Over the past two Saturday mornings, our LVI students have taken part in a highly practical set of activities as part of the Sixth Form Futures programme. Designed to prepare them for life beyond school, these sessions focused on developing real world skills that they will rely on as independent young adults. The year group was split into two groups, each completing a different life skills challenge before swapping over the following week.
One of the activities centred on essential DIY skills. Students were introduced to the basics of tool use, teamwork, and problem solving, and were encouraged to work collaboratively as they tackled a series of practical tasks. Guided by instructions and with safety supervision, teams were challenged to assemble a garden shed using power tools, learning not only how to follow technical guidance but also how to communicate effectively under pressure. Alongside this, they learned how to wire a plug correctly and were given the opportunity to piece together a small plumbing system using pipes, connectors and a tap.
The second activity was the “Game of Life,” a budgeting challenge designed to deepen students’ financial literacy. Each team was assigned a different job role and salary from which they had to calculate their take home pay after tax. Working together, they created a realistic monthly budget that accounted for rent or mortgage payments, household bills, travel, food, borrowing, loans or leases, and other day to day living costs. This exercise gave students valuable insight into the realities of adult finances—from how different types of tax operate to the impact of lifestyle choices on monthly expenditure. The competitive element added a twist, with the winning group producing the most accurate and well balanced budget spreadsheet, accompanied by a thoughtful summary of how their chosen lifestyle aligned with their financial circumstances.
Mr Tim Waldron
Head of Personal Development
