbook filled with quizzes, checklists, and budgeting exercises to help students evaluate post‑secondary options.
- The Teen’s Guide to Success: From Classroom to Campus by Sofia Patel: Combines inspirational stories with actionable advice on navigating open days, building study skills, and setting long‑term goals.
Learning Standards
- PSHE – KS3 Citizenship: Understanding personal development and future choices (NC 3.3).
- Mathematics – KS3 Number: Apply ratios, percentages and basic algebra in real‑world contexts (NC 4.2).
- English – KS3 Reading: Analyse and summarise informational texts; evaluate purpose and audience (NC 5.1).
- English – KS3 Writing: Produce clear, purposeful written communication for a specific audience (NC 5.2).
Try This Next
- Design a college comparison worksheet with columns for subjects, fees, location, and personal interest rating.
- Create a quiz with multiple‑choice questions about each college’s key features to test retention of the information Brad gathered.